With Covid-19 being declared a pandemic and countries going under lockdown, most people are now staying at home with their kids whilst working on a remote basis. Let’s be honest, it’s difficult enough to keep young ones occupied with something for so long anyways, but to juggle that with a job? Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world – here are some ways to make life easier for the both of you.
Firstly, having a set schedule and a dedicated reward chart is brilliant to keep on task and ensure your kids gets any set school work done (if teaching is still being continued for them on an independent basis). It demonstrates what is expected of them and what they will gain once they have completed the allocated tasks. Alongside this, here are a few more ideas to keep your kids entertained:
- YouTube has a plethora of child-friendly videos; both educational and fun! It’ll only take a couple of minutes to find something your child likes and which will keep them hooked for hours – plus, they’ll be picking up on some new knowledge!
- Get creative with an arts & craft session! Places like eBay sell huge craft bundles for a small price, but if that’s not an option, everyday items around your house are perfect – cotton wool balls, bottle tops, lolly sticks are a few examples and make amazing child-friendly craft pieces.
- Involve them in daily chores; not only will this teach them about responsibility but it’ll help them to pick up on vital life skills – just be sure to keep an eye on them!
- If it’s an option, a new toy is an amazing way to keep your kid amused for hours. DIY toys can also be made at home; a colander and some pipe cleaners will keep the young ones occupied for an hour or two!
- Call friends and family as often as possible, or even better a video call! This will keep ongoing interaction intact and give your child something to look forward to. If a call is not possible, you can make an activity out of it and let them write a letter or create a card which can be sent off!
To wrap it up, it’s especially important that you keep communication open around the current situation around your kid, so that they know they can talk to you about their feelings and ask you any questions to make them feel more at ease – remember it is especially difficult for younger ones to understand, so talking makes a huge difference!
