In the wake of the rising number of coronavirus cases, the world has come to a standstill. Amidst a nation-wide lockdown, parents and kids now find themselves confined within the walls of their houses for a really long time.
Since kids can’t actively participate in their regular routines, this brings some new challenges for parents especially when most of us are working from home as well. Fulfilling all your responsibilities with limited or no help and ensuring that your entire family is healthy can be an overwhelming experience for many.
We have come up with a guide for you to navigate this uncharted territory successfully.
Set a routine
Just like you plan your work day, set a routine for your child as well. Get them ready in the morning in their summer wear and prepare a list of things you would like them to complete during the day. Be it learning something online, reading books or dancing to their favorite music; create a list which also includes fixed eating, working and sleeping schedules. Make sure to prepare an eight hour plan which while keeping them busy will also help you to work peacefully.
Easy Indoor Activities
While setting a routine for your child, you can include the following activities:
Apart from fun educational online games which are easily available on various apps and platforms, you can engage them in some good old board games like carrom, snakes and ladders, chess or LUDO!
Gardening is always a calming experience. Besides, this is a great time to teach your child the importance of coexisting peacefully with nature and to connect with Mother Earth.
If this lockdown has taught us anything, it is the need to know cooking and some recipes with minimal ingredients. Get your child to cook some easy DIY recipes (without using gas, of course). You can even cook and bake together! Who knows, you might just find a Masterchef in your house!
If your child is into music then you can subscribe for some online classes for vocal training or to learn an instrument.
Let them groove to their favorite music every day. Dance is a great form of stress buster and all that extra energy does need channeling!
Drawing, painting and craft activities are among the favorite activities of many kids. Give them their art and craft kit and keep them busy with it.
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Build a reading habit
Apart from gaining knowledge and learning new language skills, reading helps to stimulate a child’s imagination, improves concentration, exercises their brain and keeps them calm. Since time immemorial, reading has been considered to be one of the best habits to have. It is a great time to motivate your child to pursue it and the best way to do it is by practicing what you preach! If your kid sees you take out time to read everyday, they will join in too.
With no exposure to the outside world and outdoor activities it would be a good thing to connect them every once in a while with their friends! Video calling their friends can cheer them up and they can share stories of their day. Make sure to talk to them and spend quality time with them every day.
Together, we can win this war against the virus.
Stay in and stay safe!