Top 5 time consuming fun activities for a lockdown during summer vacations

 

'I'm bored!' - I'm sure all you moms out there have heard your kiddo use these two infamous words. Now with the lockdown during their summer vacations, a second year in a row, it is just something you feel bad about. Here is my top 5 list of fun, indoor and very time consuming activities which will just make those hours fly by. Don't worry these are all mommy-proof ideas which will leave your child with some enrichment and won't just be about killing time.

Number 5: Coding

Now I am aware coding for kids has been drawing a lot of flak lately with various courses making insane claims about the outcomes of their coaching. However, at a very basic level coding can be a lot of fun. And just like any other creative process gives you a sense of accomplishment when you see the final output. The screen grab above is from an app my son created - HAPPI - Hearing Assistant and Practice Partner Interface... Those of you on an android device can even download and check it out here... It took him a good amount of time to code and design and brought him immense joy. I am not even considering the utilitarian benefits of the app or the mental stimulation that coding brings with it... Give it a shot if you feel your kid would enjoy it because mine certainly does.

Number 4: Risk (Board Game)

My all time favourite strategy game is Chess - however Risk may be more enjoyable to your kid. Also you can play with upto five players which means the rest of the family can also be drawn in. World domination is the ultimate objective of the game and it could well go on for over four to five hours. Keep this as a weekend activity if you want to be the one playing. But be careful make sure you like it enough to keep playing it as I think your kid is going to enjoy it and they you better be available to play it with him even if only on weekends and holidays.

Number 3: Blogging

Well, why not? This was a blog I had started when my kid was just an infant. Now it is so much more fun with both of us posting. We brainstorm for ideas, have worked out a schedule for his and my posts. Learnt how to use Animaker together. It is a lot of fun. If you think you can join him that's great, else today's kids can very weak manage to create and populate a blog all on their own. Trust me parents it is a lot of fun doing it together.

Number 2: Lego City

Lego City is just an unending world of possibilities. After the first time that you follow the book and make the structures the set is intended for, you can try a whole new scene the next time. It allows you to recreate an entire city and then have fun with the creation. From cars to jails to zoos and homes there is so much you can build. The good thing with lego is you can start small and keep adding to the collection. We have been building our lego collection from even before our kid was born and to be honest I quite enjoy it even today.

Number 1: Lego Boost

The reason I have kept this separate is because it is completely different. Not only can you build great creations but motors and sensors allow you to bring those creations to life. It has some basic coding you need to do on its apps and voila you have a interactive robot ready. From an assembly line to a cat robot this has been an investment worth making. It is also the starting range of the Lego coding sets like Mindstorm and a good way to start off.