Raise your hand if you and/or your child need some quiet time throughout the day. I think that is all of us right ?:) Whether it's because your child does not take a nap anymore or if you need to get things done or even have a coffee in peace, we all need a quiet break. That is where the quiet box comes in handy. The good part is that you can easily set this up in a couple of minutes. Here are some tips to help you select some items to fill this up now.
1. Go through your child's toys and select items which your child can play quietly with. Puzzles, blocks (foam blocks would be really handy as they do not make a sound when they fall), books, playmobile sets, paper and crayons etc.
2. Ensure that the toys chosen are safe for your child. The aim for this time is for your child to be able to play independently without constant supervision.
3. Toys and activities chosen should be at your child's level not more. You wouldn't want to be interrupted every minute to help your child complete the puzzle. Making puzzles together can be done at any other point throughout the day.
4. Set a timer. If your child is new to this you can probably start with 15 minutes and build up on it (according to the child's age) till you reach one hour. A sand timer is very useful for the younger children as it visually shows them how much quiet time is left.
5. Set out the rules to your child. Explain that this is your child's resting time so whilst he or she will be playing, mummy (or daddy/ grandparents etc) will be resting (or working etc). It is a very good idea to have an activity together before quiet time begins. This helps fill your child's bucket and it would be easier for him and her to transition into spending time alone after. Reading books to them is a relaxing activity and helps set the tone to the time coming up next.
6. Do not choose any messy activities. Paint and messy play might not be a good idea if your child is really young. My eldest is five and I still cannot trust him to use messy material unsupervised without having him totally covered in paint together with the surroundings :) Playdough I do allow however. If your child is older or is more responsible with messy material, then by all means, go ahead.
7. Do you have some toys which haven't been used in a while? This is a good time to reintroduce them. They would be sure to catch your child's attention!
8. Soft classical music in the background can help set the tone. If your child enjoys it, you can also find kids audiobooks for free. My eldest loves listening to them whilst quietly playing with his Legos (we find them on Spotify)
9. Think about your child's interests and make pinterest your friend:) Some of my children's interests include cutting, numbers, letters and drawing so I am constantly trying to find and create activities related to these themes.
10. Once you have gathered all your toys and activities, you can divide them into 3 or 4 boxes and present a different one every day. If storage space is an issue, you can leave everything in one box and present up to five activities every day.
11. Choose a place for this time and use this place consistently every day. If possible (though it might not always be so) also choose a time when quiet time will happen and stick to it. Children learn through routine and habit so consistency will ensure that this time will be more successful. Do not give up if quiet time is not so quiet in the first few days. As is everything else with children.. keep on trying and see what works for you.
There you have it! I hope that you found this article helpful and I look forward to hearing your feedback and experiences. Find me on Instagram where I share snippets of our daily life and any activities we do throughout the day (@my_monkeys_and_I). And don't forget to subscribe to my blog if you want to receive emails when a new article is released:)
See you later!
Christina
xxx
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