One of the biggest challenges during this time is to stay focused on our activities. Especially for kids who see this as a long, boring break from school.
Here's a list of some things your kid (and you!) can do to keep their brain running at max efficiency, from a teen herself.
1. Read a Book
There are tons of books out there that will help you enjoy staying inside or sitting on your porch. Speaking as a MAJOR book worm, I have years worth of books, of all ages for you to pick from.
Just Learning How To Read?
Dick and Jane
This book was one of the first books I ever read fully. I found that it was easy to comprehend and I loved reading it out loud to my dog.
If you wanna help your kid get a start on reading, I recommend this book. It has multiple different levels to keep up with your child as they continue to grow their reading skills.
If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link.
Elementary School Reader?
Warrior Cats
Let me tell you all something... this series was my ENTIRE childhood. I ATE these books up and, honestly, this is what sparked my passion for reading and writing.
"For generations, four Clans of wild cats have shared the forest according to the laws laid down by their ancestors. But the warrior code has been threatened, and the ThunderClan cats are in grave danger. The sinister ShadowClan grows stronger every day. Noble warriors are dying—and some deaths are more mysterious than others. In the midst of this turmoil appears an ordinary housecat named Rusty… who may turn out to be the bravest warrior of them all," As said by Erin Hunter.
If you want your kid to get swept up into a world of danger, excitement, and triumph, I highly recommend this book series.
If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link or buy it on Barnes and Noble or Amazon.
Middle School Reader?
Harry Potter
We all know the story of Harry Potter, The Boy Who Lived, but watching the movies is different than getting lost in the pages of the books. I loved these books in my middle school years, and still to this day, I'd love to sit down and reread this tale.
"The first of J.K. Rowling's popular children's novels about Harry Potter, a boy who learns on his eleventh birthday that he is the orphaned son of two powerful wizards and possesses unique magical powers of his own. He is summoned from his life as an unwanted child to become a student at Hogwarts, an English boarding school for wizards. There, he meets several friends who become his closest allies and help him discover the truth about his parents' mysterious deaths."
I highly recommend these books for anyone of any age. If you'd like to purchase the first book, visit this link.
High School Reader?
Throne of Glass
I'll be honest with all of you... this book, to this day, remains my favorite series I've ever read. Thanks to this series, I became sure that I wanted to be an author.
"After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. But soon, competitors keep turning up dead, and Celaena begins to wonder if there is something else, something sinister and dark, going on within the walls of the glass castle."
I read the first book in my sophomore year of high school and finished the last one during my freshman year of college and it never failed to make me laugh, sob, and empower me. If you're looking for a strong female protagonist, I recommend this series. If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link.
Eragon
"The Inheritance Cycle is a tetralogy of young adult high fantasy novels written by American author Christopher Paolini. Set in the fictional world of Alagaësia, the novels focus on the adventures of a teenage boy named Eragon and his dragon, Saphira, as they struggle to overthrow the evil king Galbatorix."
When I read these books, I became obsessed with all things dragons. I would sketch them in my notebooks and I would write short stories about them. I highly recommend this series if you like strong male protagonists and, of course, DRAGONS!
If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link.
College Reader?
Nevernight
This series is definitely aimed at a more mature audience. I read this in the summer of my freshman year of college and absolutely loved the characters and plot.
"Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.
Now, a sixteen-year-old, Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic ― the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.
Revenge."
If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link.
Red Rising
Honestly, this book rivals Throne of Glass for my favorite. One of my biggest pet peeves of novels is when they make the main characters smarter than the author and never do them justice. This book DID IT PERFECTLY. I felt like I could be general of an army after reading this book, and the plot was always enticing.
"Darrow - and Reds like him - are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class. Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity's overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society's ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies...even if it means he has to become one of them to do so."
If you'd like to purchase this book, visit this link.
2. Pick Up A New Hobby
There are hundreds of things you can do to take up some of your abundant spare time. personally, I have begun embroidery. Here's my list of things your kid OR you can try.
1. Painting
Why not sit down for a few hours and try to make some art? Paint on a canvas, or paint the back pockets of your jeans!
Here's a video to give you some cool ideas.
