4 Fun Activities To Do After School That Help Children To Relax

4 Fun Activities To Do After School That Help Children To Relax

School can be fun but also tiring. Many children come home frazzled after a long day at school.

While some older kids will have homework to do or after school programs, it’s always a good idea to plan some fun after school activities for kids to do at home and help them to unwind and relax.

If you’re looking for fun activities to do after school, we have some fun ideas that will give you some inspiration.

Art & Craft

A lot of art and craft projects can be good practice for mindfulness. It takes time and concentration.

When we focus on our hands making things, it creates a soothing and relaxing effect on our minds. Plus, it gives a great sense of achievement when you make something yourself.

Girl play with tie dye kit

Art and craft projects are one of the best after school activities for young children. Get them a tie-dye kit and let them make some one-of-a-kind t-shirts and socks by themselves.

The process is easy enough for kids to do themselves but also not too easy for them to lose interest. Playing with different colors creates good stimulation for the little brains and boosts their creativity.

Other art and craft toys like fuse beads and fluffy slime also offer great fun after school.

They’re also good for keeping kids busy while parents getting dinner organized. Let your kids use their imagination and be creative!

Get Active

After sitting in a classroom all day, it’s important for kids to get some physical activity.

Getting active doesn’t have to mean going outside to play football or joining a sports team (although that’s great too). There are plenty of indoor activities that will get kids up and about.

If the weather is nice, go for a family bike ride or walk in the park. Take a Frisbee or a ball to play catch with.

Go swimming or to the playground. Set up a basketball hoop and stand to shoot some hoops. This one comes as both a basketball stand and a dartboard - double the fun!

Girl play with basketball

Needless to say, it’s super important for kids to get some exercise every day. It helps to build their muscles and improve their overall fitness and health. CDC recommends at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day. So make sure your kids have plenty of time to stay active.

Help With Housework

Even though it doesn’t sound very exciting to do housework, lots of young kids actually love it. They want to be like mommy and daddy and be like adults. Well, if we sell it well, doing some chores at home can be fun and rewarding.

Girl play with flour

Do some baking with your kids. Make some yummy cookies or cakes together. It teaches them the life skill that’ll be useful throughout their life.

It’s such a good family bonding experience too that will be sure filled with giggles and laughter. Also, did we say cookies and cakes?

Taking kids to do some gardening is another great idea. Look after the house plants or the gardens together. Or you can even get them their own plants or their own section in the garden. Looking after their “plant pets” can teach them patience and responsibility.

We have kids garden tools set that with kids size essentials for some fun time with nature.

Personal Space & Time

It’s important for kids to have some personal space and time. They need to learn how to enjoy their own company and be independent. It’s a great way for them to recharge after being around people all day at school. A good practice to look after their mental health.

Girl in teepee tent (From Instagram @ceritabella )

You can set up a special “wind-down” space, dedicated for after school, on weekends, or whenever they want to have some “me time”. Have a reading nook or set up a teepee tent at the corner of their room.

Even though it doesn’t actually add new space, dedicating some space special for them and for a certain purpose can create a ritual and encourage kids to associate that particular space with the idea of relaxing.

Once they have the space to set up for them, they can choose whatever activities they like.

Do some coloring with crayons, play with some legos or puzzles, listen to music, read stories, or even just lay down and stare at the clouds. It doesn’t matter what they do as long as they are doing something that makes THEM happy.

Conclusion

DIY projects are a great way to spend some quality time together while being creative.

Getting active and playing games is also a fun way to release some energy and have some laughs.

And finally, helping out with the housework can teach kids about responsibility while giving them a sense of accomplishment. Plus, it’s always good to have some personal space and time to unwind after a busy day.

Children need time to relax after being in school all day long. These four fun after school activities that help children to relax will give them ideas about how to spend their free time productively.

Doing some fun activities together after school can also help children to bond with their parents or caregivers.