by Michael Bourke

It’s a relaxing Sunday morning. The sunlight is filtering in through the curtains, and you finally get a chance to relax with a nice, warm cup of coffee. But, then you hear it, a sound all parents dread – “I’m bored.” While parents and other adults are usually perfectly fine relaxing on the couch and enjoying a moment of quiet, children, on the other hand, generally expect to be doing something every second of every day. When left to their own devices, children will usually entertain themselves for varying amounts of time. But, then the inevitable happens; they get bored and look to you for something to do.

Fortunately for you and your kids, this list of activities offers numerous fun and educational activities to keep your kids busy this weekend.

Outside Play

Outdoor play is important for children of all ages. It introduces them to physical geography, basic biology, and allows them to properly develop their bodies. Plus, it is also a great way to keep them busy over the weekend. Nature provides children with countless ways to play and use their imaginations. Older children might enjoy challenging themselves with a strenuous hike or trying their hand at bird watching. They could even take a look at the rocks in their own backyard and identify what they are. This can help them learn about the geology of the local area and brainstorm about the land’s past.

Science Experiments

Science experiments are a great way for children to learn about science, reinforce concepts they already know, and give them experiences that can link new concepts to as they learn. According to Science First, hands-on experiments are important for even young children. Simple experiments can give children a real-world example of concepts they will learn later in their schooling and provide them with an anchor on which to hang this knowledge. So, even if your child is young, science experiments are a wonderful way to engage them. Science experiments can be helpful for kinesthetic learners, who thrive off of hands-on activities.

But, what sort of science experiments should you do? It doesn’t matter as long as it is easy for your child to understand. Earth Science Jr has a variety of experiments listed that can provide you with plenty of things to try with your children, such as making edible glass. You can use these teachable moments to explain the eye-catching results to your little scientist.

Art Activities

Despite some common misconceptions, art is important for children of all ages. Art teaches children to pay attention to detail, develops their fine motor skills and gives them an outlet to express themselves. Furthermore, the Huffington Post reports that art also teaches children to reason, teaches them about other cultures and introduce them to ideas they might not have encountered otherwise.

So, as you can see, art is ideal for children. But, how are you supposed to implement it into your child’s weekend? Painting, drawing and stickers are obvious examples of ways to fit art into your child’s everyday life. However, there are also lots of other ways to introduce your children to art, especially if they are older. For example, you could look at a piece of famous art and attempt to copy it in your own style. Or, you could copy a painting with a key detail differently such as changing the gender of the key figures or putting a light pole where a tree is supposed to stand. These exercises challenge your children’s artistic capabilities while also introducing them to famous artists.

If your child is still bored even after these activities, you can brainstorm other fun things to engage your child.

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