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Guest Author: Lillian Brooks

If your child has learning disabilities, it’s essential to encourage them to participate in the arts. The arts can improve communication skills, grow self-confidence, and increase fitness levels. Here, the creativity experts at Walkie Chalk present five of the best options for children with learning disabilities.

1. Music

Participating in a music class or learning a musical instrument requires complete focus. As a result, music is ideal for relieving stress, teaching your children to concentrate, and helping them gain a creative outlet.

In addition, a recent survey produced by AARP found music listeners had higher scores for mental well-being, higher levels of happiness, and better cognitive function. In fact, sixty-eight percent of parents that introduced their children to music rated their child’s ability to learn new things as very good or excellent. However, this was only 50% for parents who hadn’t exposed their children to music.

2. Acting

Transferring energy to performing arts can be helpful to an active child, and acting is one of the best options. Your children can gain confidence, a sense of achievement, teamwork skills, and multiple creative skills from acting.

In addition, acting can boost your child’s communication skills. Around 86% of employees state poor communication is the main reason for workplace failures. Therefore, you should promote your child’s communication skills at a young age.

3. Painting and Drawing

Children often enjoy drawing things; when we become adults, we often stop drawing due to our busy adult lives. But drawing can relieve stress and anxiety in adults, so it’s a shame most adults forget about their painting passions.

With that said, painting is excellent for children. It helps them build confidence, develop problem-solving skills, create a shared learning experience, increase brain development, enhance senses, explore color, and convey individual ideas.

You and your child can also get outside to draw using Walkie Chalk. This fun modification to classic chalk drawing makes it easier for adults to play along. Plus, kids with sensory challenges can enjoy drawing without getting chalk on their fingers!

4. Dancing

Young children have so much energy, and dancing is one of the best ways to focus that energy. Dancing can enhance creativity, encourage socialization, increase cognitive development, and boost emotional development.

Dancing is also excellent for helping your child’s physical fitness. It improves their flexibility, overall balance, coordination, muscular strength, heart and lung condition, and spatial awareness.

5. Crafting

You’ll struggle to find a better creative outlet for your children than crafting. It can improve self-confidence, reduce overall stress, decrease anxiety, raise a child’s focus, and grow emotional development.

Crafting is also superb for teaching colors and shapes, encouraging critical thinking, building resilience, and increasing pattern recognition.

Design an Arts Room

By creating an arts room in your home, you and your children can explore the world of art in a comfortable and familiar setting. When designing your arts room, be sure to include plenty of storage for all of your supplies. And be sure to leave plenty of open space for painting, drawing, or whatever other creative pursuits you enjoy.

Not only will an arts room make your home more attractive to potential buyers, but it will also give you and your children a place to relax and express yourself. Keep track of any upgrades by keeping receipts and taking before-and-after photos because this new addition may be a valuable selling feature when you eventually choose to list your house and move.

Start Teaching Children Yourself

Teaching children is incredibly rewarding. You may find a passion for teaching children arts and crafts when you share the benefits with your children. If so, consider teaching your arts and crafts lessons to children of all ages and backgrounds.

You can work as a self-employed teacher, but consider registering your new teaching business as a limited liability company. It’ll offer you more flexibility, less paperwork, and various tax benefits. If you’re not sure how to start an LLC, use a formation service to avoid costly legal fees.

Get Children Involved in the Arts Today

While the arts are great for helping everyone to get in touch with their own creativity, they can be especially fantastic for children with learning difficulties because they give them an outlet in a world that otherwise doesn’t always seem to take their feelings and perspectives into consideration. You may even decide to start your own business teaching art to children!

(Welcome! Here is a GUEST Blog post by our good friends at Wise Marketing, enjoy!)

Think you’ve got a bad case of cabin fever? Your children are likely feeling it too.

With schools being shuttered, classes moving to an online space, and a cloud of general misery hanging over our heads because of the pandemic, it’s no surprise that some of our kids are acting out.

This is normal; the coronavirus has deprived them of the chance to meet with their friends and enjoy their youth. But it’s our job to help our kids cope with their emotions in a way that’s healthy, and not destructive.

