Being online can be exhilarating – the possibilities of who you could meet, the things you could learn and what you might see are endless and it’s perfectly natural to want to explore it!
However, it’s also natural for your parents or carers to be concerned about what you do when you’re online as they’re worried about your safety and what you could be exposed to.
Instead of getting frustrated with them, why not show them how much good can come from the time you spend online?
Yes, it’s fun to keep up with your friends or favourite social media accounts but it’s also important not to ignore the incredible resources at your fingertips that could change your life for the better.
Here are 8 great ways to spend time online – that we think will also be parent-approved…!
- Music Lessons
Whether you want to learn the piano, the guitar, the tin whistle or the double bass – there’s an online class available to you at the click of a button.
- Painting and Drawing
If you haven’t seen one of those time-lapse videos of a person drawing an intricate object or animal, you’re missing out! How amazing would it be if you were the person doing the drawing? Pencil, charcoal, watercolour – pick your method and get started!
- Coding
Instead of just surfing the web, why not learn how it’s pages are created?
There are many online tutorials on how to code and because technology is the future, the more you know about it, the better you’ll be able to understand it.
- Dance Class
If you love dancing but don’t have access to a particular class or school that you’d like to go to, why not check out their website to see if they have any online classes?
Alternatively, there are plenty of other ways to work up a sweat online like doing one of Joe Wicks’ “P.E with Joe” workouts!
- Arts and Crafts
Colouring, painting and making things with your hands is a brilliant way to spark your imagination and there is plenty of inspiration online.
From science experiments to household decorations, you’ll be amazed at what you can create with the right materials!
- Pet-training
If you’ve got a dog or a cat, there are thousands of videos online that can show you how to train them.
From toilet training to tricks like high-fives or even complicated dance routines, all you need is a willing pet, a good Internet connection and a whole lot of patience (and treats!).
- Gardening
It might not be the first thing you think of in terms of a hobby but creating your own little vegetable patch or flower garden can be very rewarding.
By learning about what seeds and bulbs suit your area, climate and soil type, you can start from scratch and literally see the fruits of your labour grow right before your eyes. And who knows, you might even be able to treat your family to dinner!
- Baking
If you’re a fan of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll know how wonderful baking can be. There’s nothing quite like seeing people enjoying and complimenting something you’ve baked from a few simple ingredients! And when it comes to online tutorials…well, let’s just say, there’s no shortage of them out there!
If you’re stuck for time, check out the time-lapse reels from chefs and bakers on Instagram or Facebook.
Type in the hashtag symbol plus the item you want to make, hit Enter and you’ll have lots of options to choose from!