Category: Well-Being

24 days of Fun and Cheap Holiday Activities to Keep Kids Busy

boy and girl playing with dad

Holidays bring a mix of feelings for almost everyone. Parents are forced to think of fun things to do at home during holidays to prevent kids from boredom. So, if you’ve been wondering, “What are some fun holiday activities, or how do I entertain my kids on a budget?” you’ll get all your answers right here.

To make the most out of off-days or keep your child busy, below are some holiday activities for kids that will not let you fret!

So scroll down and find new activities for each day.

Holiday activities for kids – First week

Go for Volunteering:

Holidays always give you enough time to indulge in extra yet soulful activities. Volunteering is also one of them. Check if any club or organization is looking for volunteers around you, and push your kids for this mindful activity.

Make Sock Toy:

If your kid’s stuffed toy is no longer as pretty as it should be, try making a new one using spare socks available in your home.

Practice Setting Goals and Completing Them:

This is the healthiest activity. By setting goals and practicing their fulfillment can help kids with their mental strength building.

Invent New Games:

Do you want your kids to practice brainstorming more often? That shouldn’t always have to be academic, right? So try making new games of your own as holiday activities.

Charitable Giving

Have a discussion with your kids about giving.  Decide what you can do as a family to help someone in need or an organization. Everyone can contribute, even very small amounts from young children.  It’s an excellent way to ignite compassion for giving in share in the joy together.

Start Journaling:

Journaling can help your kid in many ways too. For example, being aware of their good and bad deeds or how much fun they had in a particular, all this when written can turn out good. Also, journaling helps in improving writing skills a lot.

Try to be Close to Nature:

You can utilize holidays in a way that makes your kid closer to nature. For example, going for nature walks.

Host Play Date Outside:

Put your backyard to use by hosting a play date. This is another one of the healthy holiday activities that can help your kids maintain a bond with their buddies.

Plan 2nd week of entertainment for your kids

Attend a Holiday Lightshow:

Christmas might be just around the corner and if you’re not sure what to do exactly, then try exciting and fun-filled Christmas ideas for kids. Attending a holiday light show can be one of them too.

Read Books:

Reading books doesn’t always have to be as boring as it sounds usually. You can use audiobooks, books for kids that come in an interactive form or accompany your kid’s reading session, so he doesn’t feel alone.

Try Verbal Games:

Verbal games come in handy when you’re really busy with important work of your own. With such games, your kid will stay active and practice his vocabulary words while you do your own work.

Bedroom Makeover:

Making changes to your surroundings can be one of the holiday activities too. This will let your kids make changes as they wish as well as stay active.

Visit the Library:

Nothing beats a healthy visit to the library. Push your kids to join book clubs and discuss books after reading them.

Suggest a Science Experiment:

You can discuss with your kid and see what interests him the most in his science subject. Then, you can select an experiment related to it as a holiday activity.

Learn About The World:

Utilize these holidays to increase your kids’ knowledge about the world he lives in. This can also help him develop a positive attitude after knowing the good he has been blessed with.

Keep your child busy in 3rd week also

Create An Idea Box:

It is perfectly normal to run out of creative ideas sometimes. So to deal with this, you can create an idea box and expand the holiday activities you want to do with your kid.

Write Holiday Stories:

Writing holiday stories can help collect memories in a way that your kid can go through again.

Family Photo Shoot

It is often difficult to get everyone together for a Christmas photo. A child’s first impression of it may be that it’s boring.  So, why not make the family photo shoot a fun activity.  Create a theme and dress up accordingly.

Arrange Slumber Party:

Spend a night with the kids at a slumber party arranged at your own place. Kids always love to try fun ways to spend their nights.

Teach them Baking:

Is your kid a sweet tooth? Then try teaching him baking because he’d definitely love trying and tasting baked items.

Play Board Games:

Playing board games can be a perfect option as one of the holiday activities.

Sketching:

You can also encourage your kid to improve his sketching skills during the holiday break.

