The overuse of technology has had an impact on relationships, sleep and on our bodies. National Day of Unplugging (NDU) is an awareness campaign annually observed the first weekend in March to maintain a healthier life/tech balance. To celebrate NDU, LearningRx (www.LearningRx.com), the world’s largest one-on-one brain training company, is sharing seven ways kids can have fun without tablets, TVs, or phones.
- Build with boxes. Call some local retail stores to ask if they have any oversize cardboard boxes. Or start now and put an ad on Craigslist. Kids of all ages love turning boxes into houses, tables, stoves, clubs and more. Be sure to stock up on thick washable markers.
- Give them a wall. Removable dry erase clings will change your life! You can buy then in single sheets or in rolls and use them over and over again in different rooms.
- Send them on a scavenger hunt. Make a list of general items for your child to find around your house. Things like “anything you can trace to get a circle” or “something with stripes” forces them to be more creative.
- Assemble a collage. Pull out your old magazines, some child-friendly scissors, a glue stick and a big piece of paper. Create a fun scene: a day at the beach, their ideal bedroom, a picnic at the park – or let them choose.
- Create an obstacle course. Encourage them to build an obstacle course for themselves, a favorite doll or a small race car. Help them get started by giving them a few building items, like an empty paper tube, a board or cookie sheet, a stack of books, some canned goods (to turn on their sides like barrels), etc.
- Play fashion/costume designer. Gather long pieces of fabric or sheets, aprons, belts, hats, scarves and any costume accessories (eye patch, superhero mask, police hat) and break out the camera! You can give them a list of characters you’d like to see (“Create a new superhero, complete with name”) or have them create their own to have you guess what they are.
- Play bake shop. Fill the table with small bowls of healthy treats (pretzel sticks, Cheerios, raisins, sunflower seeds, nuts, dried fruit, Goldfish) and binders (honey, peanut butter, almond butter, cream cheese). Give them a list (words or pictures) of things they can try to make: a turtle, a reindeer, a monster, a cat, a car, etc.
About LearningRx®
LearningRx-Richmond Hill is the first LearningRx Centre in Canada. LearningRx is the largest one-on-one brain training company in the world. Their training programs are delivered through more than 200 locations in North America and in 48 countries around the globe (as BrainRx®). LearningRx has helped more than 100,000 individuals and families sharpen their cognitive skills to help them think faster, learn easier, and perform better. In addition to their in-Centre training programs that partner every client with a personal brain trainer to keep clients engaged, accountable, and on-task—a key advantage over digital brain games—the company also offers online training through real-time videoconferencing. This virtual delivery method allows clients to train from the comfort of their own home while still receiving the benefits of one-on-one brain training with a personal brain trainer. LearningRx's pioneering methods have been used in clinical settings for over 35 years and have been subjected to peer-review in more than a dozen scientific journals. To learn more, visit: https://www.learningrx.com
