By Carrie Spencer (carrie@thespencersadventures.net)
Many teenagers, including the students at Huntington-Surrey High School, are still learning from home. This can make rainy or cold winter days extra tough on parents like you, especially if you’re also still working from home. Instead of being able to get outside for breaks and exercise, your kids may end up feeling like they’re stuck inside with nothing to do. You can help beat that boredom and help your teens develop some new skills with these rainy day hacks:
Encourage Teens to Build Skills With Online Gaming
If your kids would rather spend rainy days playing games with friends, you should let them! Dr. Susan E. Reynolds, an emotional learning expert and social psychologist, states that “Social play requires us to practice and refine some social and emotional skills that we might not think about as much when we play alone.” Virtual gaming can also have other perks during the pandemic, so you don’t need to feel guilty about this rainy day activity.
Needless to say, if everyone in your household is gaming, learning and working online, it can put a real strain on your home internet connection. If you notice any lag time or buffering, switching to a faster service with a more reliable provider may be well worth your time, and it will minimize arguments.
Boost Their Problem-Solving Abilities With More Art
Gaming can have social and cognitive benefits for your teens, but you don’t want them spending every rainy day staring at a screen. Which is why you should also suggest they use their free time to draw, paint or sculpt. Even if your teens don’t want to pursue a career in art, the process of experimenting with new materials and projects can help them build problem-solving skills in their everyday lives. Art encourages children of all ages to be innovative and curious.
Wondering which art supplies you should buy? The answer depends on what sort of activities your teens will enjoy. If you think they will enjoy painting with acrylics, a basic set of paints, different sizes of brushes and practice paper is recommended. As they feel more comfortable, you can pick up a few canvases and maybe even an easel.
Get Teens into The Kitchen for Some Cooking Fun
So maybe your teens would prefer to get creative with pastries instead of paints? If so, you should know that cooking and baking can also help your kids develop exceptional skills. Even younger children can pick up creative and critical thinking abilities when they learn how to cook and bake. Not to mention that you will be teaching your teens an essential task that will help them be happier, healthier and more independent adults.
Having your aspiring chefs bake an entire cake from scratch can prove tricky if they’ve never cooked before, but they should be able to handle a simple dinner recipe. One-pot pasta dishes and sheet pan dinners are easy enough for any beginner to tackle. Plus, having your teens cook dinner can save you a lot of stress on those evenings when you’re still busy with remote work.
Keep Them Healthy With Active Indoor Activities
Rainy days can also mean fewer chances for your teens to get out and exercise. Even when the weather is fair, however, the American Heart Association has found that only about 1 in 4 teenagers are getting a regular dose of exercise. This lack of movement can lead to problems with your kids’ physical and mental health.
Whether the rain or COVID restrictions are to blame, you can get teens moving by bringing their favorite backyard activities indoors. Set up a mini-golf course in your living room or use recycled items to build a bowling lane. If you need something simple, maybe try an online fitness class.
Colder weather doesn’t have to keep your teens from having fun at home. You just need to be prepared with a few rainy day activities, especially if you need to focus on your own work. From cooking to gaming, there are plenty of ideas to keep them busy. If they pick up a few new skills or health benefits in the process, that’s just an added bonus.
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