Within this festive guide, we'll uncover a variety of family games tailored for kids, teenagers, and adults alike. From timeless board games to outdoor activities with a holiday twist, there's a perfect game for every member of the family.
Beyond the excitement of discovering new game options, we'll also delve into the significance of holiday game nights, exploring the benefits and how they can strengthen the ties that bind your family. So, gather your loved ones around, and let's embark on a journey into the realm of holiday games that will guarantee endless hours of laughter, friendly competition, and festive fun.
Family game nights offer a unique opportunity to bring family members of all ages together for quality bonding time. In today's fast-paced world, carving out time to connect with loved ones is essential. Here's why family game nights are so important:
Time-honored board games have endured through generations and remain a beloved option for festive family game nights. These games present a delightful blend of strategy, luck, and friendly competition, making them ideal for players of all ages. Here's a selection of classic board games that are sure to enhance the joy of your family gatherings:
Embrace the great outdoors during the holidays for a perfect blend of fresh air, physical activity, and quality family bonding. Tailored to accommodate a range of age groups and fitness levels, these outdoor activities promise enjoyment for everyone. Explore the following list of games and activities designed to bring the whole family together in the open air:
In our modern, tech-driven era, digital and video games have emerged as popular sources of entertainment for families. Despite concerns about fostering isolation, numerous video games provide opportunities for social interaction and cooperation. Consider exploring the following digital and video games that are well-suited for enjoyable family gaming sessions:
Card games offer a versatile and engaging option for lively family game nights. Spanning a range of styles, from traditional to more intricate card-based strategy games, they cater to players of all ages. Delve into the world of cards with these options, perfect for family-friendly enjoyment:
Puzzles and brain teasers are excellent for family members who enjoy a mental challenge. They can be done individually or as a group, depending on your family's preferences. Here are some puzzle and brain teaser options:
To host game nights, here are some tips and ideas to consider:
As we embrace the holiday spirit, family game nights become a heartwarming way to bring generations together and forge lasting festive memories. The possibilities are endless, whether you lean towards classic board games, outdoor activities with a holiday twist, digital games with a festive flair, card games that add a touch of merriment, or brain teasers wrapped in holiday cheer.
During these special holiday game nights, you not only strengthen family bonds but also foster communication skills and impart valuable life lessons in a joyous and engaging manner. So, gather your loved ones, carve out some dedicated game time, and prepare to weave holiday magic into lifelong memories filled with laughter, friendly competition, and shared experiences.
Regardless of the games you choose, the essence lies in savoring the time spent together as a festive family. So, roll the dice, draw those cards, and embark on a journey of holiday cheer and togetherness with entertaining family games that cater to all ages.
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Managing work, household chores, school activities, and quality family time can be challenging. However, numerous time-saving hacks can help busy parents regain precious moments in their day without compromising the quality of their parenting.
In this blog post, we will delve into a collection of practical and effective parenting hacks for busy moms and dads, empowering them to strike a balance between their various responsibilities and enjoy a more harmonious family life.
Time management is crucial for any busy parent, and one of the most effective tools to achieve this is by creating a centralized family calendar. This can be a physical calendar displayed on a prominent wall in your home or a digital one accessible to all family members.
A family calendar serves as a visual reminder of everyone's schedules, appointments, school events, extracurricular activities, and other important dates.
When parents and children have access to the family calendar, it reduces the chances of scheduling conflicts and minimizes last-minute surprises. Parents can plan their days more efficiently by knowing what lies ahead, and children can be prepared for their activities well in advance.
Additionally, the family calendar fosters better communication, encouraging everyone to be more aware and considerate of each other's commitments.
As parents, it's natural to want to take on every responsibility ourselves to ensure things are done the way we want.
However, attempting to do everything can lead to burnout and exhaustion. A time-saving strategy is to prioritize tasks based on urgency and importance and delegate age-appropriate tasks to your children.
Involving your kids in household chores lightens the load for parents, teaches children valuable life skills, and instills a sense of responsibility. Younger children can be responsible for tasks like setting the table or tidying up their toys, while older children can assist with more complex chores like folding laundry or helping with meal preparation.
Delegating tasks also fosters a sense of teamwork and cooperation within the family, making daily routines smoother and more enjoyable for everyone.
Amidst the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding time for structured learning can be challenging. However, educational board games like Potato Pirates offer a fantastic way to combine entertainment with learning.
This game, designed to teach coding concepts, strategy, and critical thinking, allows kids to explore the world of programming without even realizing they are learning.
Set aside time for a family board game night each week, and let Potato Pirates take center stage. As parents, you can join in on the fun, helping your children grasp coding principles while fostering a love for learning.
This hands-on approach to education enhances your child's problem-solving skills and encourages them to think outside the box – all while strengthening your bond as a family.
Traditional shopping trips can be time-consuming, especially when bringing children along. Fortunately, the rise of online shopping and delivery services has made life easier for busy parents.
Whether it's groceries, household essentials, or children's supplies, ordering online can save time that would otherwise be spent on commuting and shopping at physical stores.
Many retailers offer subscription services for regular purchases, allowing you to set up automated deliveries for items you frequently need. This not only saves time but also ensures you always have essential supplies.
Additionally, please take advantage of grocery delivery services, where you can conveniently browse and select items from the comfort of your home and deliver them directly to your doorstep.
As a parent, multitasking becomes second nature. While some critics argue that multitasking can lead to decreased productivity, there are moments when combining activities can save valuable time.
For instance, you can listen to educational podcasts or audiobooks while cooking or doing household chores. Utilize your commuting time to catch up on work-related phone calls or listen to inspiring podcasts.
Engage in playful learning activities with your kids while folding laundry or completing other household tasks. While multitasking requires some balance and focus, when done right, it can be a powerful time-saving tool for busy parents.
Routines provide structure and predictability in a child's life, which can be immensely comforting and time-saving for parents. Establishing consistent morning, bedtime, and homework routines can help streamline daily activities, making them more efficient and reducing resistance from children.
A morning routine can include tasks such as waking up at the same time, having a nutritious breakfast, and preparing backpacks before leaving for school. Bedtime routines can involve winding down with a calming activity, brushing teeth, and reading a story before lights out.
When children know what to expect, they are more likely to cooperate and transition smoothly between tasks, saving parents the time and energy spent on negotiations and distractions.
Society often places unrealistic expectations on parents, perpetuating the notion of the "super-parent" who can flawlessly manage every aspect of life. In reality, trying to do it all can lead to burnout and a sense of inadequacy.
Parents need to set realistic expectations for themselves and their families. Recognize that perfection is unattainable, and instead, focus on doing your best within the limits of your time and resources.
Understand that there will be days when things do not go as planned, which is perfectly okay. Allow yourself to let go of unnecessary guilt and pressure, and instead, celebrate the small victories and cherish the precious moments with your children.
In the age of technology, there are numerous apps and tools designed to streamline various aspects of parenting and household management. Embrace technology to your advantage and leverage it to save time.
Family organization apps allow you to sync calendars, share to-do lists, and stay connected with family members. You can use budgeting apps to track household expenses, educational apps to engage your kids in learning activities, and meal-planning apps to streamline your weekly menu.
However, while technology can be a valuable ally, it is also essential to set healthy boundaries and ensure that screen time does not replace quality family time or become a source of distraction and disconnection. Also, make sure that you teach kids about cybersecurity.
Parenthood is a beautiful journey filled with love, joy, and laughter. However, it can also be challenging, especially for busy moms and dads. The key to thriving amidst a hectic schedule is to adopt time-saving hacks that streamline daily tasks and maximize efficiency.
Embracing these time-saving tips will reduce stress and allow parents to cherish the precious moments they share with their children. Every small time-saving action adds up, making a significant difference in a busy parent's life.
As parents prioritize their well-being and time management, they can create a harmonious environment for their family, fostering stronger connections and nurturing growth for both children and parents alike.
]]>Get ready to have festive, thoughtful, and joyful moments with this incredible list of the best Christmas games your kids will love. From cooperative party games suitable for young children to challenging strategy games for adults, we have got you covered!
Let the excitement begin—it's time for family fun with these amazing Christmas game ideas.
The holiday season is a time for family, friends, and fun. If you're looking for ways to add some extra fun to your Christmas celebration, check out these family Christmas games. They're sure to get everyone in the spirit!
Monopoly has always been one of the most popular and classic board game choices for holiday game nights since it offers something for everyone.
While some enjoy exercising their business acumen as they buy up properties, others like to bargain over prices for prime pieces of real estate or bluff about chances of overturning fortunes.
Plus, who doesn’t love collecting on rent when someone lands on your railroads? With an ever-changing traditional bank option that leaves room for alterations and improvised rules, a friendly perusal of luck and strategy will surely be had by all.
Whether it’s just the parents versus their kids or if teams are more your speed, Monopoly provides hours of entertainment, ensuring everyone celebrates a Merry Christmas around the board game.
