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From Learning to Play: 9 Creative Ways to Keep Your Kids Engaged After School This Fall

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Sept. 7 2023, Published 5:41 a.m. ET

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When the school bell rings, marking the end of another learning-filled day, a second phase of informal yet equally vital education begins for our kids: the after-school hours. These hours, brimming with opportunities for creative, personal, and skill-based growth, can be some of the most enriching times of a child's day.

However, the challenge often lies in keeping our kids engaged and interested during this time. Worry not! This fall, we've compiled a list of nine creative ways to help your kids maximize their after-school hours.

In a bid to transform these hours from mundane to magical, each recommendation features a product that's tailored to help foster a love for learning, creativity, and personal growth. From honing a skill like playing the guitar to cultivating a love for healthy food, these tools and activities are set to turn the upcoming fall season into a vibrant learning journey for your children.

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1. Unlock Their Inner Rockstar With Rocksmith+

Do your kids tap their forks rhythmically at the dinner table or hum tunes while doing their homework? Maybe there's an inner rockstar waiting to shine. Studies show music education has positive impacts on cognitive development, self-confidence, and even social skills. Why not make learning and playing music a part of their after-school activities?

With a guitar tuner from Rocksmith+, your child will learn how to play the guitar and understand the subtleties of perfect pitch and tonality. This easy-to-use, handy app makes tuning a breeze, opening up more time for the actual joy of playing.

Let's imagine a typical fall afternoon. Your child comes home from school, tosses their bag aside, and reaches for their guitar instead of the TV remote. They spend their time strumming chords, picking melodies, and feeling like a true rockstar.

Learning the guitar is a fun way to work learning and enrichment into their post-school routine while ensuring that they have a productive and stimulating way to relax, unwind, and express themselves that will be with them for life!

2. Try a New After School Snack With Sips by

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try a new after school snack with sips by
Source: Sips by
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We all know snacks are the secret to happy, focused kids. How about we take it a notch higher? Why not turn snack time into an adventure? If you want to brew your kid a tasty, soothing cup of tea at the end of the day, use tea gift sets from Sips by to turn tea time into an adventure of history, flavor, and tea.

These beautifully curated tea sets are a carnival of flavors. They offer your child a chance to embark on a global exploration right from the comfort of your kitchen. Each set boasts a range of teas from different parts of the world — earthy, fruity, floral, you name it! One sip of the vibrant hibiscus tea, and they might imagine strolling through lush Egyptian fields. A taste of the spicy chai could transport them to bustling Indian markets.

Plus, the adventure doesn't stop at tea. Why not try incorporating these exotic flavors into a mini afternoon baking session?

Imagine a delicate chamomile-infused cookie or a refreshing green tea sorbet. Suddenly, snack time is no longer just about filling up but about discovering new cultures, tastes, and even cooking skills. Thanks to Sips by, our kids might just have the most enviable snack time in their class.

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3. Help Them Improve Their Gaming Skills With Tapin.GG

Before you shrug off your kid's gaming interest as a waste of time, pause for a moment. In moderation, gaming can be a fantastic learning platform. From enhancing strategic thinking to building problem-solving skills, video games offer a lot more than just entertainment.

If you’re trying to get to know the world of gaming so you can be a more active part of your child’s favorite hobby, get your own gaming profile up to snuff with an elo boost from Tapin.GG. You can even introduce your kid to Tapin.GG so they can enhance their own skills!

These tools are designed to help players level up in their favorite games, boosting not only their scores but also their self-confidence. You can also help your child understand exactly how their game works. Instead of just mindless button-mashing, they’ll be strategizing, making crucial decisions, and learning to navigate complex scenarios.

Sure, it's a virtual world, but the skills they're honing are more than applicable IRL.

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4. Streamline Baby Care With BabyBuddha

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Source: BabyBuddha
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With a baby in the house, we know your hands are full. Amidst diaper changes, feedings, and nap times, it can be challenging to find quality time for your older kids. Thankfully, BabyBuddha has a solution: a smart, efficient electric breast pump designed to streamline baby care and free up some time for you.

This device is simple to use, easy to clean, and efficient. It gives you the freedom to multitask so that you can focus on other things, like helping your older child with their school project or playing a game with them.

Imagine a calm afternoon, the baby's milk being pumped without a hitch, and you're sitting on the living room floor building a Lego castle with your older one. Isn't this the balance we all strive for?

By streamlining one part of baby care, BabyBuddha helps you carve out more time for your older kids so you can be sure they’re engaged and enriched after school rather than just zoning out in front of a screen.

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5. Keep Their Tools in a Monogrammed Tote From Marleylilly

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Source: Marleylilly
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We believe in fostering personal responsibility and organizational skills from a young age … with a touch of flair and personality, of course! Here's where Marleylilly’s monogrammed gifts come into the picture.

Made with high-quality materials and available in a variety of vibrant colors, these totes are functional and stylish. They offer your child their own personal space to keep their hobby implements, be it art supplies, soccer gear, or their beloved collection of rocks.

Consider the joy on your child's face when they see their initials on their very own tote. That sense of ownership, of having something uniquely theirs, can be a powerful motivator for them to keep their things organized.

Suddenly, the after-school scramble for misplaced items transforms into a smooth, easy routine, all thanks to a little tote from Marleylilly. And you? You're treated to the delightful sight of your child being responsible and independent.

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6. Enhance Their Homework Sessions Using Coursology

Homework doesn't have to be a drag. With the right tools, it can be an engaging and exciting process. Still, it’s hard to accomplish that when you realize you might not be as well-versed in what your kid is learning as you hoped. That’s why you need Coursology’s AI learning software to be your kid's new study buddy.

This innovative software harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to create personalized learning experiences. It adapts to your child's learning pace, identifies areas they need to focus on, and provides interactive activities to strengthen their understanding. From solving math problems to understanding complex science concepts, studying becomes more of a discovery than a chore.

Visualize a stress-free study hour where your child, instead of wrangling with tough homework alone, navigates it with a smart AI companion. Homework isn't a struggle anymore but a journey of knowledge. Instead of the resident homework enforcer, you can become the proud parent of a self-motivated learner.

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7. Commemorate Special Moments With Lapel Pins and Coins

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Source: Lapel Pins and Coins

Celebrating milestones and achievements is crucial in fostering a sense of accomplishment and pride in kids. There’s no better way to celebrate these moments and show your kids that you’re proud of what they do than with custom challenge coins from Lapel Pins and Coins.

Lapel Pins and Coins’ custom commemorative coins offer a unique and exciting way to celebrate your child's special moments. Each coin is thoughtfully crafted, representing a milestone or a cherished memory. Whether it's their first successful bike ride without training wheels or scoring the highest in a school test, these coins serve as a reminder of their hard work and success.

These coins aren't just keepsakes; they're tokens of self-esteem and moments when they exceeded their own expectations. With Lapel Pins and Coins' commemorative coins, you're not just celebrating victories — you're building a treasure chest of self-belief.

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