Unfortunately, most parents nowadays might turn to smartphones to pacify their children. We understand the appeal - the phone keeps them occupied, freeing you up to work or do household chores. However, too much time indoors poses a problem. It’s even prevalent enough to be called a disorder – more precisely, nature deficit disorder.

The symptoms probably sound familiar to you by now, and can include increased stress, crankiness and anxiety due to a severe lack of exposure to outdoor spaces.

With that said, how are we supposed to keep our children entertained at home without excessively relying on gadgets?

We can take a cue from people running daycare businesses from their homes. Home-based daycare providers have developed detailed curricula, and invested in toys, arts and crafts, and educational materials all aimed at helping children make the most out of playtime. These have helped the industry develop into a $27-billion market, but that doesn't mean having to spend a fortune just to give the same experience to your kids. Here are a few of their tried and tested activities you could do at home:

Try sidewalk chalk games

At home doesn’t necessarily mean indoors.

Step outside onto your driveway or sidewalk to do these activities. All you’ll need are some colorful pieces of chalk and, of course, your face masks to keep you safe.

There are tons of games you could play with just chalk and an open stretch of pavement. Try some sidewalk twister, tic-tac-toe or Pictionary. For more of a brainteaser, you could even try classic hopscotch, with a few math equations thrown into the mix.

Establish a daily routine

The pandemic has disrupted everyone’s lives, but it has perhaps placed a heavier burden on parents whose kids have special needs.

If you're taking care of a child who requires special care, one thing you can do to alleviate the stress is to establish a regular timetable for activities.

Set specific times to eat breakfast, take a bath, do some schoolwork, and enjoy some leisure time. According to experts, repetition and routine offer comfort and help stabilize most kids with learning disabilities.

This is only a palliative solution, however. Careful coordination among parents, special care providers, and concerned agencies is required to address the children's needs and ensure their well-being in the long run.

Go backyard camping

We’ve already mentioned how important it is for children to connect with nature and the outdoors. What better way to do that than to go camping in your own backyard?

You’ll need some sleeping bags, a pop-up tent, and some blankets to start. Once your camping site has been set up, you could hold a scavenger hunt, and even tell spooky stories while eating s’mores over a campfire if your backyard has the space for it!

Create artwork

Making art is a great way to channel boredom and frustration, and it also helps nurture your children's creativity. Additionally, it can also serve as an avenue for you to learn how they're making sense of the pandemic and their current reality.

For this, you will need some coloring materials and paper. When the kids are done with their art, you can place their masterpieces on the refrigerator door, or even hang them on a cable on your fence to make a makeshift art gallery for your neighbors to see.

There are countless more ways to keep your kids busy at home, and we hope you enjoyed our above suggestions. If you think we missed any fun activities, let us know through our social media!

After a long day working, running the household or completing errands, the last thing you want is to put your hand down on the counter and feel something sticky on the surface. But for many parents? Cleaning up after the kids is part of the job. 

Luckily, there are ways to ease the burden of cleaning and teach your kids to share the load. By showing them that cleaning can be fun, quick and painless, they can pick up clean habits that will make mopping up a spill or folding their laundry second nature rather than a chore. 

One way to teach kids not to fear cleaning is by playing cleaning games  with them while they’re still learning. Check out this list of fun games that can help you build a culture of cleanliness in your home. Take a look!

The Clean Lantern

Link to download this mockup image.

Turn your kids into a superhero who is on a mission to find and defeat the evil Dust Bunny. Create a cape using a sheet, then use this printable superhero eye mask and badge to turn your kids into the Clean Lantern. Challenge them to fight evil using their mops and washcloths. 

Laundry Room Races

Once the laundry is finished and ready to be folded, line your kids up at a starting line and have them race to get their clothes folded, taken to their rooms and put away. There’s nothing like a little friendly competition to get chores done. For added fun: have them shoot their socks into the laundry bin like a basketball before they can move on.

Link to download preview image.