Playing classic board games like Clue is one of the best parts of the holiday season. Instead of watching movies all night, engaging in a friendly battle of wits, cunning, and reasoning is much more exciting.
When playing Clue, you need to think strategically and try to outwit your opponents through careful deduction. It's a great way for family members of different ages or abilities to come together in camaraderie and have a good time.
Even if it gets a little heated sometimes, there's always a sense that someone will eventually triumph by finding the solution first!
Pictionary is a must-have game to include in your family's Christmas activities! It's easily adaptable for all ages, and it only has a few simple rules, which make it approachable even for those who don't usually play board or card games.
With Pictionary, everyone takes turns choosing a card and drawing pictures based on the words given – the goal being for other players to guess what is being drawn.
The game brings out the inner artist in everyone, and its competitive spirit ensures that your family will have hours of fun guessing and laughing at each other’s crayon masterpieces.
Plus, you can always get creative with rewards like prizes or extra food to keep your family playing until they drop!
Charades is among the best Christmas games for the whole family to enjoy. It provides hours of entertainment while allowing everyone to develop their dramatic and communication skills.
Plus, children as young as four can join in the fun; they have just as much of a chance to be successful as more experienced players!
Christmas Charades is particularly enjoyable because special holiday events can be acted out; this ensures that everyone stays engaged and interested throughout the game.
Nothing brings a family together like a fun and active Christmas game night, so gather your friends and relatives for a night of bustling excitement with Charades!
The classic board game, Scrabble, is a great family activity to get everyone in the holiday spirit.
With its clever crossword puzzle competition, players can spell out words and accumulate points while joining a healthy competition.
The best thing about Scrabble is that it can be played with any number of people; everyone from little ones to grandparents can play together.
As an added bonus, it provides an educational aspect as it encourages the use of synonyms and other language skills. Whichever family takes home first prize will surely feel much merrier after playing a round of Scrabble this Christmas!
Played by families for over sixty years, Candyland is the perfect game for a family Christmas. This classic board game takes players on an enchanting journey through the magical land of sweets filled with goblins, princesses, and sugary surprises.
Kids are sure to love its colorful illustrations and characters, while adults bask in a bit of nostalgia from their own childhoods.
Plus, it's incredibly easy to play--even younger children can understand and join in on the fun!
This game never gets old and will bring smiles, laughs, and fun moments to family gatherings for years to come making it the perfect holiday game for families!
Chutes and Ladders is an interactive board game that dates back centuries as a teaching tool used by Indian Buddhists to illustrate the consequences of good and bad actions.
This timeless classic has been attracting more and more families yearly as people are looking for family-friendly activities to keep them engaged during the holiday season.
Chutes and Ladders provides a competitive but cooperative environment while players hone their counting, association, and strategy skills.
As each player steps on a ladder or slides down a chute, the thrill of climbing up or getting sent back will take turns bringing laughter and enthusiasm to young participants, making it the perfect game for your next family Christmas gathering!
Dominoes is the perfect Christmas game for families to play during the holidays because it combines skill, knowledge, and luck. It can be enjoyed by players of all ages, from young children to grandparents.
Did you know that a basic domino set only costs a few dollars, yet it has been called "the poor man's chess"?
While each player plays strategically, anyone can win by getting lucky with their draw. The game only takes about 20 minutes, even when playing in teams, so there's plenty of time for good-natured trash talk after every round.
Above all else, the great thing about dominoes is that the whole family will enjoy spending quality time together on this classic game!
Bingo is a timeless classic that is perfect for family Christmas gatherings. This game is easy to learn, low maintenance and can be enjoyed by children of all ages.
It is perfect for larger families because it doesn't require too much attention from the players; you can easily play it while chatting with other family members at the same time.
Bingo keeps everyone entertained as well as brings the whole group together in friendly competition! It also adds a sense of mystery and anticipation when players mark off their cards and cheer when they hear their numbers called out.
Playing bingo on Christmas day will not only get your loved ones laughing, but it will also create lasting holiday memories over the years.
Potato Pirates: Battlechips is the perfect holiday coding game for families looking to spread Christmas cheer. The game is an incredibly fun and interactive card-based board game that teaches various computer science concepts.
The player who can unlock the Art of Potato War using a Decryption Key, or by being the last Potato standing wins the game. And while some strategy is needed in order to succeed in battle, it's not so difficult that it will be too hard for even young players.
Potato Pirates: Battlechips is sure to liven up Christmas festivities and bring joyous laughter as you play along with family and friends.
Christmas is a magical time of year, and family traditions help make the season even more special. Many families enjoy playing games together every Christmas, with each game adding to the festive cheer.
Whether you opt for classic favorites or something more unique, making this a part of your holiday celebrations will help create memories your family can look back on fondly.
So don't just sit around being bored – make the most of this holiday season by having fun with your nearest and dearest!
]]>This article provides a comprehensive list of the ten best educational games that will stimulate your children’s minds while having loads of family fun.
From classic thinking games to tactical experiences, these recommended titles are bound to keep everyone occupied over winter break with an exciting learning adventure for every age group.
So add these awesome titles to your Christmas wish lists, pick one up and get playing!
With Christmas just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about what games to play with your family and friends. Whether you're looking for something festive or educational, we've covered you.
Here are our top picks for the best educational games to play this Christmas.
Scrabble is a board game that can be played with two to four players. The game's objective is to score points by making words on a board using small tiles with letters on them.
Players take turns placing tiles on the board, and each tile must be placed so that it touches at least one other. When all tiles have been placed, the player with the most points wins the game.
This game is perfect for younger kids. Santa's sleigh ride is an educational game that helps kids learn about numbers, shapes, and colors. The game's objective is to help Santa deliver presents to all the houses on his route.
As Santa's sleigh moves along the route, kids must identify the correct number, shape, or color of each house. If they answer correctly, they get to put a present in the chimney. The first player to fill their sleigh with presents wins the game!
Boggle is a word game that can be played with two or more people. The game's object is to find as many words as possible in a 4x4 grid of letters.
Players have three minutes to find as many words as they can, and each word must be at least three letters long. The player with the most points at the end of three minutes wins the game.
Potato Pirates: Enter the Spudnet is a board game that can be played with two to six players. The game can be played in two modes - competitive and cooperative. In competitive mode, players fend off cyber attacks while launching their own to gain control of the Spudnet.
In cooperative mode, players work together to stop the bots from taking over the Spudnet. The game covers networking and cybersecurity concepts, and the player who completes their objective first wins the game.
Up & Down the River is a card game that can be played with two to four players. The game's objective is to be the first player to get rid of all their cards by playing them in numerical order up or down the river (the discard pile).
Players take turns playing one card at a time and must follow suit if possible. When all of the cards have been played, the player with the lowest score wins the game.
Set is a strategy game that can be played with two to four players. The game's objective is to find sets of three cards from a deck of 81 cards.
Each card has different attributes, such as colour, shape, and number. Players take turns looking for sets in the layout of cards and then claiming them when they’ve found one. The player with the most sets at the end of the game wins.
Charades is an acting game that can be played with two or more people. One player thinks of a phrase or title and acts out the phrase or title without using any words. The other players try to guess what word or phrase is being acted out.
When a player guesses the word or phrase correctly, they get the point and then it is their turn to act out something. The game is over when everyone has had a chance to act. The player with the most points at the end wins the game.
Uno is a card game that can be played with two to ten players. The game's objective is to be the first player to discard all of their cards by matching colours, numbers, or symbols with those on previously-played cards in the centre pile.
Players take turns playing one card at a time and must draw from the deck if they don’t have any playable cards in their hands. The first player to discard all of their cards wins the game.
Pictionary is a drawing game that can be played with two to eight players. One player thinks of a word or phrase and then draws it on paper while the other players try to guess what they are drawing.
The person who guesses correctly gets the point, and then it is their turn to draw. The game ends when all of the words have been guessed or when time runs out. The player with the most points at the end wins the game.
Quiddler is a card game that can be played with two to four players. The object of the game is to make words using a set of cards, each of which has one or more letters on it.
Players take turns drawing and discarding cards, and they can make words at any time during their turn. The first player to use all of their cards wins the game.
Investing in educational games to play with your family during the holiday season is an excellent idea. It provides a unique opportunity for family members of all ages to join together in a fun and educational activity.
Not only will these games be enjoyable, but they can also provide long-term benefits such as developing problem-solving skills and increased general knowledge.
So this Christmas, take time to relax with your loved ones while developing key skills - the perfect combination!
]]>When was the last time you had a nice relaxing dinner with your loved ones? Or spending time with family on Friday night, just chillin’ and maybe playing some family games?
If those are similar to your usual agendas, it’s awesome! Keep it up, you’re doing great👏👏👏
But if family game nights happen only on Christmas or other holiday seasons, you may need to consider scheduling more time to do family bonding activities, especially when you have kids. It’s because studies revealed that our well-being would significantly benefit from spending family time.