Try Music Classes:

Based on the interests of your kids, you can sign up for music classes too. Creativity comes in different shapes, and being good at music is one of them.

Conclusion:

Being mindful of your kid’s positive learning can sometimes feel trickier. But not to worry, because we are constantly surrounded by opportunities waiting for us to explore.

So, hopefully, these holiday activities will keep your kids active, busy, and happy throughout the holiday season.

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8 of the Best Brain Games for Children

Building Block Brain Game

Looking for ways to engage kids that don’t involve a TV of some kind? Want to entertain your child in a way that is helpful to their growth and development? Brain games for kids are simpler than you think.  Children are growing constantly, and their brains are making new connections all the time.

These easy games can be done almost anywhere and will help your child develop important thought processes for later in life.   Keep reading to learn more!

1. Minesweeper

Minesweeper is a single-player puzzle video game where players clear a rectangular board by revealing cells without hitting hidden mines, using numeric clues to avoid detonation.

It’s excellent for children as it helps develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and logical reasoning while providing a challenging and engaging gaming experience.

2. I Spy and Simon Says

These games for children can be more productive than you may realize. Saying “I spy with my little eye something green” and then having your child find the green objects in the room helps with spatial awareness, memory, and language.

Simon Says offers a lot of the same benefits, as well as enhancing attention and a better ability to follow instructions.

3. A Scavenger Hunt

You might not think that a scavenger hunt involves brain training, but by making it a themed scavenger hunt, you can teach them about all kinds of topics. This also helps them with focus and orienting tasks in a certain order of completion. It can be a great game when you need them entertained for a while as well.

4. Building Blocks

Providing your child with blocks or other toys that can be stacked and built upon may seem like a very simple way of keeping a child busy. However, this can help early development of color recognition, coordination, and math skills.

This can be helpful later when your child needs to tackle some easy school projects, and they already have the basic building blocks of construction and crafts.

5. Playing Pretend

While playing pretend may feel like a child’s play, it is filled with brain exercises. Playing pretend or make-believe helps your child with language, emotional skills, social skills, and learning to think on the spot.

They will better understand things in the world and how it works. Try being creative with playing pretend by doing a wide variety of roles.

6. Story Time

This is not just about reading to your child from a book, but giving them the opportunity to tell their own story. Allowing your child to create their own narrative helps with memory, building up language abilities, and confidence in your child’s own imagination.

You can use prompts to get started and take turns making up stories together. This is a great activity for car rides when there isn’t much going on.

7. Puzzles

Puzzles are great for brain training, and you can find puzzles that fit a variety of ages. Whether you’re doing Sudoku, a word puzzle, or an actual puzzle with pieces, your child is learning spatial awareness, fine motor skills, problem-solving and more.

There are also online puzzles for kids who are more interested in playing games online.

8. Game Night

Board games and card games make for great brain exercises. You can do a family game night with everyone, or simply play games when you have the time. Games can help a child learn how to handle frustration, how to plan and coordinate, and problem solve on the spot.

Best Brain Games

Some of the best brain games are simple and easy to learn, but can help your child in innumerable ways. You don’t need lots of fancy gadgets and tech to help your child learn how to succeed in the world.

Often the best games are the ones where you’re having fun and don’t even realize you’re learning. And if this helped you get some good ideas on how to entertain and teach your child at the same time, keep reading for more great tips and tricks.

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How to get better aim in Apex Legends

How to get better aim in Apex Legends

Nobody would want to stay stagnant at any activity; the same applies to gamers. In a shooter game like Apex legends, it is important to win. However, a major determinant of your winning chances is the precision and accuracy of your shots.

So in this article, we will be presenting some tips that, if applied, will boost your aiming and shot precision. You will also find some valuable hacks for your Apex Legend games at https://aimclub.io/apex-legends-cheats/. So do well to get some ready before your next match.