Chores and Ladders

Give each child a token such as a coin or bottlecap and use this printable game board to make cleaning a game of chance. Line up at the starting line and roll a 6-sided die, then move the number of spaces indicated and complete the corresponding task. The game board even includes blank spaces for you to leave blank so your kids can get off the hook, or write in house-specific chores. 

Sprinkler Time

If there’s an outside mess to be cleaned up — chalk on the driveway, anyone? — make it more fun by playing games with sprinklers or a hose. Put on bathing suits, turn on the hose and have fun spraying each other while you clean up chalk or wash the car. 

Link to download preview image.

Dust Monster

Make sweeping more interesting by turning the dustpan into a monster that is hungry for dirt and dust. Print out the dust monster printable, have your kids color it in then attach it to your dustpan with tape. Every time your kids sweep dirt into the pan, it’ll look like the dust monster is eating it up.

Cleaning Karaoke

Turn your cleaning day into a concert while mopping, sweeping or dusting. Use the broomstick, mop handle or spray bottle as a microphone and sing along to your favorite pop hits. Bonus points if you dress up like a diva! 

At the end of the day, creating a culture of cleanliness at home means making it so your kids don’t fear cleaning. Make chores fun for them by making it a family affair that they look forward to. 

Guest post by our friend Emily Gibson from Siege Media... Enjoy!

As we get into the middle of summer, we don’t always want to get outside where it’s too hot to enjoy ourselves. But, we still want to have fun!

Making a pillow fort is a great way to achieve the best of both worlds. Pillow forts are fun, low-cost activities that typically only require common household items to get started. All you need to do is gather sheets, blankets and decorations, then start building the indoor oasis of your dreams. 

[in-post image downloads]

Here is a step-by-step guide on creating the ultimate fort: 

Step 1: Gather Supplies

Collect blankets, pillows and sheets to serve as the walls and roof of your fort. 

Step 2: Choose a Location

Try to pick a well-ventilated that is sunny but not too hot. You can also build the fort near a wall plug if you want to have an area to plug in lights or electronics. 

Step 3: Build the Base

Choose a large, sturdy piece of furniture like a couch or chair to serve as the base of your fort. Arrange several smaller pieces of furniture around your base to serve as anchor points. 

Step 4: Build the Roof

Secure a sheet or blanket to your base and to an anchor point, then continue to do so until you have a solid roof. Alternatively, you can make the roof of your fort by attaching the sheet or blanket to the wall with pushpins. 

Step 5: Make the Walls

Fill in the gaps between the roof and the floor by laying blankets and sheets over the fort. For added security, secure them with pushpins. 

Step 6: Add Personal Touches

Making your fort personal for you and your family can make it more fun to spend time inside. Bring in decorations such as lights, stuffed animals and rugs. Consider also making a fun, festive sign or bringing in your family’s favorite things to make the fort all your own and a sanctuary where you can have fun together as a family. For added whimsy and personalization, check out the following printables from Bestow. 

Customizable Welcome Sign

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Download this customizable welcome sign and give your fort its own, fun name. 

Printable Night Sky

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out these stars and planets to create a night sky in your fort. Hang them from the top of your fort or attach them to string lights to give yourself the sensation of being in space.

Printable Garden

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out these fun garden plants and bugs to add a garden feeling to your fort. Attach them to the sides of your structure with tape or string.

Beach Day Garland

[printable download]

[mockup download]

Print out this beach day garland to bring the fun feeling of a beach tent into your home. String the letters and marine animals together on a string and hang it in your fort to get yourself into a beachy mood. 

Today we have a Guest Blog from our good friend, Matt Zdun - enjoy!

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As you scrape the bottom of the barrel looking for at-home activities to keep your kids entertained this summer, why not try bringing outer space to your sidewalk?

The recent SpaceX launch during the coronavirus pandemic taught us that we’re all pretty fascinated with space exploration, and we all could use a little distraction these days. If your kids love space, and they love chalk, they’ll love this fun and educational activity.

How to set it up

All you need is about 10 feet of sidewalk. In that 10 feet, you can create a solar system that is about 1.5 trillion times smaller than the actual solar system.