Also, having meaningful relationships is confirmed to improve physical and mental health in long term, even better than hiring a personal fitness trainer!
Beautiful. Another reason not to go to the gym.
So, without any further due, here are the 10 benefits of spending more time with family:
Harvard Study of Adult Development—which took 8 decades of data collection—has proved that people who keep warm relationships tend to live longer and happier.
The effect was remarkable so that psychiatrist George Vaillant, the director who led the study from 1972 until 2004, emphasized the crucial role of relationships in people living long and pleasant lives. He goes as far as to say that the key to healthy ageing is relationships.
Supporting the statement, Dr. Robert Waldinger, current director of the study, said that people who were the most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80. This discovery showed us the powerful influence of relationships on our health.
On the other hand, a study that examined the data of more than 309,000 people found that lacking strong relationships increased the risk of premature death by 50%, roughly comparable to smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day, and greater than obesity and physical inactivity.
Based on the same study, Dr. Waldinger further explained another benefit of having a good relationship. It protects our brain functions.
“Good relationships don’t just protect our bodies; they protect our brains,” he said in his TED talk. “And those good relationships, they don’t have to be smooth all the time. Some of our octogenarian couples could bicker with each other day in and day out, but as long as they felt that they could really count on the other when the going got tough, those arguments didn’t take a toll on their memories.”
What’s more, another research found that women with less marital conflicts were likely to have better memory functions. Also, it showed that the feeling of secureness to partners made women less depressed and happier in their relationships two-and-a-half years later.
The current pandemic made us realize how important it is to have a strong immune system. Well, the good news is positive relationships resulted in higher body protection against viruses, bacterias, and other threatening organisms or diseases💪
While investigating the biological and behavioral factors which account for the health benefits of connecting with others, scientists have found that it also helps relieve harmful levels of stress. It can adversely affect immune system, as well as insulin regulation, gut function, and coronary arteries (more on this next).
On the contrary, disappointing or negative interactions with family and friends have been associated with poorer health. One intriguing line of research has found signs of reduced immunity in couples during especially hostile marital spats.
A wise man said, “A happy heart is a good medicine.”
The statement is not overrated. Over the years, scientists have discovered that a warm and loving relationship lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease—one of the leading causes of global death, estimated at over 32% of death worldwide.
Another particular study also found that midlife women who were deeply satisfied with their marriages had a lower risk for cardiovascular disease compared to those in less satisfying marriages.
So, yes, planning on a romantic vacation ❤️ is worth the time and money.
Having a network of important relationships can also make a difference in reducing the risk of dementia. A large Swedish study of people aged 75 and over concluded that dementia risk was lowest in those with a variety of satisfying contacts with friends and relatives.
Going back to the Harvard Study first mentioned in this story, researchers discovered a significant association between happiness and close relationships with spouses, family, friends, and social circles.
Dr. Waldinger said, “Personal connection creates mental and emotional stimulation, which are automatic mood boosters, while isolation is a mood buster.”
He also stated that marital satisfaction has a protective effect on people’s mental health. The report showed that people who had happy marriages in their 80s admitted their moods didn’t suffer even when they endured physical pain. Conversely, those who had unhappy marriages felt both emotional and physical pain.
The outcome disclosed the gravity of personal connections—that often forgotten—in regards to mental health. It’s so unsettling that the trend of mental health disorders keeps rising over the years, even in the pre-pandemic period. And now during isolation, we come to the realization that we need emotional support from family and friends more than ever.
Source: ourworldindata.org
Source: www.statista.com
As mentioned before, spending time with family is not only good for the body but also for your mental health. Enjoying the company of family will result in a stronger emotional bond which is essential to develop a happy relationship.
In fact, research has suggested that 40% of people’s happiness comes from the choices they make. Meaning, we have to make conscious efforts to invest the energy and time for our family in order to gain the benefit of being happy.
The quality of family bonding is not solely determined by kinship, it needs commitment and caring. Families who share daily activities are more likely to form strong emotional ties.
Children learn positive values and practices from their families. The more time we spend with them, the easier it is to develop positive behavior. For example, playing family games is not only about fun and emotional bonding, through games kids learn to respect other people and playing fair.
Moreover, research confirmed that children who spend time with families have shown less risk of behavioral problems such as violence and substance abuse.
Besides, you may also share the same benefit as parenthood is a powerful motivation to develop self positive behavior. Parents are more likely to show the best version of themselves around kids, to become a good role model for them.
If you’re looking for some references on how to develop kids’ important skills, this guide may help you🤞
Spending time with family can grow our interpersonal communication skills, including kids’. As a family, we learn constructive ways to discuss, debate, and find effective solutions.
It is also the key to stimulating adaptability and resilience regarding life’s highs and downs. The ability to overcome challenges and changes may improve significantly with strong family bonding. The sense of belonging and knowing that there are people who cared give us the assurance and motivation to thrive and succeed.
Family can make a remarkable difference in how we value ourselves which is principal to developing solid self-esteem. We need people who acknowledge our strong points and help us overcome our weaknesses. Family is first the place to foster confidence and develop a positive self-concept.
A study suggested that parental warmth and monitoring are key parenting behaviors for self-esteem development. For example, by showing affection and care, accepting the child, helping, encouraging, and praising.
Source: IG @lunarbaboon
After knowing the amazing benefit of spending family time, I hope we’ll be more motivated to invest more energy in it. But first, we have to be on the same page about defining “family time”.
If looking at the term alone, pretty sure almost 100% of people know the meaning. Yes, it’s a time we spend with people we love and care about. And yet, the time we spend with them doesn’t always result in stronger emotional connections.
The truth is spending more time with family and spending QUALITY time with them are two different things, like apple and orange. It’s a tug of war between quantity vs quality.
Indeed, every family is unique, but we have the basic formula to help it works: prioritizing quality time.
Freeing our schedule for a short vacation is not enough if we end up spending time Zooming with coworkers. It should be the time when family bonding together.
Meaning, while we are preoccupied with paying the bills, we need to make room for the family to grow emotionally—not only financially. Children also need to perceive our love and care through small attentive gestures when we listen to their stories, our reactions, our appreciation, and so on. In short, kids must know that Mom and Dad will always have their back, that they have a home to come to, no matter what.
So it’s not only about how much time you invested in your family but also your attention in every moment together. For example, spending 3 hours for family dinner will be less effective if everybody is busy with their phones. It's better to cut it to one hour but everyone presents emotionally and enjoys the relaxing conversation.
Oh gosh, family is hard work—couldn’t agree more. But boy, it’s worth the sweat.
Source: IG @thechildhoodcollective
Now, it’s time to discuss how to move forward with the basic formula. Hopefully, we already agree that spending quality time with family is far more important than just quantity. So now we just need to define “quality” factors.
Firstly, every member of the family must be present and attentive—no phones, no work. Keep your attention only to them, engage in conversation, and just be in the moment.
Secondly, we have to choose the activities wisely because the whole family has to enjoy the agenda. Plan something that is fun for everyone.
For example, you can schedule family vacations on holiday or a short weekend getaway in town. There are many family vacation ideas you can choose from on the internet. It can also be as simple as chilling out and having funny family games to play at home. But if you prefer your kids to learn something through games, there are also plenty of educational games that are suitable for kids. We have lists of games you may be interested in, such as Battlechips and many others. Checkout our complete offers here.
At last, nothing beats daily activities together. You need to keep in mind that crafting a shared daily routine is vital. For instance, a mealtime at least once in a day—breakfast or dinner. Make it the time to talk about what everybody has been going through. But remember to keep it light and avoid judgemental remarks so that everyone feels comfortable discussing anything.
To give you more ideas, we can see how the Australian Dads hang out with their kids during pandemics:
Source: Families in Australia Survey: Life during Covid-19, Report no. 4: Dads spend more quality time with kids
Given the benefit, spending time with family together—like playing family games or similar—can be considered as a long life health investment. We want to keep fit in our 80s, don’t we?
That’s why we need to have the right mindset to get our priorities straight. It’s not wrong to work hard so that our family can live in a big house with a swimming pool and our children can have the best education. But we can never forget that they also need something far more important in life: your time.
Kids are growing rapidly. The time when they are begging for playtime together will come to an end. At some point, they will prefer to spend most of their time with friends rather than with parents. Soon, they are going to leave the house, go to college, work out of town, and start their own family.
If we initially build deep connections with them, it’s easier to maintain parent-child relationships through those stages of life. Spending more time together makes a strong family unit that will stick together through rough times, besides enjoying the fun times together (read our guide to plan your fun family game night activities).
It’s a privilege to have people who love us unconditionally, thus don’t take your loved ones for granted, make your best effort to spend more time with them. Be happy and healthy together :)
The ball is in your court…
]]>If you are looking for unique and meaningful Christmas gifts to show your appreciation to your employees this year, look no further!
We have gathered a list of 20 brilliant ideas that will surely put a smile on their faces.
