A sudden pandemic and a lockdown related to it can be tiresome for parents and as well as children. We adults, even the people who are very calm and patient, could see our limits tested if we are forced to stay indoors. It’s a very hard time for the parents pondering about activities to keep the kids engaged.
Since most of the schools are closed during a lockdown, children are the most vulnerable as they are forced to be at home the whole day. Kids usually love to play out and interact with their friends. Hence during a lockdown it is the responsibility of the parents to keep children engaged with productive activities. This can be achieved by getting them engaged in activities that are fun learning opportunities. Here are some activities that parents can try to keep the kids engaged.
For Kids 2 to 8:
You can teach them to help with your household chores, like keeping the house neat and clean. Encourage them to pick up their toys after playing and keep them neatly organized, especially 2 and 4-year-olds. Habits can be moulded and formed from a younger age itself. For the 5 to 8-year olds, you can ask them to do some sweeping as well mopping the house. Teach them to fold their clothes. You can also provide them colouring books and sit with them and colour. I have a 5-year-old nephew who enjoys colouring but will only along with the people he loves.
If they do the given responsibilities or tasks very well, don’t forget to reward them with small perks. These small rewards will only motivate them to do more activities.. For 4 and 5-year-olds, you can read them stories and even teach them to arrange the alphabets and numbers in order and also how to form simple words. You can also make them read words. For 6 to 8-year-olds, you can teach them addition and subtraction, make them read stories. Find out what their interests are for example if they sing well, encourage them to sing more. They can also be taught gardening and watering plants. Give them a lego or building blocks challenge. Buy them puzzles to solve.
For Kids above 8 years:
For these children, the parents can ask them to make their own bed once they wake up. Making their own bed and keeping it neat should be the first thing they do when they wake up. Teach them some vegetable cutting skills or some cooking skills. Ask them to read the newspaper and other books. Give them the task of ironing clothes, arranging their beds, dusting the house, arranging the bookshelves, etc. You can also teach them to clean the bathroom and also how to wash their clothes. Another task parents can give their children not only during the lockdown but whenever they get time to spend with them is make them talk and interact with them so that they can develop their oration and interaction skills and that would make them more extroverted and confident to speak out. This can be done when the child starts talking itself. Since these are a little bigger children you can also send them to go to the nearby shops to buy things.
Lockdown is a period when we get to spend more time with our kids and know them more. Therefore, use the time you get to spend with your children wisely.
