June 1st, 2022 | Updated on June 10th, 2022
Even as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues and provinces begin to withdraw their masking policies, many parents are still looking for safe ways to keep their children occupied from home. Having tricks up your sleeve to stay busy, productive, and safe in the house has always been something parents rely on.
Plus, the pandemic isn’t over, even if certain provincial politicians have stated otherwise. Here are a few productive and fun activities children can safely do from home.
Learn To Code Online
There are lots of online courses teaching computer programming for kids, but it’s crucial to identify the best from the rest. There are a few signs that an online computer coding course is excellent.
The industry leaders teach the most powerful and practical coding languages, such as Python, Java, JavaScript, C#, and C++. Your kids will be able to write code in the languages used to create popular apps like Netflix and popular video games like Minecraft.
Look for a course that revolves around teaching kids to code their own video games so students stay motivated and enjoy the sessions. The industry’s best have small groups that are capped at four students max, so sessions are orderly, and each child gets the attention they deserve.
Some programs also offer a free trial lesson, so you and your child can get a sense of what learning to code is like.
Giving your child the tools to design the technology of the future will empower them to shape their world instead of the reverse.
Knowing how to code is a vital skill that will make your child a valuable asset in numerous industries, such as creating the leading apps, websites, and computer games of the future.
Even if your child doesn’t become a professional coder one day, they’ll have the fundamental STEM and computer skills that employers seek out.
Play Guitar
The internet is full of resources for musicians of all levels, from beginner to pro. Whether you’re learning your C major chord or wondering what kind of scale to play over a I-vi-ii-V jazz progression, you can find your answers online.
Historically, if novice students wanted to learn the lyrics and chords to a song, they needed to transcribe it themselves or buy a book of music notation or tablature. The amount of free resources musicians can access today is incredible.
Not all lessons or resources are of equal value, but there are lots to browse and read through that will help rookies, novices and experts. Look for free and accurate transcriptions, but there are also lots of videos where people explain and show you how to play certain songs.
Of course, there are also lots of lessons for musicians who play different instruments than the guitar.
Keep Up With Your Correspondence
The lost art of letter writing can still be done today with old-fashioned paper, cards, or the newer method of email. It may seem counterintuitive to put such a high value on long letters in a world where text messaging is so prevalent, but people really do love getting long, detailed or rambly messages from people.
The medium is the message, and sitting down to read drawn-out thoughts is not like getting a text. Encourage your children to write to friends, relatives or even find pen pals they meet safely online.
Calligraphy may be from another era, but writing will always be a timeless and invaluable way to connect with people.
Visit The Animals
Everybody loves to watch animals do cute, funny things. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need a pet that costs you time and money to bring animals home.
If you look in the right places, children can visit exotic animals without having to leave the couch. Check for zoos or aquariums offering free streams, so kids can see their furry friends up close during their free time.
Everybody is tired of pandemic precautions, but many people still feel the urge to uphold the medical community’s recommendations to keep themselves, their families and communities safe. Feel free to try some of the above ideas if you need recommendations for safe, non-lame activities kids can do from home.
