Life hacks for parents: how to entertain children of any age

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

It is enough to hold the kids in your arms, make older children laugh, and discuss their interests with preschoolers and adolescents. You can find a common language with any child.

1. Babies

If you need to sit with a very small child, do not rack your brains over how to entertain him. Babies need only look at you or sleep in your arms. If the child is asleep, hug him and rest his head on your shoulder. You can walk around the room or sway in a rocking chair.

If your child is awake, have him sit on your lap or on the couch so he can see your face. Just talk about something or sing. Don't know the songs? Sing through all the letters of the alphabet. And to make the child more interesting, move your hands to the beat of the song.

2. 0 to 3 years old

Here you have to work a little. Children are already used to the fact that adults tell them all nonsense, so you need to somehow entertain them:

• Put something on your head. Children will find this very funny.
• Stack things one on top of the other. Cubes are best, but any other item will do. Be prepared for your pyramid to be overturned immediately. This is all the fun.
• Wiggle your fingers across the floor. Now your hand is a spider. It remains to add something like: “Ooh, beware! The tickling spider is running after you! " You are guaranteed success.

Of course, you shouldn't tickle every child you meet. Especially if he doesn't know you yet and treats you with distrust. Let the "spider" tickle you first. The child will watch or even want to join. It's the same with other games. One child will destroy your cube turret, and another will want to see how a stuffed toy does it. If the toy does this before you can see, you can pretend that you are very angry.

Here are two more guaranteed ways to captivate your child:

• Juggling. If you can juggle, demonstrate this skill to your kid. The child does not yet know the laws of physics, so it will seem like a miracle to him.
• Blowing up soap bubbles. Everyone will definitely have fun.

3. 3 to 8 years old

Although the previous advice should also not be discarded, preschool children can already concentrate on something more difficult. For example, they can listen to a story or even retell the plot of a book or cartoon themselves.

• Read it to your child. Stop and ask what might happen next, or look at the pictures together.
• Show some interesting game on your phone. The simpler the better.
• Dance. This is suitable for children of all ages. Play music from your favorite cartoons and have fun.

Children at this age often have their favorite movie or animated series, and they do not hide it at all. If the child has all the toys, clothes and a backpack with the image of his favorite character, do not ask: "So you like this cartoon?" Better ask what the hero's name is and what he does.

A few questions will be enough for the child to retell you the plot of a whole series, and it can often be intertwined with the events of other films and contain their own fantasies. It's even better to look for information about your child's favorite characters in advance, then you can ask more specific questions. You can also tell what you yourself watched as a child.

4.9 years old and older

At this age, stories and dances will work too, but children develop their own interests as well. For example, they might be into a sport or a writer.

And this means that you will probably come up with something to talk about without resorting to the annoying question "How are you at school?" Ask what was the last book your child read, what movie he watched, or what fun game he played. Or, mention something that you like and ask his opinion.

If you want to spend time not only talking, here are some more tips:

• Play board games.
• Offer to cook something together and allow your child to command. Let him decide what to cook and how to decorate the dish.
• Watch funny YouTube videos.

Children of this age seem to be of a different species if you are not used to them. But if you put in a little effort to get to know them better, you will see that you have a lot in common.

Don't be afraid to offer “childish” activities to older children. Just adapt the games to their interests and abilities.

You can play with children of different ages at the same time. For example, ask a 3-year-old how he usually entertains his little sister, or ask a 5-year-old to learn a funny song or game with a 10-year-old. Surely soon everyone will be laughing.