Children are giddy with anticipation as the holidays and examinations come to an end. But for a lot of parents, this time brings up a serious issue: how to keep youngsters amused without letting them spend too much time on screens.

According to studies, children’s attentiveness, sleep habits, and general development may be impacted by extended use of cell phones and television. But don’t worry! Kids can be active, creative, and content with a variety of fun, screen-free activities that are based on our rich cultural traditions.

Why Should We Limit Screen Time?

Although screens may be beneficial for education when used sparingly, excessive use can result in:

• Shorter attention span and concentration: Children may find it difficult to focus on their schoolwork in the future.

• Insufficient physical activity: Extended periods of sitting may cause indolence and health issues.

• Mood swings and irritability: Children who are overexposed may become restless and insist on more screen time.

• Sleep disturbances: Melatonin synthesis is impacted by blue light from screens, which throws off sleep cycles.

While 1-2 hours of supervised, instructional material is a good balance, adding screen-free activities may make kids’ vacations more enjoyable.

Kids’ enjoyable and culturally diverse activities

The classic board game Ashta Chamma

All ages enjoy this age-old dice-based game, which also improves patience and strategic thinking. Playtime may be made more participatory with a basic board, dice, or cowrie shells.

Easy cooking tasks

Engaging kids in simple cooking activities fosters life skills and responsibility. Give it a shot:

• Producing buttermilk or lemon juice

Kneading the dough for chapatis

• Pressing the dosa batter onto the pan while being watched

• Making easy snacks, such as banana chips

Practice Rangoli

Encourage children to use colors or rice flour to make little rangoli patterns. This enhances hand-eye coordination, encourages creativity, and gives the house a festive feel.

Telling stories to grandparents

Elders may help foster creativity by sharing family stories, Panchatantra tales, and folk tales. Later, children might write or draw their favorite tales in a diary.

Plant gardening and watering

Allow kids to take care of floral plants or plant simple crops like tomatoes and coriander. This fosters patience and a feeling of duty while bringing kids closer to the natural world.

Building and flying kites

Making colorful kites out of chart paper or old newspapers is an entertaining and captivating pastime. Making a kite encourages creativity even if flying one isn’t possible.

Bhajans or gentle singing exercises

Children are encouraged to learn bhajans, or folk songs, by many Telugu homes. Singing promotes relaxation, increases self-confidence, and broadens cultural understanding.

Indoor puppet performance

Children may make puppets and play out entertaining mythological or folktale-inspired stories using old socks or paper bags. This fosters collaboration and narrative abilities.

Sloka learning or Telugu poetry

Teaching basic Telugu slokas or padyalu (verses) promotes language proficiency, memory, and cultural ties.

Establishing a habit for healthy screen time

While some screen time is OK, it’s important to establish limits. Parents can:

• Select relevant content: Encourage children to see instructional videos, folktales, or mythical tales.

• Encourage interactive screen time by using storytelling sessions, do-it-yourself crafts, or dancing lessons.

• Establish a disciplined routine: Limiting screen time helps avoid addiction and misuse.

Let’s bring back the old-fashioned games, imaginative pursuits, and family-bonding experiences that make holidays really memorable rather than depending only on technology. In addition to providing youngsters with entertainment, these stimulating and instructive activities will aid in the development of critical life skills. Let’s create genuine experiences outside of the screen this summer!