After months of remote learning, spending school holidays at home will be another challenge for even the most organised mummies. That said, being homebound again doesn’t mean the fun stops there. Fortunately, you can stay well and still have a good time with your family even when you’re at home.
Perhaps it’s time to level up our stay-at-home school holidays and go back to the basics, healthily.
Let’s call for a mindset change today!
This school holiday, let’s change the atmosphere at home and take it up a notch. Breathe in enthusiasm and let it be contagious. Instead of having your children waste their holidays away in front of the television, or drilling them on next year’s syllabus, how about getting the fam bam together to build a healthy family lifestyle?
Puzzled at how this can be done?
Don’t worry, we know how much you want to achieve a healthy version of your family, so we’ve broken it down for you below!
Get hands-on with less screen time
Ever since the start of the Movement Control Order (MCO), our screen time has taken an exponential hike. From Zoom time (with your online meetings and your children’s online classes) to mobile games and television time, our eyes are constantly focused on pixels.
Now lean back and close your eyes for a second… Do you feel tired?
Prolonged screen hours can cause blurry vision and dry eyes. But don’t worry, you can adopt a healthier school holiday season, where screens are not involved. Instead of playing mobile or video games, get your children to put on their ‘lab coats’ (a white apron or an old big t-shirt), and let them role-play as scientists and enjoy conducting science experiments!
We’re pretty sure your children are tired of learning theoretical science on screen. It’s time to get hands-on and (possibly) dirty! Here are some activities you can do right away with items you already have at home!
1. Paper Rainbow – all you need is coloured marker pens (with the colours of the rainbow), a paper towel, water, two cups, and scissors.
2. Homemade Cloth Mask – all you need is cloth, lining cloth, scissors, and a sewing machine. It’s perfect during this time!
3. Art Sandwich – all you need is bread, cheese, Naturel Soft Margarine, and toppings of your choice. Check out the video for cute inspirations!
Make new toys together
Do you buy a lot of items online? If you do, don’t throw your boxes away because, with a little imagination and creativity, you and your child will have hours of fun creating fun-sized models of household furnishings and appliances.
But first, get the basics ready. Get a few used cardboard boxes, kid-friendly penknives, glue guns, gift wrappers, tapes, and other odds and ends that you can find at home. Then, check out a list of how-tos in this video and you’ll be constructing a stovetop, washing machine, spaceship, arcade games, and more in no time!
All of these activities help children understand that fun doesn’t begin on screen, but through creative play at home.
It’s time to move it, move it!
Playtime is always YAY time for the kiddos. But you know what they secretly wish playtime is like? Fun with their parents, of course! They crave interaction with you more than their toys.
So, here’s what we think should be slotted into your family weekend: “Physically-fit” activities (you’ll get it if you’ve watched any of the Madagascar movies). Get moving and cultivate a healthy lifestyle together.
Head on to YouTube and try doing a fun family exercise together at home – check out Kids Workout Exercise At Home With Ryan, PopSugar Fitness’ Family Fun Cardio, and Body Bop Bop Dance to learn about body parts; and At-Home Yoga for Kids with PAW Patrol to improve your children’s kinesthetic awareness.
Nurture life in the garden
It doesn’t matter if you’re living in a landed property or an apartment, there’s a place for plants to thrive. Designate a corner for plants somewhere in your home. If you already have a garden, then you can jump right into gardening as a family affair.
You may think, “Oh no, soil is dirty” but aiyah, don’t worry – this builds your children’s immune systems and also helps fine-tune their fine motor control and strength. They get to touch, feel, and witness the growth of plants from seeds to flowers and fruits.
It may take time, but this is also one way to cultivate patience. While doing this activity together, it allows you to impart knowledge of science and the world. We’re pretty sure they’ll have a lot of questions to ask, and that’s one way to build an inquisitive mind and critical thinking.
If you don’t have much space at home, check out this hydroponic method you can do with used bottles. You and your child can then plant organic veggies like lettuce, spinach, herbs, and tomatoes the hydroponic way!
You can even try these other fun gardening activities with your children:
1. At-Home Easy Plant Projects – a series of easy plant projects that your little ones will love to make.
2. DIY Planting Activities – mum-approved DIY planting activities that are really simple to execute at home.
If you’re planting edible plants, better still! You get to harvest your family’s hard work for dinner.
