These days, we live in an incredible rush. "Wake up quickly, get up quickly, quickly, the coffee's getting cold quickly..." From the moment we wake up in the morning until the evening. Because we have to make it to preschool, school, or the bus. Unfortunately, we also serve this rush and overload on our children. In the afternoon, there's no time to breathe – there are usually language, sports, or art classes. In the evening, it's lessons, dinner, and bed. It's hard to find time for anything else.
That's why vacations should at least be a time for slowing down. A time for greater mindfulness and freedom. A time for unrestrained play, as well as the opportunity to be bored, because that's how the best ideas and most creative play come about. Let's allow our little ones to let loose, get messy, and experience childhood to the fullest, with all their senses.
Holiday ideas for kids - 7 activities
Below, we'll present 7 activities and summer fun activities that we believe every child should experience during the summer holidays . Not just during the holidays, in fact, our little ones should be having this kind of fun every day. But summer is the perfect time to start a sensory detox. A detox from tablets, phones, cartoons, the rush, the rush, and the constant rush. So, let's slow down...
Swimming in a river, lake, sea or even a puddle
Most of our children go swimming, but there's nothing more enjoyable than a daily swim in a nearby river or lake (if the water quality allows, of course). If we don't have access to any water, a small pool, a large bowl, or simply letting our children splash in a puddle is enough. Swimming, splashing, splashing, jumping, and running are favorite water activities . A warm summer rain can also be great fun and a unique experience, eagerly awaited by children.
The youngest children experience water with all their senses, practice observation, hand-eye coordination, cause-and-effect thinking, general coordination, strengthen muscle tone and a whole host of other important developmental skills.
Playing in the mud
Mud is a must-have for summer play . If you don't have any naturally occurring mud, it's worth making your own. It's no wonder that one of the most popular garden games is a mud kitchen. Just give your child the green light to explore this topic, and they'll find the perfect material for play while simultaneously stimulating their senses, such as touch, sensory perception, and balance .
We all know that a dirty child is a happy child ;-)
Getting dirty is one of the most important sensory skills necessary for life, so don't worry if your child gets dirty. We should be concerned about clean children—it's a sign of developmental blockages that hinder their free experience .
Running barefoot on grass and other textures
Let our children run barefoot on grass, sand, dirt, pine cones, and even rocks. Let's take off our shoes and free our feet! These activities strongly stimulate touch, proprioception, and balance. These are excellent exercises for little feet, recommended by physiotherapists and orthopedists. Children need to experience different sensations and textures. If they don't have the opportunity, they'll have a hard time adapting to new sensory experiences and, later, to the various challenges of life.
Climbing trees.
Remember climbing trees as children ? There weren't any fancy climbing structures on playgrounds, so we used whatever we could find – walls, carpet beaters, fences, and, of course, trees. That's why it's so important now that every child has the opportunity to climb a regular tree at least once. It might sound absurd, but in this age of fantastic playgrounds, children often don't even think of it. Tree climbing, in addition to tactile, auditory, and even olfactory stimulation, also develops distance judgment, assessing one's abilities, risk-taking, overall coordination, and motor skills, while also strengthening muscle tone. And the mere contact with trees has a healing and calming power .
Observing ants, ladybugs, butterflies
Children are very keen observers of nature, if we allow them to be. Vacation time is the perfect time to stop and observe every pebble, stick, and creature. And since children are so fond of all kinds of insects and bugs, let's give them time to be close to nature. This requires attentiveness, attention to detail, and patience. It also greatly improves visual perception and concentration. Just don't disturb them .
Smelling the flowers and herbs growing in the meadow
Smells play a crucial role in our lives. They can stimulate, soothe, and transport us to a world of memories and imagination. It's crucial, therefore, that our children can build a vacation olfactory foundation in this regard . A pine forest after rain, a flowery meadow, or a home garden full of herbs and flowers smell completely different. A lake smells different, and a seaside beach smells completely different. So let's join them in smelling the various gifts of nature: flowers, herbs, pine cones... Besides developing their sense of smell, we teach children to appreciate the beauty of nature and provide them with beautiful sensory memories .
Eating fruit straight from the bush
Nothing tastes better than a strawberry or raspberry picked straight from the bush. I still remember the taste of tomatoes picked from Grandma's garden, which we then ate like apples. Very often, children with a selective diet are more willing to eat fruit or vegetables when they can pick them themselves. In addition to the taste experience, we get hands-on training and practice applying the right amount of force for the task. We also have to be careful not to prick ourselves with raspberries or blackberries, thus training our agility and concentration. Crouch down next to a strawberry bush, climb a cherry tree, or jump up to a branch full of apples. Isn't that a better workout than a playground?
Let's not deprive our children of the opportunity to experience childhood with their full senses. Let's not limit their activity and cognitive curiosity. Vacations are a wonderful time to be together without rushing, stress, and a tight schedule. This is very necessary not only for our children but also for us adults.
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