From experience gifts to personalised items, there is something for everyone on this list. So don't wait any longer, get started shopping now!
The holiday season is a great time to show your employees how much you appreciate their hard work throughout the year. If you're looking for a gift that will really make an impression, consider giving them a Bluetooth gadget.
Bluetooth technology has come a long way in recent years, and there are now many cool devices that use it to stay connected. A Bluetooth speaker would be a great gift for anyone who loves music, and a wireless mouse or keyboard would be perfect for anyone who spends a lot of time working on their computer.
You can view some of our picks for Bluetooth gadgets:
One of the most affordable wireless earbuds you can find on the market. Battery life is up to 8 and 48 hours with a charging case. Bluetooth range is 49 feet or about 15 meters. These earbuds are also waterproof and have wireless charging features, which is not bad for a travel companion.
For tech lovers who mostly use PC at home, they might need touchpad for better precision and navigation. This could be one of the best option since the touch area is quite wide and equipped with multi-touch feature.
2. Comfortable CushionsOther corporate gifts for employees who love technology are cushions! Believe it or not, it’s one of the must-have items for many people. Most of them sit in front of their devices for 8 to 12 hours (maybe more) a day, so they need a comfortable seat.
There are several options for seat cushions or chair pads. You can also find specific cushions to help position properly and improve posture. These kinds of corporate gifts can boost employees' productivity and health. Kill two birds with one stone (just an expression, we love birds! Right, Parrot the Carrot?).
If you're looking for the best comfortable cushions, you can check out some of recommendations from New York Times:
This cushion have two level of firmness to keep you supported and to stay cool during long hours of working on your desk. The unique gel-lattice construction makes the cushion able to hold its shape all day.
Another great option that more on budget is this super wide and squishy cushions from Xtreme Comfort store. The size allows it to fully support you lower body.
3. Desk Vacuum & OrganizerHaving a lot of devices and accessories can make the desk messy and dirty after some time. A desk organizer is one of the great corporate gifts ideas for tech lovers. They can keep their desks organized and easily access everything.
Another useful tool for tech lovers is a desk vacuum! A mini, handy, wireless vacuum can clean out narrow tiny spots, including keyboards. As we know, dust is no friend for keyboards and many other devices.
Some employees pay more attention to a healthy lifestyle. They enjoy exercising regularly as well as eating clean and healthy food. For these employees, the best corporate gifts for Christmas are personal fitness equipment!
But remember not to give them space-consuming gym equipment like treadmills or rowers. They might not have the space at home.
Portable sports accessories they can carry on everywhere (including the office) will be great ideas for corporate gifts. For instance, a set of resistance bands or stretching straps, a high-quality jump rope or yoga mat, or stylish new gym outfits!
Unlike conventional resistance bands, this kit allows you to customise your entire body workout more effectively. It's easy to use at home; anchor it to your door, and you're ready to burn those carbs!
5. Health Care KitWe just mention that these employees also pay attention to what they eat. So, you can consider giving them a health care kit that includes essential vitamins, personal travel-sized toiletries, a personal blender for their smoothies or protein shakes, and don't forget a water bottle. You can also have coupons for medical check-ups or a health app subscription.
6. Spa BoxHealthy inside and out. Fitness Gurus also need a break to relax, not just for their bodies but for their minds! So, spa boxes will be great corporate gifts for Christmas with the holiday coming! You can include eye and face masks, scented candles, relaxing bath products, body scrubs, and spa coupons! It works every time.
7. Air Purifier & Essential Oil Diffuser ComboFor some people, home air purification doesn't sound exactly like one of "the most-wanted presents". But hear me out. For employees who are VERY concerned about health, an air purifier is a thoughtful gift.
Especially when you give them the one that also works as an essential oil diffuser, their eyes will light up like Christmas. It can keep the air fresh, clean, and soothing. Quite useful for corporate gift ideas for employees who are working in their rooms the whole day.
8. Fitness TrackerTechnology can make our lives better and healthier! Ensure you get a compact water resistance fitness tracker so they can take it for a swim (or a bath). A fitness tracker will help them monitor their health and sports activities.
Christmas is the best time to spend some quality time with dear ones. So, you can make this moment even more joyful by giving them unique, fun, and challenging board games. And not just a board game, but a pirate game! (Remember how Pirates of the Caribbean hit the blockbuster? It will be fun to play pirate in the "real world"!)
You might want to check out one of the best pirate board games available in the market, Potato Pirates: Enter The Spudnet. You will play the role of Potato Pirates deliveryman, and during the gameplay, you go through the Carbobbean seas and encounter sea creatures like the fearsome Kraken, who could aid you in your conquest!
10. Personalized Jigsaw PuzzleAnother corporate gifts ideas for gamers is a personalized jigsaw puzzle. You can customize a photo puzzle for each employee. It’s personal, memorable, and (quite) uniquely enjoyable!
And it also looks good as wall decoration (but for the avid gamer, we still think strategic board games or card games for families are the better way to go purely due to the replayability factor).
11. Virtual Murder Mystery GamesFirst of all, it's nothing like the online game Among Us. In virtual murder mystery games, you will be the detective who tries to crack a murder case. Some of the games are based on actual circumstances!
There are lists of virtual murder mystery games online. And some of them might make the best corporate gifts to employees who love themselves a bit of mystery and thrill!
For employees who like to explore new activities, you can get them a paint-by-numbers kit. This activity is both artsy and calming.
There is a wide variety of Paint by Number kits with various themes, such as animals, landscapes, or spaces. You can also have custom ones created from a photo to make it more personal.
13. Online ClassesOnline classes can teach us almost everything, from watercolor painting, crafting, sculpting, and calligraphy classes to baking. You can give them a free coupon to join classes related to their hobbies or something new!
14. DIY Candle KitMaking scented candles can easily be done at home with the help of do-it-yourself candle kits. It can also be very thoughtful corporate gifts for employees and coworkers and will be an excellent therapeutic experience for them.
Who doesn't like a little aromatherapy? It is relaxing, and many studies have shown that it improves sleep quality.
15. Mini Indoor Garden KitNot all people have the luxury of living in a home where they can have a backyard or rooftop to grow some plants. So why don’t you try a mini indoor garden?
There are a variety of quality indoor gardening and grow kits, such as garden kits for herbs (like basil, mint, rosemary, parsley, or arugula), vegetables, and flowers.
16. Cocktail KitIt's perfect for employees who enjoy specialty cocktails. Especially during the pandemic, when going out for a drink or two is quite challenging, the kit will give them the experience of making their cocktail and enjoying homey drink time. Excellent timing for corporate gifts for Christmas!
A cocktail kit usually includes the ingredients (syrups and liquor based on the drink choice), recipe book, muddler, and jigger.
Subscription-based video demand is rising.
As for the movie maniac, a free subscription to over-the-top movies and series streaming platforms will put them on cloud nine! It's simple yet one of the most universally appreciated corporate gift ideas.
18. Snack PackageMovies and snacks are a package deal. Without snacks, watching movies are like eating a cheeseburger without cheese (It's not the best comparison, I know, but hopefully you get what I mean).
If you give packs of snacks as corporate gifts for Christmas, don’t forget to choose an assortment of snacks to last the movie marathon.
19. Personalized Coffee MugsMovie maniacs can spend hours (or days) non-stop watching series during the holiday season. A personalized coffee mug will keep them company when fighting the urge to sleep!
A more high-tech mug can automatically heat the coffee to keep it hot. More expensive ones may even let you set the temperature.
As long as the mug you choose shows your appreciation, any of them are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
20. Smart Mood LampWe need a mood booster to have exceptional movie nighttime. A smart mood lamp is a great choice because you don't need to install dimmer switches at home. It automatically changes color to match the movie’s mood. And it also helps you get better sleep (after long hours of binge-watching shows!).
This is also a great corporate gifts ideas for the gamer type of employees. No matter what type of game they play, be it one of the best family board games that everyone loves or the intense single-player games to destress, the lamp can offer the perfect mood to pair it.
This is one of the best therapy lamps, with over 2,500 five-star reviews on Amazon. The brightness is fully customizable with an automatic timer setting from 10 to 60 minutes in length.
What's great about this high-tech lamp is that it works well with Alexa and Google Assistant. It's also perfect to create mood while watching movies.
Before we jump to the tips, here's a quick reminder about the significance of corporate gifts for your company (I'm sure some of you amazing bosses may already know, but humor me).
Recent stats showed that 80% of companies said gifts have improved relationships with employees and/or clients. On top of that, gifts also improve employee retention by up to 41%. So yes, the money is well spent!
The most important thing to remember before you decide on corporate gifts is that all business is done interpersonally, and people like to be appreciated and recognized. A personal, useful, and high-quality gift will give your employee a sense of belonging, a gesture to acknowledge and appreciate their work.
We all love beautiful gift boxes! So be extra sure to make it personal by giving them customized Christmas gifts or personalized messages. Also, remember to invest more in the presentation.
