Aside from giving them a sense of responsibility, helping to choose ingredients and prepare a meal can encourage children to try food they wouldn't normally. Start off small with very simple tasks like counting out ingredients, and gradually move on to weighing, pouring and mixing. Following a recipe together is also a great way to help your child learn to focus.
Cooking and meal planning
Top tip: If you're worried about how to get started try these safety hacks for cooking with kids.
Navigation skills
Lots of people have GPS devices nowadays to help get from A to B, but what happens if your battery runs out? Basic navigation and map reading can come in handy when you least expect it. Lots of visitor attractions like zoos, parks or nature trails will have a map available. Take a look together and talk about what the different symbols might mean and how the map relates to where you are. Choose a point on the map to find and let them lead the way!
Try this: Geocaching is an exciting way for the whole family to learn navigation skills while getting out and about in the fresh air. Check out our top tips for getting started and then head out on an adventure together.
Science experiments
Trying out simple science experiments at home is a brilliant way to engage young children. It nurtures their natural sense of curiosity, while also allowing them to express their creativity and learn about the world around them. As well as helping language and communication skills, it builds perseverance and self-confidence as they learn that it's ok to not get things right the first time.
Need some inspiration? Try these awesome science experiments.
Coding
While learning to code might sound intimidating, it doesn’t have to be complicated. In basic terms, a code is just a set of instructions that tells a computer what to do, but you don’t even need a computer to practice coding exercises! You could try games like Follow the Leader, where your little one follows instructions in the right order. Learning these skills could set children up for an exciting future career or a new favourite hobby.
Read more about coding here Should my 5 year old learn to code?
Crafting
Crafts such as knitting, crocheting or even basic weaving are activities that can help enhance fine motor skills and improve coordination. There are lots of free online tutorials to get your little one started, or you might even have family members who would love to pass these skills on to the next generation!
Top tip: Crafting is a great way to apply maths to real life without realising! Different craft activities involve skills such as measuring, addition, subtraction, and even basic geometry.
Find lots of easy craft activities for kids.
For more half-term inspiration... Try our activity idea generator.