How to get better aiming in Apex Legends

1.    Embrace the firing range

The firing range provides a less threatening environment that allows you to practice with several elements. For example, you can practice with your crosshair to get the best placements for close-range and long-range fights in the range. Also, the range can serve as a good warm-up arena before you go into an actual match.

2.    The 3D aim trainer helps.

The 3D aim trainer is an external platform that you can use to upgrade your aiming. On the website, you get to select any legend, weapons, and scope of your choice. You can then choose to play in either the Zombie survival or the 1v1 mode.

Also, you can sign up if you want to participate in assessments that will help you to track your improvement. This option also teaches you to get better at the game and doesn’t require payment of any sort. Better still, there is a mobile app that can be used on both android and IOS devices.

3.    Practice with your friends

Having some of your friends around makes your practice time more fun. Thankfully, you can practice in the range with your friends. So we recommend friendly matches with some of your friends; make sure you enable the friendly fire option. This allows you guys to engage in friendly 1v1 fights. These fights help you to fine-tune your reaction time and aim better.

4.    Learn different recoil patterns

Different guns in Apex legends have different recoils. Therefore you must have an idea of the recoil pattern of your favorite weapons. Take some time to study the different recoils and practice mouse movements that will keep your crosshair on your enemy for long.

5.    Interchange ADSing and hip firing appropriately.

ADSing and hip firing are two different techniques that have their pros and cons. ADS can be a good boost to your accuracy, but it adversely affects your field of view in a huge way. In addition to that, you have restricted movement, making it a bad move during close-range fights.

So, when you’re caught in close-range fights, use hip-firing instead of ADSing. It makes it easier for you to make controlled movements while tracking your enemies.

Be a better gamer. Learn PUBG Tips and Tricks From Professionals

6.    Consistently maintain your crosshair at head level

Many players get into the habit of just shooting generally in the direction of the enemy. This is bad since you may only end up alerting the enemy of your position without hitting him. Be deliberate about delivering headshots for maximum damage.

Shooting at the body delivers less damage, with the least damages done with shots to the legs. However, it will end up wasting your ammo and might keep you there till other enemies come to the scene. So make it a habit always to keep your crosshair at head level. This should also apply when you are strafing to make some unanticipated shots.

7.    Customize your settings

The default settings of many games will not always favor all players. This is why you should take some time to customize some of the game settings before going full swing. Therefore, a critical setting you should adjust is your mouse sensitivity.

Making it high makes you make twitchy movements with the least accuracy. Spend some of your time in the practice range to make adjustments to suit your playstyle.

Conclusion

A lot of players still suck at their aiming for the singular that they don’t practice consistently. Now that we’ve shared these tips put them to heart. What’s more important is that you stay consistent in practicing these tips till you have a firm grasp of them. Remember, settings are important to adjust, and recoil is important to master.

Read about how to engage safety with other gamers.

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What is Stimming ADHD? What is its Effect on the Human Body?

Stimming ADHD

The word ‘stimming’ is an abbreviation for ‘self-stimulating behavior’ which is typically socially acceptable and normal behavior. What is stimming ADHD?  The answer is that it’s a form of self-stimulation used when one is bored or experiencing something uncomfortable.

Children living with ADHD face unique challenges. Stimming is simply a way to help them to focus, reduce anxiety, or release excess energy.

Some of the things a person does that can be considered ‘stimming’ include:

  • Chewing the inside of their cheek
  • Excessive or unnecessary sniffling
  • Twirling your hair
  • Biting your nails
  • Humming
  • Tapping a writing utensil such as a pen, or pencil

From these examples, you can see that stimming is a very common behavior. These behaviors can be observed in people of all backgrounds, disabilities, and ages. Stimming is a natural response that is not unique to intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals.

Difference Between ASD Stimming and ADHD Stimming

Stimming for those on the autism spectrum disorder is different than ADHD Stimming in severity and duration. ADHD self-stimming behaviors occur when sensory overload happens while trying to concentrate. An example is someone with ADHD thinking about writing, as they rock back and forth, or twirl their hair.

