One of the hardest jobs I find as a parent is striking a balance with my children’s free time. Like all of us, I want to ensure I’m helping my children reach their full academic potential, support their extra-curricular interests but also give them enough down time to recharge their batteries and do other things. When I envisage their free time I picture reading, playing, creating. Using their imaginations.

However, my idea of ‘doing other things’ doesn’t always tally with theirs. Left to their own devices, my eleven and seven-year-old will, quite literally go and get their devices! As much as I’ve resisted, I accept these things are here to stay. IPADs (and more recently a phone for my eldest in year 6) have slowly worked their way into our house. I’ve reached the conclusion that providing time is balanced with exercise and other recreational pursuits, it doesn’t do them any harm.

Everything in moderation.

But it can be hard. In the absence of playing out in the street in the ‘good old days’, we as parents spend more time now with our children than ever before. And when we’re busy juggling work, household chores, family admin and our own interests, making sure the above happens isn’t easy. In our house, we’ve got to the end of some weekends and realised that all the children have achieved is Level 213 on Roblox Ninja Simulator or that thirty minutes on the IPAD has turned into three hours whilst we were busy cooking the Sunday roast!

So, as regimented as it might seem, I’ve taken to drawing up a timetable and creating some family rules to ensure my children have more of a balance with their leisure time, pencilling in things like exercise, reading and free time. My children discovered the latter is not quite as exciting as they first thought when they gleefully raced off to grab their IPADs, and found me hot on their heels, with a stern, “not so fast.” Free time in our house means anything they choose around the house apart from one thing. Devices. Arts and crafts, Lego, puzzles, board games, reading, drawing and time in the garden are all wholly encouraged, although we try to avoid directing their time by suggesting activities and resorting to helicopter parenting. I firmly believe in the good old adage, CHILDREN NEED TO BE BORED to unlock their imaginations and let their creative juices flow. For times when my children woefully lament that there is, “absolutely NOTHING to do,” I point them in the direction of the fridge, where this note remains a permanent fixture, and leave them to it.

During lockdown, Art became a staple in our house and the website Art for kids hub, (which you can find on YouTube or by following the link Art For Kids Hub – Art Lessons – How To Draw For Kids) was an instant hit. The short, easy step-by-step videos are aimed at all ages, and as demonstrated in my children’s pictures below prove you can’t go wrong. They frequently do the same videos with similar results, whilst also adding their own little touches.

All of the other ideas – building LEGO (whether it’s following instructions or making own creations), playing board games, solving puzzles (e.g. crosswords, sudoku, wordsearches), reading, writing and doing art boost creativity, improve problem solving, and build their English and Maths skills.

We enjoy spending time together as a family by watching films, going for walks or eating out, but the ideas above have been specifically selected to promote independence and encourage managing own free time. Guiding our children towards a variety of activities can unlock potential and harness a wide range of skills that support their education, both inside and outside of the classroom.