Parents with children know when the weather is bad, and the kids have to stay inside, they can get bored. If you’re looking for some sustainable activities for your youngsters to keep them away from screens for a bit, we have some ideas for you.
Puppets and puppet shows
Do you have old socks, scraps of cloth, buttons, and a bit of glue in your home? Then, this project might be for you and your little ones. Gather a few socks, some fabric glue, and other crafting materials around the house so you and your kiddo can make sock puppets together. Let your child express their creativity; once you’re done, and the puppets are ready, you can entertain them by doing puppet shows with something they made themselves.
Homemade play dough
Another excellent and sustainable option for an afternoon activity is homemade playdough. It’s an easy recipe: ½ cup cornstarch, 1 cup baking soda, and ¾ cup water. Mix the ingredients in a saucepan, then put it on the stove at medium heat. Keep stirring it; it should start to bubble, then turn solid at about 4-5 minutes. Once it begins to form a ball, remove the heat and put it on parchment or a silicone sheet. Let it sit until it’s cool. Then, if you want to add color or scent, you can. You can store it in Tupperware, and it’s non-toxic, so if your child or pet eats it, you don’t need to worry.
Reading books
We’ve done several articles on sustainability books for kids, and we encourage you to check them out, but here, we’ll give you a few more suggestions for your child to learn about the planet when they’re inside. For the younger readers, you might try ABCs of Sustainability – Let’s Help The Planet or My Earth, My Home: A Kid’s Book About Why Protecting Our Planet Matters. A few other good options as they get better at reading are How to Make a Better World: For Every Kid Who Wants to Make a Difference, What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet, and You Can Change the World: The Kids’ Guide to a Better Planet.
Help your kids learn about the world and keep it healthy through reading so they gain an appreciation for our planet and know why protecting it is essential.
Coloring books
Young artists will appreciate the next activity. Let your kid learn and play simultaneously by getting some nature fact coloring books or printing off colorable pages online. A few favorites are The Wondrous workings of Science and Nature, Coloring Nature: Kids Coloring Book, and The National Parks Coloring Book. Picking books that are not just images but have a little information for them to ask about will encourage them to learn more about nature.
Conclusion
Being trapped indoors doesn’t mean your kid needs to resort to screen time or that you need more to entertain them until they can go out. Try these ideas to buy less and play more, educate your child on the world, and reuse. Share your values with them and show them that sustainability can be fun.