Wondering how to keep your child busy at home without the use of gadgets? Here are a few ideas to keep your child busy and away from gadgets.

 1} Arts and Crafts

Art and craft activities not only nurture your child's creativity, they help him focus, pay attention to details and improve his hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, colour sense, and more. Encourage him to keep improving his ability and skills and provide age appropriate arts/crafts materials. This is not done for perfection. Instead, acknowledge the effort and encourage his creative expression.

2} Books and Magazines

Reading fuels your child's imagination and helps her improve her vocabulary, comprehension, and even storytelling and writing skills. Once she is drawn into the world of books and magazines, it can keep her occupied for hours. Start a book collection for your child - from stories of fantasy to adventure, from thrillers to biographies, from recipes to how-to books, the list is endless.

3} Deep Thinking

An occasional challenge to exercise the brain keeps it healthy, growing, and sharp. If it is too easy, she will be bored, if it is too difficult, she will not want to try. These challenges boost your child's critical thinking, logical, and reasoning skills, all essential in getting your child ready for a future that demands creative thinkers and problem solvers. Here are a few thinking activities you can choose from; Jigsaw puzzles, Rubik's cube, Word games, Crossword puzzles, Math and logic puzzles, Sudoku, etc.

4} Hobbies

Indoor and outdoor hobbies could range from toy collecting to photography, swimming to cooking and gardening, to painting and dancing, even singing to name a few. Encourage your child's interest by supporting him with the necessary skills training and provide him with the tools and materials needed for him to pursue this hobby. Like a mini karaoke machine, a pair of gardening gloves and shovels, etc.

5} Chores and Routines

While you cook, younger children can help with washing vegetables while older children can help with cutting, prepping, and even cooking. The trick is to get them involved in planning the menu and shopping. Older children can experiment with recipes. Doing laundry or cleanimg a room also comes in handy for your child to pitch in and help. The key is to appreciate your child's help and not expect him to always do it the right way. Your child is learning a lot of self-help skills helping him become more independent and self-confident.