The trends seem to lean toward learning a lot of things by just Googling them. It is so ingrained in culture today that Google has become a verb. Watching a video or reading a web page about interesting things is nice, but getting out there and having real life experiences is better. Here are some creative family activities that will stimulate your minds much more than a vicarious Internet experience could ever offer.
Cell Phone Photography
Most every adult and child now have smartphones with cameras that can take incredible pictures. Challenge your family to capture the most intriguing images possible while on a hike, nature walk, or a venture into your neighborhood or back yard. Challenge them to be creative with the features their smartphone camera offers for creative photography such as black and white images and other filters. Up close views of everyday objects can be quite interesting. The work of acquiring the images helps expand the ways in which things are viewed.
Volunteer
Pick a project to volunteer your help with. It should involve helping others, which can include people or animals. Local humane shelters for pets are a way for children and you to see the realities of the homeless pet problem. The same goes for social volunteer opportunities to assist families in need. With an NBC News report indicating that there are 2.5 million homeless children with the numbers rising, social volunteering to become aware of community problems is a real eye-opening opportunity to help direct young minds toward learning ways to solve the serious problems that affect society.
Plan an Escape Room Adventure
Escape rooms from places like Houdini’s Room Escape are popping up in cities everywhere. They operate under a design that requires groups to work together to solve the puzzles to escape. You are locked into a game room, but you can press a button to exit at any time you like. However, the goal is to solve the puzzles to “escape” within a set time period. Escape room puzzles designed by experts can be quite challenging and help with team building. Escape room games often offer multiple escape scenarios for each location, and the puzzles are changed on a regular basis.
Take a Class Together
If you have young children, nature tours can be really fun. You can help your teens and yourself become better equipped for emergencies by taking a CPR and first aid course together. Skill building classes are available for any type of family interest from art classes to growing your own bonsai trees. Look online for classes that are available in your area. Local community colleges often have courses available to the public that are fun and affordable.
Real experiences are more memorable than the greatest online experience available. Virtual reality has nothing on plain old reality. You can break your family out of their screen-staring addiction by getting them out and experiencing fun brain-stimulating adventures together. A little creativity will get you all up off the couch and doing fun things together as a family.
