5 creative ways to keep your kids ‘social’ this winter

Kids depend on school for many of their social activities, from playing together at recess to after-school activities. If a child is being homeschooled or learning remotely, keeping them socially active can be tricky. Here are five creative ways to keep your kids ‘social’ this winter.

1. Virtual Lessons and Clubs

Kids learn best when they can focus on something they really enjoy, which is why so many children sign up for after-school clubs or lessons. With companies like Outschool and other such platforms, you'll have access to a vast roster of interactive virtual lessons and small-group classes and clubs where your child can learn anything from a musical instrument to coding to chess. When homeschooling, the lack of access to clubs at the local schools can be frustrating, but with online clubs and lessons, your children can feel free to pursue their interests!

2. Virtual Playdates

At any age, it's important for your child to spend quality time with friends, but this can become more difficult when stuck indoors. There are apps available to connect kids in virtual playdates, but you don't have to do anything fancy — simply load up Zoom or Facetime and let your kids' imaginations take care of the rest. Time with friends makes a huge difference in your child's social life and mental wellbeing, especially when remote learning means sitting quietly in front of a computer screen, missing out on the incidental socialization that would typically happen in a classroom.

3. STEM Boxes

We know that children learn well with hands-on experience, and STEM boxes are kits that include an age-appropriate project for your child to work on. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Purchase a single project or get a subscription for a new project every month. These activities are engaging and enriching and bring STEM to life in a way that remote learning struggles to do. Even better — your child can focus on their STEM box to give you some quiet time, or you can work on the kit together for an excellent family experience.

4. Reading Together

When children read, it subconsciously teaches them a lot about language structure and builds their vocabulary, but it also expands their capacity for empathy and creative thinking… and just thinking in general! While some children may see silent reading as a punishment, or at the very least an annoying task, reading with or to your child helps you bond over the wonderful stories. When you read together, you can also help them read a story that might be at a little higher than their own reading level, pushing them to learn better and have fun while doing it. And don’t worry: many authors now go out of their way to write books that both children and their ‘readers’ will be able to enjoy. One of our favorites is Nicoline Evans. 

5. Pen-Pals

It might seem old school, but why not help your child start a fun pen-pal conversation? There are lots of options out there depending on their age and goals. You can find pen-pals across the world, or just across the country. If your child is learning a language, you can find a pen-pal who speaks that language. Having friends from different communities can teach your child about what life looks like in other parts of the world and can be an enriching experience. And, of course, in this day and age, it's easy to find email-only pen-pals, but it might be fun to do it the old-school way and let your child experience the anticipation and excitement of receiving an international letter in the mailbox.

Conclusion

When your child is in homeschooling or remote learning, socialization is difficult enough. Add the winter cold and bad weather, and their options go way down. Try any of these five ways to keep your kid ‘social’ this winter, or come up with your own creative options, and you might just have the best winter ever!