There are infinite options for corporate gifts. We could keep the lists longer, but we understand you have other important things to do.
Hopefully, these ideas and tips will help you find the right gifts for this holiday season. And even if, after this list, you want one of the items for yourself, we've done our job!
Remember not to be too stressed out about it. Also, don't forget to relax and enjoy the holiday! Each company is different, and no matter what you choose, you can be sure that it will make the festive season all the more special.
Before you go back to planning the Christmas gifts, you might want to take a peek at our other blog posts related to holidays or fun activities ideas:
]]>This year, as you meet up with family, relatives and friends, we hope that you can do things that you enjoy doing on Christmas. This may be a cozy night in or maybe a festive party, but remember, the most important part is spending time with your loved ones. We spend lots of time in the living room while waiting for the turkey and gravy to reach the dinner table, so we’re here to give you some special, personalised and fun ideas for you to do to make Christmas 2023 a magical one!
Here are 7 innovative tips for celebrating Christmas with some fun activities, guaranteed for the whole family to enjoy!
Creating a family heirloom can be very meaningful. Find inspiration on what you want to make together with the whole family, and pass it down through the years. To take one inspiration, remember the movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"? Instead of pants, you can make everyone draw their own design on the tablecloth so it holds the uniqueness of each family member. Make a simple embroidery or use a fabric pen to create your signature design!
Organising old photo albums can be overwhelming when you're doing it alone. Use this special time to make all your family members participate in organising family photo albums. Prepare the old photos and add the newest ones to create a unique photo album. Don't forget to put this Thanksgiving memory on that album.
There's nothing worse than feeling bored on the day you should be having fun. Playing card games that kids and adults can play together will light up the room. Although some card games have a certain age to play, there's some card games for families that you can still play. Have everyone place their phone away and turn off the TV. Game on!
What better way to spread the Christmas joy than by gift-giving! Anonymously assign each family member to another family member. Then, on Christmas day, everyone gets to open the presents addressed to them and guess who gave it! It's a fun way to start of Christmas morning, not only do you get to enjoy the feeling of receiving a new gift, but you also get to see the happiness on your relatives face as they tear open the wrapping paper and see your gift! Remember to take a picture of the magical moment!
This year, why not spice up your Christmas by doing a Potluck for Christmas dinner . A potluck is where everyone brings their own dish for everyone else to enjoy! But there's a twist, why not make each person's dish a surprise! Compile a list of your family's favourite dishes and write them down on little pieces of paper. Everyone randomly gets to pick a paper and they have to bring whatever is written! Make it even more interesting by making it a competition on whose food is the tastiest! Learn a new skill while spending time with your family doing the best known method of family bonding- Eating!
Decide on a board game that you and your crew can play. There's a lot of parent child games that you can play. Pick one board game and have a friendly competition while waiting for the good food to get ready. We recommend Potato Pirates: Battlechips, an incredibly fun and exciting computer science board game that teaches players computer science concepts effortlessly through play! And enjoying a quick appetizer (Potato chips, anyone?) while playing the game definitely won't hurt.
When it comes to family fun activities, don't miss this one. Jokes competition is an excellent idea to bring laughter and bond with the entire family. Telling jokes to your family and laughing together is the easiest way to not only spend time with each other, but get to know each other more! But be careful, if you're telling a joke about someone else, be nice!
What makes Christmas gatherings important is that we always spare some time to gather with our family on the day. Christmas day is not just about eating and watching shows together or putting up the decoration, there are so many activities that we can do together to create memorable moments every year. Playing family board games or exchanging gifts can be one of the many fun activity options when you’re together on Christmas day.
At the end of the day, this holiday allows us to give thanks and show our appreciation. So, any activity counts as new memories with your family, and loved ones. Hopefully, these innovative ideas can make your holidays in 2023 more memorable.
]]>Doing something as a group usually has the effect of knitting participants together. Families especially should involve themselves in group activities—the more regularly this takes place, the better. Family games are a great activity for families of all sizes, but they’re not the only thing you can do. Following we’ll explore a few alternatives to help stimulate your imagination.
The first thing many families think of when the term “activities” pops up is board games. These are traditional choices of best family board games that allow for hours of clean, friendly diversion. Competition, critical thinking, and insight abound with a variety of old classics and new iterations of those favorites. Monopoly has a thousand different variations today. It’s also one of the good board games for kids.
Another more modern option you can try is pirates board games. This kind of board game allows you to play the role of pirates. You can choose educational board games, so your kids and other family members are able to learn something. Potato Pirates Card Game, Battlechips Coding Card Game, or Enter The Spudnet may fit this role.
Card games can be as unique as you’d like them to be, especially card games for kids. From Egyptian Rat Killer to B.S., poker in varying iterations, pinochle, and bridge, there are quite a few games that can be played; and there are many kid-friendly card options out there like “Uno” and “Go Fish!”. These are good choices for family games.
Role-playing games are also a good fit for a lot of families, and you can find some excellent options among these D20 Collective reviews. Beyond traditional games, through the reviews, you might find inspiration for your family’s take on this particular entertainment. The most fun aspect of roleplaying games Is that they lend themselves to imaginative improvisation.
Photo from Pixabay
There’s nothing that says your Friday night must necessarily be spent indoors. Even if you’re in a lockdown community, that doesn’t mean you can’t use a $100 projector from Walmart to have an outdoor movie night or family games night on the side of an outbuilding on your property; or on a sheet draped over the family van. Be creative if you’re in a regulated community.
Even so, families that have more mature individuals in them might go on a bike ride through town. If you’ve got a gentle river nearby, you might take some inner tubes down starting in the late afternoon; then spend sunset casually walking back and recounting the day’s adventures.
In colder climates, sledding can be a lot of fun; and this is a great way to get all the energy evicted from younger members of your family with good, clean physical activity. Just be sure to find a hillside that’s properly lit!
Road trips can also be quite diverting; and you might stay the night at a hotel somewhere. A fine pool and play area can allow you to have indoor and outdoor fun simultaneously. There’s nothing wrong with having a “staycation” at your local town’s best resort!
Photo from BoxBlaster
VR and AR games are reinvigorating for families as its novelty and experiential nature makes it equally engaging and thrilling for both parents and children, also it’s a great experience for family games! The options are plenty, from AR dodgeball to shooting zombies using VR game set. VR/AR game studios and arcades can be visited all year round so there is no additional hassle that goes into the planning, usually an online reservation would be sufficient.
Escape rooms put family bonds to a test because it feature puzzles and mysteries that require the family to work well together to solve them within the given time. It puts children's critical thinking, logical thinking, creativity, problem-solving and communication skills to work. It is a major bonus if the theme of the escape room are inspired by your children's favourite stories, cartoons, or movies.
Exposing children to these new technology helps to raise their awareness and their interest in STEAM subjects. It allows them to appreciate what they are learning in school and at the same time spur their imagination and storytelling skills.
If you want to take another leap, you can also try coding games for kids. This allows your kids to rise interest in computer science as well as understand the basic of programming.
Photo from Tactsim
For families who have teenagers in the “youngest” position of the group, airsoft and paintball can be a lot of fun. Now you do want to be careful here. Airsoft guns have small plastic “BBs” that can put out an eye if those playing aren’t aware of their surroundings, and employing proper protective gear.
Even so, Airsoft is plenty of fun, and as long as you’ve got good eyewear, only a few mild welts may come—a small price to pay. Paintball can be a bit more painful, but it’s diverting for all ages, everybody gets exercise, and plenty of enduring stories of exploits on the faux battlefield develop after the fact. All you need is an empty outdoor lot somewhere.
Now granted, with this activity you want to know your local community, and check into associated laws to ensure you’re putting your family in any undue legal trouble. That said, in a lot of places, so long as you’re a good steward, you’ll be able to go have an adventure. Also, most paintballs have biodegradable paints.
Photo from Sphero
Homestead families of old learned to build things together, and the art isn’t lost in modernity. Working together toward a goal is a very affirming activity that is simultaneously educational, and can reduce budgetary constraints. It’s also perfect for family games on Friday night!
What about building a deck to the backyard, getting the whole family involved, and working on it a few hours with music and brews over the next half a dozen weekends? Granted, this isn’t the best option for smaller children, but adults—especially males—tend to have a lot of fun with projects, despite the occasional expletive.
Lack the backyard space for woodworking? Build robots, toys, or electronics projects together instead. Create an automatic time-based pet feeder with the micro:bit or build an electronic music guitar with a littleBits inventor kit. Children learn best while doing, once that passion is ignited, they will continue to work on projects on their own as they grow older.
While we’re thinking outside the box, keep in mind that family games and activities need not necessarily be anything trendy. Sometimes you might even reinvigorate old trends. Badminton is a great four-person activity. You can get up to ten on a frisbee golf course without undue hassle, and most disc courses remain open till around nine. Have a round, then come home and watch a film or play the best family board games with your family
Whatever you choose to do as a family, find ways of spending time together. When everyone is pitching in toward a collective goal, it does much to establish a social fabric within which everyone can relate emotionally. Psychologically, this can do much to smooth out rough issues and promote harmonious, positive interaction.
