How to Keep Your Only Child Independently Busy?
How on earth can we keep an only child independently busy, as long as possible, especially during these days when some people are still enduring lockdown?
I mean, really busy by themselves?
If your child is anything like mine, 30 minutes tops are the most you can get, on a good day, without hearing her calling "mommy" every 2 minutes.
As much as I try not to rely on technology to keep her busy, I believe it can be a great ally if we use it "correctly", especially during this unusual pandemic.
However, it is crucial to find a balance, as with everything else in life.
I've researched and gathered ideas to keep your singleton busy both online and offline.
Some are paid, and some are free. Ultimately, it is up to you and your budget to decide what suits your reality and your child's preferences.
Getting Creative
Arts and crafts can be a lifesaver and boost their creativity and imagination.
The secret is to try and test different activities and see what works for your child.
During the lockdown, I was desperate to find more activities, and one that caught my attention was diamond painting.
There are many sites that you can order from. Some even customize your picture, like the one below.
Lately, her favorite hobby has been drawing. She can spend hours by herself, which gives me time to work on my chores.
As I said, it depends on the child; And they also change their preferences over time.
There are tons of great sites around that provide crafting ideas. Below are just a few that I personally like:
Founded by a mum of 4, the site shows easy experiments and crafts focused on building STEM skills. There are activities for kids from below 2 to 8+.
Launched by a former Kindergarten/Early years teacher and mum to 3, Busy Toddler is a site where you will undoubtedly find creative and exciting ideas to keep your kiddo busy from arts to maths.
Another interesting site where you can find tutorials on how to draw, paint and make origami.
The activities target slightly older kids (I'd say six and up) since they must patiently follow the videos and instructions.
2. Keep them Active
Dealing with an energetic child is a topic that I am comfortable talking about.
Olivia has been an adrenaline enthusiast ever since I can remember.
Encouraging your kiddos to exercise regularly will keep them physically healthier and contribute to regulating their emotions.
If you can go outside, try to spend at least a couple of minutes outdoors.
It can be as simple as walking or playing with a box of sand in the garden.
However, if you can't go outside or live in a place where you do not have a garden, you can still engage in indoor activities.
Here is a list of some exercise sites and YouTube channels that I've found valuable and engaging:
It's a hit with the kids! This Youtube channel teaches yoga and mindfulness to kids enjoyably and interactively.
It is all done with great scenarios, themes, animation, and costumes.
Cosmic Kids is the world's number one kid's yoga app.
GoNoodle videos get kids moving! It is a free website and app where your child can access short, high-energy videos and interactive activities.
Teachers have also used GoNoodle to help students boost productivity, improve behavior and build community feeling.
3. Encourage Reading
Even if your child cannot read, it is never too early to introduce them to the magic world of books!
Reading is an excellent habit, and if locked at home, it can be a great opportunity to stimulate it even more.
It can be through traditional paper books or modern audiobooks.
Whatever ignites your kid's liking for reading.
Reading Eggs is an award-winning online reading program created to help kids learn (and enjoy) reading.
The platform uses a series of fun online reading lessons, phonic activities, games, books (of course), and rewards that motivates children to learn and improve.
It is suitable for kids aged 3 to 12.
Epic! is a leading digital reading platform for kids 12 and under.
Thousands of books are available, and you can tailor the recommendations according to your child's age and interests.
The free account provides limited book access, whereas the paid (unlimited) version gives access to its library of over 40,000 books, audiobooks, and learning videos.
4. Online Lessons
If your child is old enough to engage in online learning, many websites and apps help with that.
They can choose from coding to learning a new language!
There are endless possibilities, and even though it is still "online," you ease your guilt knowing they are complementing their education!
Covering a wide range of subjects like maths, computing, science, and language arts, this nonprofit organization offers free, world-class education for anyone keen on learning new skills.
Khan Academy provides video tutorials and interactive exercises.
In addition, the kids can maintain records of their progress.
The company also has a version aimed at children aged two up to 8. Khan Academy Kids is a free, fun, and interactive app.
There are thousands of educational activities, books, and videos!
Outschool offers a massive range of online lessons with different formats and lengths.
There are online classes, which include live meetings, and flexible schedule classes, that do not involve scheduled live meetings.
The classes are available for kids aged three and up.
However, it might not be so appealing for little ones.
Therefore, in my opinion, Outschool is for kids who are six and older if the purpose is to have them engaged in an activity without constant supervision.
The classes are paid – ranging from US$ 5 to an average of US$ 18 per class hour.
So I guess it is pretty decent, based on their content and flexibility.
The site is intuitive and easy to navigate, and the best thing is that you can read the reviews (about the teachers and the classes) before choosing the lessons.
Final Thoughts
Apart from these ideas, you can still rely on traditional games such as:
Playdough
Lego – Olivia loves the tiny nano blocks
Puzzles
Activity books
Science boxes – there are now many companies that deliver a new package to your doorstep every month
Writing letters to family and friends
Encouraging your child to start writing a journal/diary
Gardening
Solo games – Olivia likes Rush Hour, Kanoodle, and Picasso Tiles.
You just need to spend some initial time researching and preparing the "agenda."
I am sure that, if you do it, you will have some "free" time to yourself and, the best thing, you will encourage your child to become more independent and learn how to enjoy their alone time!
Learning to be comfortable by oneself is an important life skill for everyone.
Playing solo helps your child becomes a versatile individual who is happy being placed in different situations – large crowds, small groups, and, of course, alone!