ADHD Stimming or in Developmentally Delays

ADHD stimming can function as a source of comfort and control for those with developmental disorders. Most children or adults with developmental disabilities often experience sensory overload. Stimming is a means of regaining control over a certain sensation or experience.

Children who are easily overwhelmed by too much auditory input might easily begin shouting or shrieking in response. A child overwhelmed with visual input may begin pressing their hands against eyelids, or move their eyes back and forth quickly. These actions are known as adaptive mechanisms.

These adaptive mechanisms, or stimming help the disabled to communicate their emotions. For this reason, stimming can be loud, different, and distracting from the ‘normal’ sources of self-stimulation. These types of stimming are most likely the reason people associate stimming with those who are developmentally delayed.

ADHD Stimming

Developmental disabilities are not always accompanied with ADHD. What is more common is for children with ADHD to experience sensory difficulties. For this reason, ADHD stimming is much like what you would see in a child on the autism spectrum, rather than what would be observed in their typical peers.

ADHD stimming typically involves fidgeting. Stimming for these children can range from squirming in their chair to humming loudly, and even speaking over others and more. These behaviors are used for the child to find some form of sensory input.

Stimming helps a child with ADHD quiet down their sensory systems and the unpleasant sensations in their body. Depending on the child and the environment, stimming will create a new sensation that is pleasant to experience. The reasons for seeking sensation are unique to each and can change daily.

Autism is characterized by high levels of anxiety and stress. As such, many autistic people have an aversion to bright lights, especially if they are flashing or strobe light patterns. In fact, some autistic people may be so sensitive to these types of stimuli that they cannot even tolerate them. This can be a challenge in the classroom setting for students on the spectrum.  However, there are ways for educators to provide solutions for coping with this type of hypersensitivity.

How ADHD Stimming Helps

There are multiple reasons an individual uses stimming. For some, they want to gain control over a situation, others are trying to redirect unpleasant energy or fear. When used for these reasons, sensory overload is typically involved. Stimming is a form of control and can appear in a dramatic movement.

Dramatic stimming can include rocking, crying, or jumping. These actions are able to help quiet an overloaded sensory system. Stimming can relieve excess energy, so tapping feet, pacing, and fidgeting can also quiet overloaded sensory systems. The core of ADHD is hyperactivity, so these actions are not abnormal, but more matter of course.

For some, stimming is used as a means to alleviate boredom. This is perhaps the most common reason for those without a disorder. These small expenditures of energy engage a body in several ways without taking a lot of effort or thought.

When to Intervene on ADHD Stimming

For the most part, stimming does not require intervention. If the action is not interfering with one’s daily life, you do not need to stop the action. When stimming begins to interfere with one living a well-adjusted, healthy life, then educators, parents, or therapists need to intervene.

Intervention is often needed when a child is on the ADS, and in some cases, children who have ADHD. If a child stares off into space and does not acknowledge their educator, it interferes with their academic achievement. If a child hums or speaks over others, this will also require intervention.

Intervention can include applied behavioral analysis, as these behaviors negatively impact a child’s social skills and social behaviors. Children with ADHD and sensory issues are likely to have larger stimming behaviors. These students will probably have an IEP, or 504 plan to improve their learning abilities.

ADHD stimming at home is unlikely to need the same level of intervention as when in school. You may still want to apply some support or an intervention such as ADHD therapy. Children with ADHD often have trouble sitting at the table and could develop unhealthy relationships with eating and food.

Other stimming events that can occur in the home include difficulty completing chores or listening to your directions, which can lead to rifts in relationships. There are some cases where stimming can lead to self-injury which will need intervention.

In Conclusion

Some people feel that discouraging a child not to stim is like forcing someone to give up something they love, that it is cruel. For others, stimming functions are a source of alienation from peers and must be addressed and resolved.  Determining if stimming is damaging or not depends on your child’s goals. You will have to seek the treatment you feel necessary for them to succeed.

Learn what to do if you are a parent struggling with ADHD symptoms.

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