With the lockdown extension, you might be looking for fresh new ways to keep your kids active and entertained. It’s understandable for everyone to become a little more sluggish during lockdown. It’s extra important for children to stay mentally and physically sharp - for both their mental health and yours. Here are some fun things to do with kids at home.
1.Keeping toddlers busy
Parents of young children or toddlers have had to put in extra efforts to keep their growing kids busy during lockdown. If you’ve exhausted your list of games, crafts or lessons, give these kids activities a try:
2.Mess-free painting
Babies and toddlers will enjoy this sensory experience. So will you, as there isn’t any extra clean-up.
● Add dollops of paint to a sheet of card and slip the card into a Ziploc bag. Seal the bag and let your child use the outer plastic to move and manipulate the paint onto the white card.
3.Easy at-home stamps
● Empty toilet rolls can be used to create heart, oval and circular stamps. Bend the tube to get your desired shape, dip into paint and stamp away.
4.Kids’ activities for older children
If your child is a little older, they’ll have extra energy to exert. Don’t let the days be spent solely behind screens. Physical activities are critical for their mental and physical wellbeing.
● Create a garden scavenger hunt. A simple Google search will yield plenty of printable clues and answers. This will have your kids running around the yard in no time.
● With
access to the Internet, it’s also easy to find YouTube dance videos or Yoga classes for kids. These videos have been designed to keep kids engaged in fun, physical movement.
● Take your kids on a garden safari. Encourage your children to reinvestigate the garden by spotting as many bugs or creatures as possible. They can be awarded points for spotting different insects and plants. They could even sketch or document their findings in a notebook. This should keep them occupied outside in the fresh air for a couple of hours.
4.Keeping teens busy during Lock Down
Your teen will probably have a fair amount of school work to keep up with. They also might be the hardest hit emotionally and mentally with the home confinements. When it comes to teens, there are a few different ways you can engage with them in order to make sure they aren’t slipping into a routine of laziness or depression.
● Structure. Develop a daily routine for them and try to stick to it. Assign certain hours for schoolwork, chores, TV and sleep in order to emulate the structure they would normally experience during a school week. This leaves less time for apathy or negative mental talk.
● Up their responsibilities. By creating an atmosphere of “we’re all in this together”, you can help your teen take more responsibility with helping out around the house. By assisting with more chores, they’ll be
more physically active
and engaged.
Lockdown in the time of Covid-19 is a strange and uncertain time for all families. Together, families can help each other navigate through the “new normal” while maintaining good habits and a bit of structure.
