by: Cat Schwartz

With the days getting longer and the children getting anxious for summer, it has been challenging to keep fun and focus in my household as we wait for school to end. To ensure the kids finish out spring with a positive attitude, I infuse creativity into daily tasks and routines. It makes everything more enjoyable as the kids pass the time until they’re digging holes in the sand. Plus, these simple tips will ensure they learn new lessons as they have fun!

Fort Homework

Homework is never on the top of my kids’ fun list, but they do love to make basic tasks an entertaining adventure. To make their studies a little more interesting, create a “fort” out of blankets or boxes to finish their homework in. Whether it is an underground dungeon for your little princess or a top-secret command center for the spy in your family, a fort creates a special and fun place to focus on learning. Each homework assignment they complete in the fort is another step in completing their “mission” for the night.

Culinary Creativity

I am trying to get the kids more involved in the cooking process around my house. By taking the math lessons out of the classroom and applying them to our everyday life, they not only see the value in what they are learning, but they also see the fun! A simple way to get your kids involved is to have them create a side dish recipe for their favorite meal. Whether it is a nutty apple sauce to pair with chicken strips or spicy French fries for sloppy joes, this activity inspires culinary creativity—plus, it might open up your taste buds to a whole new experience!

Dear Future Self

Younger children sometimes feel they have to wait until they are “grown-ups” before they can do many fun activities they see their older siblings and neighbors participating in. Therefore, I like to give kids a window into the future by helping them write a letter or draw a picture for their future selves about how they want their life to be, or what they would have done that day if they were grown-ups. I also have them take a self-portrait with their KidiArt Studio and create a story around their future self image using the fun editing effects. By thinking about themselves in the future, their imagination will grow.

Jamming Out

Any story is a little more interesting when set to music—that’s why I meld my love of reading with my child’s love of music to amp up the creativity in our home. Let your little one pick out their favorite book; as you read the story aloud, have them create an accompanying score using KidiJamz Studio. This interactive music station lets kids record their own songs and music and play it back on a detachable music player that includes headphones, which will bring any story to life!