If you’re adventurous and want to have a homemade and homegrown meal, consider cooking your organic harvest with organic homemade pasta. It’s super easy to make. Check out how to make homemade pasta here!
Alternatively, you can just have Naturel 100% Durum Wheat Organic Pasta with your organic veggies.
So… what’s for dinner, mummies? Check out the next point!
Prepare and eat healthy meals
There’s nothing better than eating together as a family. No mobile phones, no toys, no leaving the table early – no distractions. But there’s also an additional thing you can incorporate into your family’s activities other than dining together – and it’s COOKING together!
Children love it when you involve them in “adult responsibilities”. And what better way than to extend an invitation for them to enter the kitchen than to cook with you?!
We’ve got some easy, tasty recipes here that your family will surely LOVE.
But before you start, be sure to know what level of skills your children have. If they’re in pre-school, we don’t suggest you let them handle the knife just yet. They should be able to handle the knives, scissors, and measurements in primary school. If they’re in secondary school, they should be able to whip up edible foods in the kitchen.
But to make it easy, we’ll separate it to:
Level 1: Beginner (young children)
Level 2: Intermediate (primary school children)
Level 3: Pro (secondary school children)
Roast Vegetable Spaghetti
Slurp up a flavourful, healthy meal when you whip up this roast vegetable spaghetti with your children. When it’s made at home, you know what goes into it, and it’s wayyy healthier. Even if you’re pressed for time, try recipes that’ll fill your children’s tummies with vitamins and minerals their bodies need!
For this recipe:
Level 1’s can toss the pre-roasted vegetables and spread them on the baking tray.
Level 2’s can cut vegetables and bring water to boil.
Level 3’s can do almost every step in this recipe.
Smørrebrød
Want to eat the best sandwiches in the world? Well, some say the Danish open-face sandwiches, known as Smørrebrød, are the best and we can’t deny it. With a good slice of dense bread with herb-infused butter and generous toppings, it’s great as a snack or even lunch!
For this recipe:
Level 1’s can mix herb spread.
Level 2’s can do almost every step in this recipe.
Level 3’s can do almost every step in this recipe.
Salmon Percik
Eh, belum Hari Raya… But when you’re cooking at home, anytime can be Raya time!
Salmon is high in Omega-3 that’s great for the heart and the brains – and therefore, great for the whole family. Once you have a taste of this tangy, pedasss and delicious meal, you’ll be cooking this super-easy recipe more often at home.
For this recipe:
Level 1’s can salt the salmon and mix the marinade.
Level 2’s can blend the sauce ingredients in the blender.
Level 3’s can do almost every step in this recipe with adult supervision.
Join The Naturel Healthy Living
There are so many ways to get healthy with your family; from exercising, building miniature toys, to gardening and cooking together. However, there’s one more component to ensure your family is on track, in terms of living healthy, and that’s the food they consume!
That’s why we suggest you choose Naturel products!
Naturel Blend Cooking Oil is made from a blend of sunflower and canola oils that are rich in Vitamin E and contains Omega 3 and 6. In fact, these vitamins and minerals are essential for growth in children. When using Naturel Blend Cooking oil, you’ll realise that the food tastes less oily, and hence, ideal for healthy meals preparation. It also enhances the aroma of spices – making your dishes more fragrant.
Naturel Extra Virgin Olive Oil is cold-pressed olive oil; specifically formulated with three of the BEST Spanish olive fruit cultivars to provide you with health benefits. They’re high in antioxidants and Vitamin E, have a pleasing aroma, and they taste great – ideal for salad dressings and dippings!
Naturel Organic Pasta is made from 100% Organic Italian Durum Wheat, which is synonymous with quality Italian pasta. It has low G.I. (glycemic index) and fats and is made without sodium. The result? A healthy and hearty pasta meal your children will love.
For a healthy breakfast, Naturel has launched Naturel Soft Margarine, which is produced from canola and sunflower oils. It’s high in good fats and cholesterol-free. Naturel Soft Margarine is perfect to spread on your favourite toast. Kick start the morning with wholesome nutrients today!
So, what are you waiting for? Time to get natural with Naturel and start planning for a healthy and happy school holiday with the fam bam – pronto!