]]>Welcome to the second instalment of our Holistic Holidays series! In this edition, we'll be focusing on the physical side of things - getting fit and staying in shape...
]]>Onward to the goodness!
"Meditation?!" You cry, "I can barely get my kids to sit still!" Well, hear us out - there are myriad benefits of meditation and recently, it has become evident that the common thread amongst celebrities, the world's top athletes and many successful entrepreneurs are their daily practice of meditation.
While there aren't as many resources or in-depth studies into meditation for children as there is for adults, it's gaining traction and some schools have even replaced detention with meditation! Children are like sponges - they observe and take in everything around them, always exploring and experiencing. They also have fewer biases and prejudices than an adult, and this makes it easier for them to achieve a state of mindfulness that adults can sometimes have difficulty reaching.
Let's face it, growing up is really not easy! Definitely not with traumatic social epidemics like cyber bullying. Teaching your child how to meditate will not only make them better at focusing on something (like their homework!), it also helps in relieving stress, and boosting their self-esteem, since they are able to look within themselves for emotional stability. This process is also known as self-actualization - getting to know yourself and discovering who you really are.
Children are under constant peer pressure which many times leads to them making poor decisions. Self-actualisation enables and empowers children (or anyone for that matter) to think and act for themselves and not under external influences or negative pressures.
This practice when carried over to daily life, improving overall concentration, interpersonal relationships, overall happiness and provides a great way to decompress after a day full of excitement and intense activities.
Meditating together as a family also serves as a great bonding activity, and an enlightening experience to share with others. It's about finding inner peace, balance, and improving well-being - what better skills to impart to your child this summer than something that will empower them for life?
Click here to find out how to get started in teaching your child meditation.
Here are some beginner-friendly meditation exercises to practice with your kid.
This guided meditation by The Honest Guys is a great place to start.
Relax Like A Boss has a lot of great techniques that you can do together with your child as well.
Check out this list of useful resources for practising mindfulness and meditation.
Does your child fancy themselves as the next possible Jet Li or Jackie Chan? Consider enrolling them for martial arts classes! The BJJ Informer has a great guide on the best martial arts for self defense for your child to choose from; some of them are: karate, boxing, muay thai, aikido, just to name a few.
There's plenty of upsides to letting your child take up a martial art - not only do they learn how to defend themselves against potential assailants, they also gain self-discipline, and respect as these two are core components of any martial art. It also builds confidence in your child, as completing each stage of learning awards them a new belt or ranking, and gives them tangible and realistic goals to strive toward. In addition to empowering them, your child also gets toned, flexible and fit, as physical fitness is a given when your kid does multiple jumping jacks, stretches, and other warmups in their lessons (along with the actual techniques!) Here's a great guide to your "first punch"!
Dojos in Singapore: Evolve MMA | AikiForest | Shitoryu Karate | Shaolin Club | The Gentle Art
Dojos in USA: USA-MartialArts | Karate 4 Kids | US-AMA
Dojos in Asia: Karate Asia (India) | IKO Kyokushinkaikan
Dojos in Europe: Uechi-Ryu | Birankai | Traditional Aikido EU
For more classes, check out BookMartialArts which lists classes and camps from all over the world, and can be sorted by the specific martial art you're interested in.
One of the first steps to wellness is being healthy. We're sure you've had battles with your kids on getting them to eat properly, and all they seem to want are chicken nuggets and cakes!
A good way to get kids interested in eating healthily is to get them involved in preparing and cooking said healthy food - if they get to have a hand in exploring and prep, they're more likely to want to eat whatever they've made. After all, if Masterchef Junior is any indication, kids can certainly cook up a storm! Just make sure to supervise them, so they don't hurt themselves.
Check out these recipes from Tasty, and let your children choose one that they can prepare together with you!
If your child would like to take it a step further, why not look into a cooking class? Click here for courses for budding masterchefs!
If you're located in the US, you can use this site to locate a culinary academy near you.
For additional reading, may we recommend this wonderful book on helping children to be more adventurous in food? It's called "Hungry Monkey", and is one of the recommended reads from J. Kenji López-Alt of "The Food Lab". You can get it here from Amazon.
Rock climbing is a serious all-rounder activity! Not only does it engage the body, it also engages the mind - kids must figure out the most efficient way to reach the endpoint, lest they end up trapped on a dead-end with no way forward. Each move to be made requires focus and concentration - they must plan ahead and figure out where to go, and how to conquer each obstacle.
In doing rock-climbing, kids build core strength and flexibility, and hand/eye/foot coordination, as they require dexterity to manipulate their hands and feet to continue their ascent to the top. They also develop trust and responsibility through belaying (managing the rope of another climber), where they quite literally hold another climber's life in their hands. They also set themselves goals, and in reaching those goals, a sense of achievement can be felt. Every goal is personal, but they are all tangible and gives kids a clear marker when they've accomplished it.
Kids also learn how to overcome fears - rock climbing can seem scary at first, but with each successful climb, they get stronger, better, and faster!
Here is a good read for beginners to climbing, and also includes a writeup on the more advanced form: bouldering.
If you're looking for something a little more advanced and adventurous, check out this training guide on mountain climbing.
Rock-Climbing in Singapore: Little Climbing Room | Ground Up | The Rock School
Rock-Climbing in USA: California Family Fitness | ABC Kids Boulder | Climbzone | Stoneworks
Rock-Climbing in Europe: BoulderKurse | Edinburgh Leisure | Big Rock
Hiking a nature trail together with your kids is a great physical activity, and it allows you to immerse yourself in the beauty of the great outdoors. In addition, it provides ample time to bond with your kids - since there are no devices or extraneous sources of engagement, you and your kids will focus on each other, allowing for several hours of heartfelt sharing and communication. With each successful hike, your kids will develop more strength and stamina, which leads to better physical fitness.
When planning a hike, some factors to think about include:
- Bringing as much water as you can comfortably carry, because everyone will inevitably get thirsty while trekking through the trails.
- Pack snacks! They will fuel you and your kids on your long hike - fruits and nuts are great sources of energy. Make sure to plan properly depending on your hiking plans! Here's a recipe for some delicious homemade trail mix bars. Not a fan of trail mix? Take a look at these recipes instead.
- Extra change of clothes! Accidents happen - your kid may fall into a mud puddle, or get their socks wet while splashing around in streams. The less you need to worry about yourself and your kids getting dirty while exploring, the more fun you'll have. Check out this post for some great hiking gear made for kids.
For more tips, check out Crazy Family Adventure's post.
If you're thinking about an overnight hike, here's some advice on how to plan for it.
Ready to set off on an adventure?
Here are 10 hiking trails for families in Singapore!
If you're in the US, National Geographic has a family-friendly list right here.
Check out Keens for some great hiking footwear for yourself and your kids!
For more on parenting and preparing for the summer holidays, check out this complete parental guide for the summer holidays
Well, as we know, right now not all countries are safe for outdoors activities. If that's the case, we need more options for activity ideas with your children. Here is what we can do at home:
- Indoor camping at home. Check this post for more ideas to set indoor camping with your children
- Playing board games! It's simple and if we can pick the right game, it'd be educating too. Check out this board game option: Potato Pirates: Enter The Spudnet to learn about how internet works and defence our children from cyberthreat.
Click here for more ideas for activities with your children.
Oh, the summer holidays are around the corner. What most would picture themselves doing is having the time to laze around at the beach and munching on ice cream during the long summer day. Unless you are one of the people who have the title of a parent, then, that is unfortunately not the case for you. You worry about what your children will be up to when school is closed. Will they injure themselves? Pick up bad habits? Get bored?
Here, you can find a comprehensive guide to help your kids have a fun and meaningful summer. And equally important: for you to have a peace of mind so that even without schools, you will survive!
Have a plan and stock up resources
While this sounds like a no-brainer, having the right game plan is crucial if you want a peaceful summer. As your work carries on while your children now have all the time in the world to have fun (create troubles), having some resources ready will be essential.
Depending on your child's age and interests, you may consider stocking up resources for them in advance. This will mitigate boredom and its related destructive symptoms, including unnecessary calls and messages, complaints about boredom or requests for new toys and new gadgets.
Do you mean actual books? Yes. Engaging your children with books might sound old. Fact is, they never get old. Reading as the time-proven pass time for children provide many benefits and there are actually many children's books authors consistently producing quality works. If you’re stuck for inspiration on what to buy or borrow, check out the list below:
If your children like nature, animals or frogs, consider this beautifully illustrated book by Owen Davey. 4.5 out of 5 rating on Goodreads.
For your kids who are interested in machines! The younger ones can enjoy the graphics while the older ones can read and learn more about how different machines work.
