In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, India is in a total lockdown. Staying at home for a prolonged period of time will test the limits of even the most patient people. Parents all across the country have started to accept the fact that schools are going to be shut for quite some time because of the Coronavirus pandemic. The thought of staying at home with kids during the Covid-19 lockdown has made parents stressed and anxious. In such a scenario parents are constantly worried about how to keep their kids engaged.
Children are in a vulnerable state right now as they are missing out on all their favourite activities – playing with friends in schools and in the neighbourhood, attending summer camps, going out on picnics, visiting their grandparents and cousins, etc. Children are free-spirited and like to go out and play and interact with their mates but in the current situation, they are forced to be at home day in and day out. They dislike staying indoors too long. Therefore, it is the responsibility of parents to keep their children engaged during lockdown with productive-engaging activities.
It is important for families to operate positively during this unforeseen shutdown. Parents should make time to sit with their kids and plan their day. Maintaining a positive environment at home is beneficial for the holistic well-being of kids. Parents can schedule various activities like game nights, face time calls for their kids with grandparents, friends and engages them in challenges and fun activities.
Here are a few activities to engage your kids during a lockdown:
Practice yoga
During crucial times like these, it is important to maintain physical and mental well-being. What better way to do that than Yoga? This ancient discipline not only enhances overall health but also helps in keeping energy levels high while reducing stress and anxiety. Use this as an opportunity to teach your children the importance of having good health. Teach them the importance of having a healthy lifestyle. What we sow reaps. By teaching discipline when they are young, they will incorporate this into their lives and stay healthy. Yoga improves the well-being of both body and mind. It relieves stress and anxiety. It also plays a crucial role in keeping children healthy and positive. Thanks to the Internet, you can learn Yoga at the comfort of your own home by opting for online Yoga sessions.
Teach them cooking
The lockdown period is the best time to teach your little chefs at home some simple dishes that they can make for themselves. Your little prince/princess could be the next master chef who knows? Cooking is an essential life skill; therefore, every child should know the basics of cooking. You can start with easy recipes like salads, sandwiches, juice and move on to Pasta, Cakes, and Cookies. Kids love to learn new things, they will be thrilled and joyous to eat food prepared by them. If you want to explore more, there are plenty of resources online and offline with great recipes that can help you in your cooking experiment.
Learn a new language
Studies show that people who speak more than one language have enhanced memory, problem-solving skills, great concentration, focus, and better listening skills. Knowing an additional language can be really beneficial to kids. It will play an important part in opening up new horizons. Thanks to the unlimited options provided by the online world, learning a new language have never been easy. Many apps teach new languages in the form of a game so that your children can have fun while learning.
Get into arts and crafts
Involve your kids in art and craft, you’ll not only help them pass time but you’ll also be giving wings to their creativity. Creativity in children should be encouraged in every shape and form, what better way to do this than host a variety of art and craft sessions. This is the best way to keep them engaged for hours while inspiring creativity that will last for a long time. This will boost concentration, creativity, innovation, and focus in children. Start with simple craft projects. Give them drawing books, colour pens, coloured papers, glues, balloons, Popsicle sticks, etc., and encourage them to go wild. All these activities will keep them busy while helping them hone their artistic talents and sharpen their minds.
Plan a treasure hunt game
Children love games, especially the ones that tap their curiosity. Pick up their favourite toy or item and hide them in different portions of the house. Layout clues to the hidden treasure which the kids will enjoy upon unearthing. Needless to say, the whole process of searching for clues will sharpen the mental faculties of the kids and help them grow. This will help you and your kid to pass the time during this period of quarantine and also give you an opportunity to spend some quality moments together.
Create a schedule for your kids and follow them diligently
Routine is the best way to develop discipline in life. Creating a schedule with a daily routine can be an effective way to instil discipline in kids. This will make the kid feel at ease. Set up a schedule for waking up, eating, learning, playing, and fun things to do. Also, ensure the schedule has room for flexibility. This will help both parents and feel relaxed while also maintaining discipline.
Get their hands deep in experiments
Give your kids some fun activities like DIY science experiments, crafts, drawing, watching documentaries, and educational videos. Though many children find science to be one of the harder subjects, doing this at home can help your child develop an interest in Science. If your kids already love science, they’ll be excited to try these projects. This could be your fun-bonding time together during the lockdown.
Family bonding time
We live in a busy world; making time to do things we love is hardly a choice. Thanks to the lockdown, you get to spend an ample amount of time with your kids. Do not take this golden period for granted. Find ways to spend time with your little ones, bond with them, – create an exercise routine together, bake a cake, have meals together, sing and dance with them, or simply play board games. The list is endless.
Teach your kids new life skills
School and extracurricular activity time aside, it can be difficult to find time to teach necessary life skills to your children. The best time to do so is during the holiday season, or during unexpected breaks in their school schedule. Simple things like learning how to type, how to do simple cooking, doing basic cleaning around the house, or if you have an indoor pool – swimming. Schedule a routine to teach them new fun hobbies like playing the piano, drawing, or singing.
Create a scrapbook
Scrapbook is a fun collection of memorable moments. Your kids will thank you for this in the future. To get started, all you need is a blank book, colouring pens, and pencils, glue sticks, and glitter. They can paste pictures or take new pictures to stick into their scrapbook. You could create a project out of it where they paste flowers, leaves, pictures of their friends and family, pets, and teachers.
Gardening
Gardening helps children understand the complete life cycle of a living being. It also explains where food comes from, and how things grow. Planting seeds and watching them grow gives a sense of purpose and social responsibility. Children will have a great learning experience while having fun when engaged in such activities. Positive traits like patience, faith, gratitude, and responsibility can be instilled over a period of time. There are many YouTube channels that explain every step of gardening in detail along with advice on the easiest things to grow.
Reading
Books can be your kid’s best friends. During the lockdown period, encourage your kids into the habit of reading a book. Studies have shown that reading is one of the main tactics for vocabulary gaining, focus, and improved communication skills. Whether your kids already have the habit of reading or they’re just getting started, reading is a great way to bond and help them build their vocabulary. You could start with small storybooks, Kid magazines and move on to other books once they get the hang of reading.
Conclusion
Lockdown doesn’t have to mean boredom. There are plenty of activities that you can organize for your children which will not only keep them from getting bored but will also help them grow.
Keeping children busy is perhaps the most important and toughest thing to do in the house, especially during a crisis. It’s important to indulge in activities that help in the relaxation of the mind and body. This is the time to bond with your little ones. Remember! Children will always enact what you do and how you do things. Kids learn a lot from what they see around them, they also imitate activities that parents are involved in during the whole day. So be mindful and aware of what you do throughout the day, do things that inspire your kids. Be proactive and be productive!
Dr. Arun K Bableshwar | Consultant – Paediatric Cardiologist | SDM Narayana Heart Centre, Dharwad