2. Gardening
This is a great time to start a task you've been waiting a while to do. Personally, I'd start a garden. Don't worry about going out and buying plants. Order some seeds online and grow them right in your kitchen! Now, your kids can learn about the biology of plants.
Check out this video or a starter guide!
If you really wanna spice it up, put one carton in a dark room and test to see which seeds grow faster.
An easy, fun experiment to do with your kids.
3. Start A Collection
You can collect anything from stamps to fruit stickers to Pokemon cards! Give your kids a challenge of finding things in your house to start a collection from, or let them get some fresh air and start a cool rock collection from the backyard!
4.make a Tik Tok
Though this might only apply to older kids and keeps them on their phones for a bit, it's a great opportunity to get them laughing and moving. For those who don't know, Tik Tok is a new video app for all purposes, mostly for comedic jokes and online trends (such as the dances).
Ask your teen if they want to do a Tik Tok with you, viewers love when parents get involved!
Check out some of these fun options!
5. Cooking
Always wanted to learn how to bake bread? What a better time than now. Get your family together and bake a cake, cookies, cupcakes, or anything really. Have a competition and see who can make the best looking cake!
6. Try A New Sport
What better way to get some good exercise than playing a sport? Get your family together and play soccer, baseball, football, or even try something like cricket (Why not?)
Or you can help your kid practice the sport they're currently playing to help them get better for next season.
7. Watch a Documentary
Documentaries are easy ways to get educated on things you wouldn't have really thought about. Neil deGrasse Tyson and National Geographic are cool places to start looking.
Ask them what they'd like to see or look up something you think would pique their interest.
Here's a neat one about Lion Prides for younger kids!
And one about the Amazon for any age!
Check out this link to see even more great options.
8. Stargaze
If you've already watched all the movies possible and are tired of sitting on the couch after dinner, take your kids outside and try to observe the stars. If you're lucky, you'll see a shooting star or two.
Here's a good guide on how to get started.
9. Start Learning an Instrument
If you've got a keyboard or guitar just sitting around, see if your kids want to learn how to play. Learning to read music not only stimulates the mind and makes them more flexible to learn new material, but it's also a great feeling when you finish learning the first page of a song.
There are thousands of options to help your kid learn to read music and play instruments. just search it up online.
10. Photography
Hello! Photography Major here! This can be a super fun activity that really gets their brain ticking. This can be a fun, creative, problem-solving activity for your family. Using only the in the material your house, see what photos you can take.
Here are some of my own tips:
- Put a colored sticky note over your phone flashlight to get neat lighting.
- Sheets can be used as a nice backdrop if you want to take a professional-looking photo of something.
- Don't be afraid to put on some wild looking makeup if you want to take a neat portrait shot.
- Most phone cameras these days can take VERY professional looking pictures.
- If you want to take a picture with or of an animal, patience is key!
Always make sure they have supervision they're younger and want to take strange photos. (ex. from higher up in a tree or using a lighter for light.)
3. Look Online For Help
There are thousands of options for education online. And well known too.
1. ABCmouse
Meant for kids 2-8, this website does a great job of keeping them up to speed with other students and may even help them excel.
Check it out here.
2. Khan Academy
I used this from middle school through to high school to help with my ACT. It can be used from Kindergarten through senior year of high school and has tons of different ways your kid can learn. It can even be used when schools are up and running again to give them that extra boost.
Check it out here.
3.NOVA
This website is intended for K-12 as well but is more science-oriented. It's a great place to find interesting videos and articles for your kid to read.
Check it out here.
4. BrainPOP Jr.
Remember Tim and Moby? They've got a whole website dedicated to helping your kid learn up on all genres and topics. Their Jr. website is meant primarily for kids K-3rd grade, but they also have their other website meant for 4-12 listed below.
If you'd like to visit BrainPOP Jr. click here.
5. BrainPOP
This website is meant for kids 4-12 to keep them up to date on all genres and topics, just like the website before.
Check it out here.
6. Lumosity
This website (and app) is mostly meant for older kids and even adults (that means you, mom/dad!). It's a great way to keep your brain working through games and fun challenges.
Check it out here.
That's all for now! Keep an eye out for our future blog posts and updates on events.
Forward Start Founder,
Madison Colantrello
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