A children's book that explores the meaning of friendship in times of uncertainty. From Wendy Meddour to your little ones' gentle hearts. 4.48/5 Goodreads rating.
4.66/5 rating on Goodreads, this book by Vashti Hardy is an enjoyable read with a mix of fantasy, science fiction, school stories, and what it means to love and to lose.
The detective duo is out to solve another case this summer holiday. Rated 4.43 out of 5 on Goodreads, this young adult fiction by Sharna Jackson brings your children to a mystery adventure.
4.36 average rating on Goodreads, this tale by bestselling author Sarah Rees Brennan is about friendship, falling in love and diplomacy.
The second of The Dundoodle Mysteries by David O'Connell, this book is a must-read for the curious who love ghosts, monsters, and marshmallows.
Butterfly Garden is a best-seller on Amazon. Let your kids raise some butterflies and discover wonders of nature this summer.
For the young detectives:
Master detective toolkit has a majority customers rate 5 stars on Amazon. It allows your young detectives to learn the tools, understand forensic science and experiment hands-on. Solve some mysteries in this long summer break.
For the little musicians:
Enjoy some music created by your little ones this summer with this tambourine set!
For Generation Tech:
For your children who grow up being surrounded by the Internet and mobile devices, what is better than a toy that teaches the very foundation of coding - unplugged. Find more unplugged coding activities for kids here.
Having the resources ready to entertain your children's curiosity is only part of the summer plan. A right mindset is equally crucial. If you have not heard of mindfulness or mindful parenting, now is a perfect time to start knowing more about it!
The essence of it is about being in touch with feelings when interacting with your kids. Take note of how both you and your children are feeling even when there is tension or conflict. A lot of times, when children misbehave: yelling on the streets or crying out loud on the train, we see the parents get angry and raise their voice too. However, mindful parenting offers us a more effective and sustainable alternative. It goes down to understanding the reasons behind your kids' tantrums. As children's cognition is still developing, so are their emotional regulation ability. When they fail to handle the intensity of their emotions, they may burst out and throw a tantrum. To set a good example, parents should be calm. This will demonstrate to your children that with practice, they too can control their own emotions. Besides, it prevents further escalation of the tension.
However, when your kids are yelling and everyone else around you are staring, it isn't the easiest time to remain calm. Mindful parenting provides us with some tips at this time of need.
Spend some of your time having parent child communication activities. Talk with your kid on how they want to spend their summer holidays. While it is tempting to ask "What's your summer plan?" and leave the rest to your child, it might not be effective especially if they are still young. If you are stuck, here are some useful questions to get you started.
If things go according to plans, you will be celebrating the reopening of schools at this point. But we all know they often don't. So to give the summer holidays some closure, try some of the ideas below:
For more resources for the summer holiday, check out:
Like our A Complete Guide For Parents To Survive The Summer Holidays -- For more resources for parents:
References:
Kaminsky, M. S. (2010). Naked Lens - Video Blogging and Video Journaling to Reclaim the YOU in YouTube: How to Use Online Video to Increase Self Expression, Enhance Creativity, and Join the Video Regeneration. Retrieved from https://books.google.com.sg/books?id=grhR1eYswPkC
Mindful Parenting: How to Respond Instead of React by Parent Co. on October 6, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.gottman.com/blog/mindful-parenting-how-to-respond-instead-of-react/
School’s out! Summer holidays ahoy! For the Potato Pirates crew, Summer not only means even more Sun, Sea, and Sand; it's also a great time to promote learning through fun and engaging activities, with many wonderful opportunities to create amazing memories as a family. However, with a holiday break as long as this, we're sure some of you might be worried about the times your kids start feeling bored or spend too much time in front of a screen - whether it be the computer, or the TV (we quite dislike that!)
Fret not - the crew of the S.S. Megachip has put together a comprehensive list of tuber-awesome things you can do together with your family that are not only fun but also holistically wholesome, where kids have the opportunity to hone their skills and assimilate life values. These are steps you can take to help your child to become a lifelong learner, maker, and creator and not just any passive consumer.
This is the 1st of a 2-part series that we have prepared for your child and family. This week, we explore activities that celebrate the beauty of the outdoors, experiencing new things, and appreciating nature. We hope to keep you and your kids' holidays productive and fruitful through these new experiences. Onward!
1. Cultivating green fingers through terrariums
One great way to get your kids interested in nature is to teach them to raise their own plants and later on, they can even explore growing their own food.
A terrarium is the perfect way to introduce greenery anywhere in your home, even if you’re strapped for space. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to educate your child on a basic ecosystem and how water cycles work, as well as providing something for them to relax their eyes. This is a great way to get kids started especially since pre-packed kits are readily available, along with a dizzying array of containers - meaning your child can make the terrarium to their liking. The components are easily customizable and your child will have fun learning about the different kinds of plants that can thrive in a terrarium.
There are two main types of terrariums - open, and closed.
An open terrarium is not enclosed, which allows water to evaporate from the container and requires more maintenance, such as being watered every other day (which can cultivate a sense of responsibility for your child.)
This video shows the basic steps needed to construct an open terrarium.
A closed terrarium is a self-contained ecosystem, and generally doesn't require much maintenance once it's created, meaning it can be left to its own devices for weeks at a time without any watering. However, not every type of plant can thrive in such a terrarium.
For more detailed information on a closed terrarium, click here.
2. Advanced Green Fingers: Growing your own food
With modern technology and agricultural methods, you no longer need a huge plot of land to grow veggies for your own consumption - even if you live in an apartment, you can still grow a variety of edible plants! Of course it'd be biased if we only promoted cultivation of potatoes. You can even grow your own mushrooms using laundry baskets, if you so desire. Microgreens are also beginner friendly, and readily available in kits from Amazon. Bon appetit has a great article that gives the basics of growing vegetables in a small space.
3. Geocaching
Summer’s the perfect time to go outdoors and get some sun! Geocaching is basically a huge scavenger hunt, with "caches" hidden all over the world. Simply download the GeoCache app and begin hunting! When you find a cache, you can sign the logbook to let others know you've been there, and even leave a trinket for the next GeoCacher. It's a great way to explore your neighbourhood together.
4. Stargazing and astronomy
Nightfall doesn't mean that you can't see the beauty of the great outdoors - you just have to look somewhere else, like up above. Get started with backyard astronomy, and hone your skills with the help of these tips from Mentalfloss.
When you're feeling adventurous, check out these beautiful stargazing locations from around the world. Not only does this expand children’s knowledge on astronomy, it also allows them to comprehend the vastness of the cosmos, galaxy and universe - encouraging them to ponder on concepts and things larger than themselves.
Want to invest in some equipment? Get some kid friendly binoculars from Amazon. Alternatively, for serious stargazers, go all out and get a telescope. Check out the best telescopes for under $200.
Did you know?
There are more stars in the known universe than there are grains of sand on Earth. Seems impossible doesn't it? There are an estimated 100 billion (yes billion with a B) galaxies, each containing 100 to 400 billion (there's that word again) stars. This would be a great juncture for you and your children to explore Fermi's Paradox.
5. Volunteering
One of the most fulfilling things you can do together as a family is volunteer at a local shelter or home, and give back to your community. If you're an animal-lover, volunteer at your local animal or pet shelter; or help out at your local soup kitchen. It's a great way to teach your kids compassion and empathy, as well as helping those in need.
There are many benefits of volunteering. Social skills are developed through social situations and social interaction. The young generation today could definitely do with more face-to-face interaction.
Schools put a lot of emphasis on inculcating responsibility, leadership, a sense of initiative, communication and organisation skills among other soft-skills in their students. In the confines of the classroom, these skills are not the easiest to foster. Volunteering ensures kids learn these virtues by being in the midst of the action; not just that, it allows for children to learn from one another.
For the more adventurous families, check out this website that has options for volunteer programs in other countries.
6. Learn to swim
Summer's one of the best seasons to go swimming! Be it in pools, streams, lakes or the beach; it's a great way to cool off. Besides being a great form of exercise which works out the whole body, swimming is also an important survival skill and can save your child's life, as drowning is one of the most common occurrences in accidental loss of life. Not only that, being able to swim also allows your child the freedom to engage in various water-sports such as kayaking, canoeing, and surfing, to name a few.
Did you know?
Swimming in sea water has great beauty and health benefits. So what're you waiting for?
Check out this page to find out more information on getting your kid prepared for swimming!
7. Adventure Camps
It's a perfect opportunity to get your kids out to engage in activities they wouldn't normally find themselves doing - connecting with nature. No matter where you live, there's bound to be something for your child.
Adventure camp activities aren't a walk in the park; they can be mentally and physically challenging. However, trained camp instructors and facilitators are always there to help your children get out of their comfort zone and overcome their fears. The tasks and activities are designed to teach them important values such as determination, responsibility and lifelong skills like teamwork and communication.
Being in an unfamiliar environment without refuge helps children learn to be more independent. It provides a good opportunity for them to reflect on their lifestyle to better appreciate the things they usually take for granted back at home. You may be slightly worried about their safety and miss them at first, but seeing their transformation and growth will be the best reward for that sacrifice.
