Keeping children engaged during the lockdown

Today we are heading towards the third week of lockdown, and it’s been extended further to another two weeks. Keeping children busy and happy is a challenge for parents, especially working moms. We must ensure they are not in front of the screen for long hours.

Kids typically spend three to seven hours in a structured educational environment away from home and are stuck indoors. Many activities planned for the family and children for this summer vacation are stopped. In these conditions, keeping kids engaged with creative activities of their interest is tough.

When kids find their parents at home, they expect them to play with them or take them out etc, what they used to do on weekends. Here are a few tips to keep your children emotionally, mentally, and physically healthy during this lockdown.

Parents can encourage creativity by questioning:

How can I? Why should it? What would happen if? How can I make this, or how can I change this? It’s about making sure that children are constantly being asked those questions.

How can I? Why should it? What would happen if? How can I make this, or how can I change this? It’s about making sure that children are constantly being asked those questions.

Collecting the materials required to make a craft with available things at home.

Setting challenges between siblings- that who can do it better today, for example, drawing, running, craftwork, etc.

Find some online resources like Twinkl and BBC Bitesize.

Try to create your own space in the house, change the look, and make it worthwhile.

Allow children to cook and teach them what they can cook without your help while you’re working.

Getting creative together- you can cook, paint, dance, etc.- will be fantastic for your children, and time will go away.

Keep children safely connected with friends or extended family members by phone or video chatting. Children can narrate a story to elders; all can play in-house games like chess, caroms, and board games. Encourage children to exercise with you at home, like skipping, squats, and pushups.

Prepare your young ones for going back to school

Young children between 6 to 14 years need to be handled carefully and keep them inspired and prepare them for returning to school.

Teach them life skills

These lockdown days are perfect days to teach children some life skills. Everything need not be academic. They can learn to fold and keep their clothes on their shelves correctly. They can mop the house or vacuum; fold their bed sheets after they wake up. Keep their minds focused on a goal, not things out of their control.

We are all in this situation for the first time, and all of us are learning. So be kind and don’t get frazzled with your kid; forgive if they make any mistakes. Remember that your children are transitioning as well. You might need to use a lot of negotiation with them and give and take. It is a pretty new role for you, but it won’t be permanent, and there is no quick fix.