Activities you can do with your child
Here are some activities that you and your child can do together:
Here are some activities that you and your child can do together:
- Play a ball game. Football, catch, basketball, dodgeball … there are endless ball games to choose from. You can ask your child to pick a game they’d like to play or ask them about their favourite sports team.
- Ready, set… bake. Baking is a great way to have fun together and there are so many bakes to choose from including with fairy cakes, scones, traybakes or energy balls.
- Create something together. This can be as simple as doing a paint-by-numbers, jigsaw, designing your own Birthday or thank you cards, or trying something new like painting your own T-shirt designs.
- Draw cartoons of each other. Sometimes, all you need is pen and paper. Create cartoon drawings of one another, and other family members, cats, dogs, fish – have fun! You could also try drawing with your eyes closed or not taking your pen off the paper to add an extra challenge.
- Indoor picnic. Lay out a blanket, pick out your family’s favourite finger food and have a picnic in the comfort of home.
- Tech-free games. Take a screen break with tech-free games like 20 questions, cat's cradle, marbles, jacks, the floor is lava, skipping and more.
- Indoor treasure hunt. Hide some things (such as toys, messages or even sections of a story) around the house, create some clues and see if your children can guess where they are!
- Put on your dancing shoes. If your child loves to dance, let their feet do the talking. Ask them to pick out their favourite song and dance like you mean it!
- Sing it. From car singing to serenading the family in the kitchen, turn up your favourite ballads and sing along. You could turn it into a game by challenging them too sing in the style of their favourite film or TV character.
- Build a fort. Use blankets, bedsheets, cushions, chairs and fairy lights to create your own cosy little fort. Be warned: it will take several attempts to keep it all up, but so worth it once you’re inside!
- Flex those green fingers. Sow some seeds and watch them grow together! Begin with seedlings on the windowsill and watch them grow before moving them into window pots or even the garden. If you’re not green fingered, begin with something easy like sunflowers or sweet peas.
- Have a games night. You could learn a new board or card game, choose a video game to play, or even try a family poker night.
Unsure which activity to choose? Make an activity picker to help you to decide.
Younger children might enjoy using an activity picker to decide on an activity together.
Click on the download below to make your own
Conversation Starters
Starting a conversation can be difficult, especially if you’re worried that your child is having a hard time. It doesn’t matter what topic the conversation starts with – it’s about the opportunity it gives you both to talk about feelings and to provide comfort
Starting a conversation can be difficult, especially if you’re worried that your child is having a hard time. It doesn’t matter what topic the conversation starts with – it’s about the opportunity it gives you both to talk about feelings and to provide comfort
If they don’t want to talk right now
Reassure them that they can talk to you at any time. You could say things like:
Remember that you know your child. You can tell when it isn't the right time or they aren’t in the mood to talk.
Reassure them that they can talk to you at any time. You could say things like:
- You can talk to me, I’m here for you.
- If you need to talk to someone else, that’s okay too.
- If you talk to me about what is worrying you, I can do my best to help.
- Even if I don’t understand, know that I want to.
- We’re going to get through this together.
- You could also see whether other forms of communication like writing a letter or texting would make it easier for your child to let you know what’s going on.
Remember that you know your child. You can tell when it isn't the right time or they aren’t in the mood to talk.