The benefits are innumerable - from developing new skills to forging new friendships, from becoming independent to experiencing holistic growth. Having conducted many holiday day-camps for kids aged 4 to 12 in the past, the Potato Pirates Crew encourages all families to let your kids experience great fun and great learning this summer with our parent child games!
8. Family Camps
Camps don’t always have to be organised by external parties- you can easily set up camp in campsites such as East Coast Park, Pasir Ris Park, West Coast Park among others for a memorable family experience. You can apply for a permit with the National Parks Board, which allows up to 4 days of stay at a designated campsite free of charge! Remove yourselves from the hustle and bustle of city life, and enjoy nature. Take a serene walk at night and watch the waves crash onto the beach- the views at East Coast Park are AMAZING. Plan out days of barbecue, if that’s your thing!
On quieter nights, you might be tempted to turn to your phones for entertainment. Imagine yourself on a camping trip with your family, and everyone is on their phones. Where are the memories being made? Instead, consider binging along our latest coding card game, Potato Pirates 3: Battlechips on a camping trip can make for a wonderful memory-building session, unplugged from phones! Potato Pirates 3: Battlechips is a physical family board game filled with thrilling coding concepts.
A more traditional, physical form of games can bring a lot of joy and let you enjoy the moment. It might also be perfect if you want to introduce computer science to your kids because playing games is way more fun than reading a textbook, don’t you agree?
For Singaporean families, here are some cool camps to check out:
Kids Camp Singapore - for the more active and sporty kids!
Camp Asia - Includes activities such as learning how to cook, parkour, and even magic shows!
This website is a great resource for finding camps in your area if you're in the USA. Also, try these other websites:
USA: Wilderness Adventures
Canada: Camps.CA
Australia: Aussie Summer Camps
Europe: Camp Europe | Les Elfes | Camp Adventure | Camp Suisse
South Africa: Sugar Bay Camp
That's all for now!
Look out for Part 2 coming out next week!
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Is knowing this even important?
Parent child communication activities are important in fostering a close bond between you and your child. Children are especially vulnerable to the dangers of the world, and it is important to make sure that they feel comfortable talking to you so that you can address any red flags as they come. Parent-child games are great ways to create a relationship that features strong communication between both parent and child! Through games like our coding card games, Potato Pirates, you can work together or come up with strategies to win the game.
But before that, understanding and identifying your parenting style can help you discover the possible effects it may have on your child. As a parent, you probably want to bring your child up in a way you think best nurtures the values you want them to have. Although you might be giving it your all trying to raise them well, it's tough to know if you've checked all the right boxes till they actually grow up. That's where knowing how different parenting styles accentuate different behaviours and habits in children comes into the picture. The better you can utilise various styles based on the outcome you want, the more likely you'll see your desired end result. Equally as important is the fact that each child is unique and just like how the education system isn't one size fits all, parenting style shouldn't be either. So it's imperative for parents to be self aware and identify what your child needs to help them grow in a holistically enriching environment.
One of the greatest titles in the world is parent, and one of the biggest blessings in the world is to have parents to call mom and dad.
- Jim DeMint
Now that you know which Potato Pirate Parent you are, here are the various activities and games you can play with your kids to further foster a nurturing relationship with them.
Quartermaster Maris Piper
Authoritarian Parenting Style:
The authoritarian parent tends to keep a tighter hold on their children, creating lots of structure and rules for them to follow. You prefer to make the decisions for your child, believe you should have the final say in all matters and don't need to explain your decisions to anyone. While you can ensure the safety of your child with this parenting style, it may come with some unintended effects. According to research, children with authoritarian parents may become hostile or aggressive possibly because they lack the avenue to express themselves. This parenting style has also been associated with kids having low self esteem, being good liars and not being able to make rational decisions.
Want to bridge the gaps in your relationship? Trying some of these games might just do the trick:
Human Knot Icebreaker (Ideal for 4 or more players)
To play, first get all players to stand in a circle with outstretched arms. Then each player holds onto 2 other people's hands, avoiding the hands of those directly on either side of them. The aim of the game is to untangle all the human arm knots by twisting, turning, going over and under each others' arms without letting go of any hands.
While playing, try to take a back seat and follow the directions your kid provides so they can gain confidence in speaking up and presenting their ideas. Or, you could talk your child through your thought process to aid their understanding of the reasons behind your suggestion. That would help teach them how to rationalise when making decisions. Continuing to set up such interactions could create a less stressful environment for open communication.
Captain: Potato King VII
Authoritative Parenting Style:
The authoritative parent tends to be warmer and more responsive to their children. And although they do set rules and structure for their children, they do it in greater moderation and provide explanations for their decisions to do so. You believe that your child learns and cooperates best when you reason with them so that you can see eye to eye more easily. You encourage your child to communicate openly with you and that has been considered most effective in building a balanced relationship.
We know threading that fine line between being too strict and too much like a friend is a tough job! So these games might help you maintain that balance:
Pong Tac Toe (Ideal for 2 or more players)
This game requires just an egg tray and a pack of plastic balls/anything that you can use to replace ping pong balls. Simply set up the tray and blindfold the player who is tossing the balls. The tosser will be positioned 2 arms length from the tray. The other player will give the blindfolded tosser instructions to make a successful shot. Within a time limit of 60 seconds, both players compete to see who scores more points (the score player 1 gets is the amount of shots player 2 scores when player 1 is giving directions).
Active communication will be essential throughout the duration of the game. So this boosts confidence in speaking to each other and being able to accept and follow the directions being given by either party. The competitive aspect of this will not only get their adrenaline pumping but allow both players to interact as friends would. Get your playful side out and indulge in a little healthy competition!
Quartermaster Guadacho
Permissive Parenting Style:
The permissive parent is often lenient and only steps in when there are severe issues. You champion open communication and it shows when you encourage your children to confide in you. You are almost as close to your child as they are to their best friend. Rules and restrictions also aren't your priority, and you let your child decide almost everything for themselves. However, giving too much freedom to your child may lead to them overlooking authority.
Having a couple more no's could provide the structure that your child needs. Here are some suggestions to encourage that.
Coding Games
Coding games like Potato Pirates are a great way to connect with your kids . Besides spending quality time with your kid, it also gives you the chance to be more firm when reminding them to stick to the rules of the game if they try to cut corners.
Plus, given the nature of coding, the specific order and logic that must be followed to achieve a comprehensive result will reinforce the need to stick to guidelines. This teaches them that even if it is just a game, there are still standards that should not be compromised. Show them that following guidelines in seemingly insignificant situations is as important as following them in more significant occasions.
The Russet Minions
Uninvolved Parenting Style:
The uninvolved parent is often occupied with work, household demands and paying bills. They tend to have little knowledge of what their child is doing and their whereabouts. The child may struggle with self-esteem issues and perform poorly in school as a result of the detached relationship.
Fret not, it's not all grey skies ahead! Here are several things you can try to better your relationship with your child:
Volunteer at a Mission
Volunteering not only opens your child up to an enriching experience but also enables you to connect with your child on a level typically not achievable in day to day life. When thrown into an unfamiliar environment, it makes each party that much more dependent on each other for support and company.
Steering through this new adventure together could be the turning point of your relationship as both of you enter the situation with the same knowledge and learn on the same plane. It exemplifies to your child what you stand for and gives you the chance to communicate with your child socially and emotionally. Research has shown that volunteering alongside your family members strengthens bonds so step out of the norm to get a couple of days off work for a short mission trip.
Board Games
One of the best parent child communication activities you can do is scheduling a game night. This would be a great way to connect with your child while doing something fun. Some examples are Battleship, Monopoly, and Risk. Such games involve communication plus they provide a common topic or area of interest that can become conversation starters for you. Games like these are awesome as you will have to work closely with your child to reach the end. Don't be afraid to battle it out to the end and spur some competition!
Potato Pirates — Enter the Spudnet is a board game inspired by how the Internet works. That's why it's also known as cybersecurity game. This pirates game is perfect for family bonding and learning the Internet together. Dispatch ships, fulfill orders and dodge cyber-attacks while learning a thing or two about network and cybersecurity.
Potato-pirating as a family can help you understand one another better-including each other’s tactical strengths and weaknesses! You can discuss and experiment the different strategies over the dinner table, encouraging effective communication as you navigate through the obstacles that come with the game.
Apart from teaching the family coding concepts, this executive functioning game can help to sharpen the mind. Different strategies such as negotiation and teamwork can be employed to win the game. This encourages the development of social skills that are important not only in the navigation of the game, but also life!
Most importantly, the thrill of this stem board game also helps to relieve stress from work and school. Here’s an idea- enjoy a riveting game of Potato Pirates while munching on steamed potatoes. May the potato force be with you.
Get it in our store.
Share this with someone you know who would appreciate and adopt these activities within their family.