Start by tracing out the sun in yellow chalk. Then, using your tape measure or smartphone measuring app, trace out Mercury one inch away, Venus two inches away, Earth three inches away, and so on all the way up to Uranus about six feet away and Neptune 10 feet away.

Make it a fun learning experience

Be sure to write the names of the planets and the actual distances they are from the sun. This is a great way for your kids to visualize the scale of the solar system and get a feel for where the planets are.

Also be sure to draw the relative sizes of the planets correctly for the most accurate sidewalk chalk model. (For example, Jupiter should be a lot bigger than Mercury and Venus.)

Download this fun outer space chalk printable, as well as other free staycation ideas, provided by the team at Wikibuy.

Hi Chalk Friends - Another great guest blog post by our close pal Leslie Campos of Wellparents.com - enjoy and stay safe!

Never has the need for a family safety plan felt more pressing than it does right now. The coronavirus pandemic is causing countless families to realize just how unprepared they are for a major emergency. But while you might feel helpless in the face of a global pandemic, there’s a lot you can do to protect your family right now and in future crises.

Staying Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Hand washing and household cleaning

• Wash your hands often.Hand washingis the most important thing you can do to prevent coronavirus transmission. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with soap and water frequently throughout the day, especially after leaving the house or touching your face, and teach kidsto do the same. If you can’t wash your hands, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizerthat contains at least 60 percent alcohol.
• Disinfect high-touch surfaces.Doorknobs, lightswitches, toilet handles, and other high-touch surfaces should be disinfected daily with an approved disinfectantlike alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or bleach. Be sure to maintain the required contact time before drying.

How to grocery shop safely

• Use delivery and curbside pick-up.The less time you spend in crowded stores, the safer you’ll be. Be sure to order groceriesin advance as many stores are taking longer than usual to fulfill orders due to heightened demand.
• Shop alone.If you do need to visit the supermarket, don’t take the whole family with you. Plan shopping trips during times when there’s another adult home to supervise children. For single parents, assess if your child is old enough to be left home alone, and take precautionsto keep them safe while you’re away. Kids should know who to call in case of an emergency, understand basic first aid and CPR, and know how to handle strange visitors while home alone.
• Keep your distance.Maintain a social distance of at least six feet while shopping and checking out. While this may slow down your shopping trip, it’s worth staying safe.

Safe socializing during COVID-19

• Are playdates safe?Families want to know if it’s safe to schedule playdates during the coronavirus lockdown. Unfortunately,experts saythe answer is “No.” The safest thing families can do is stay home and avoid contact with anyone they don’t live with. While kids are at less risk of serious illness, they can still spread the virus to others.
• Safer socializing options.Instead, parents should look for ways to keep kids engaged at home. As long as no one in your family is sick, it’s safe to play backyard sports, go on walks, or have a family game night. Parents can also use online platforms like Zoom to stay in touchwith friends and family from a distance.

Essential Safety Planning Steps for Families

Your family’s safety should be a priority all the time, not just during the current crisis. Use these tips to create an emergency plan for your family.

• Make an emergency contact list. In addition to 911, an emergency contact list should include phone numbers for family members in case you’re separated in an emergency. Keep a copy in kids’ backpacks in case of an emergency during the school day.
• Plan your natural-disaster response.Learn which natural disasters are common in your area and how best to stay safeduring them, whether that’s evacuation or sheltering in place.
• Create an emergency kit.In addition to a first aid kit and other emergency kit essentials, make sure you have a bright, long-lastingflashlight to use during power outages.
• Stock up on essentials.At minimum, families should have a three-day supplyof water and non-perishable food on hand for emergencies. But as the current crisis shows, it may be wise to stock up to a two-week supply of food and household goods.

There’s no such thing as being too prepared. Whether it’s a pandemic, a natural disaster, or another emergency, it’s important to know the best ways to keep your family safe. Instead of letting the next crisis catch you by surprise, start thinking about how to ensure your family is ready for anything.

Image via Unsplash

If your grandchild’s birthday is coming up, use these tips to plan a budget-friendly celebration everyone will enjoy. Fun for everyone!