Activities for young children
Outings and trips --- guidelines for parents and caretakers *
Outing to different places should be a regular feature of the family activities. These may be planned as per available time and finances, age of the child, weather and climate, transport facilities ticket discounts (wherever applicable).
PLACES WHERE CHILDREN CAN BE TAKEN ARE
- Creativity, imagination aesthetic and artistic sense improves. There is more participation of the family members.
- Monuments /forts, – Visiting these places will help them understand architecture of time period and increase their knowledge of history.
- Parks, botanical gardens, fruit and flower gardens, vegetable fields/gardens and, green house and nurseries. In these places children can observe different varieties of fruits, vegetables and flowers and how they are grown.
- Zoo, Reptiles and bird sanctuary and Safari. Children can know about types and categories and habitat of birds and animals.
- Hiking ;Children can be taken for hiking. This will develop interest in nature they will observe animal kingdom, this will improve their self confidence and stamina and there will be close bonding with family members / friends .
- Ponds-Rivers-Lakes-Step Wells. Children learn about sources and storage of water, and various plants and animals living in the water.
- Science museum; Visits to these places help in enhancement of knowledge about various scientific activities carried out at various points of time.
- Doll museum; Dolls from all over the world can be seen by the children. They can observe costumes, jewelry and dressing up of various dolls.
- Rail museum; They understand history and shapes, functioning of various types of trains and engines.
- Planetarium; Children learn about planets (stars, planets and other celestial objects).
- Dance And drama shows ; Children understand and learn about various types of dance and dramas (theatre)
- Exhibitions / mela / fete ; balloon melas, food and craft bazaar, holi mela, Christmas fete, school fete, books exhibition . Children learn about various aspects as per the type of mela/exhibitions, amusement parks. In NUTRITION AND HEALTH mela children can understand various aspects related to keeping good health, importance of eating nutritious food, physical exercises and importance of regular health checkups etc.
- Manufacturing units; Children can visit industries/factories of beverages, bakery products, and cloth manufacturing units, automobiles, shoes, food processing factories like those of jams, jellies, and ice creams. They will know about raw materials used for various items, manufacturing and storage. They can observe functioning and management of the staff involved and can also see how these items reach the market.
- Village/country side: Visiting native places in villages and country side towns becomes a great learning experience for the children. They can observe lifestyle of villagers, their eating habits, occupation, infrastructure, facilities, difficulties they face, cattle, crops grown, architecture of houses, civic amenities, languages spoken and costumes and dresses etc.
- When going for a day’s picnic, the food taken should be dry, should not get spoiled quickly. Local items as per the taste of the community can be taken. Also carry napkins, some spoons, paper plates, paper bowls and drinking water and a spread/ mat
NOTE: A variety of food items are available in the market but taking a few items prepared at the home has its own fun. Care may be taken that children do not eat too heavy and spicy food as this will upset their stomach.
Also remember not to throw trash in the parks and don’t use loud music.
OUT STATION TRIP: If going for an outside trip for a pleasant travel, keep following in mind:
- In the area you are travelling, check for possible diseases outbreak and ensure to take necessary precautions. A comprehensive medical insurance may be done particularly when going for a longer and hectic travel. Immunization to immune body against some diseases may be needed particularly when going out of India.
- A first-aid kit should also be carried for medicines for diarrhea, vomiting, fever, common cold. It may also include ORS (Oral Rehydration Salt Solution), ointment for allergy, band-aids, water sterilization tablets, safety gauze, antiseptic solution and mosquito repellent cream. Medical information about the blood group of family and medicine prescribed by the doctor and any allergy family members are suffering may also be noted.
- Other items like still camera, torch, sewing needles and thread, safety pins, hot water bottles (if going to a cold place), candles ,match box etc. may also be taken.
- Take minimum number of clothes. If going to a warmer place take cotton, linen and loose clothes. If going to a cold place, take woolens, thermals, caps, coat, muffler etc. Ensure that foot wear /shoes are comfortable.
- As young children often get bored and restless during very long journeys, take non-bulky play and reading materials like playing cards, comics, coloring books, crayons, board games like snake ladder, loodo , puzzles. Other creative games like word building, story developing etc. can also be played .Children may be given their own small bag/purse that may contain their identification, small towel, handkerchief, napkins, and some eatables.
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