In the wake of the COVID - 19 pandemic, the government of India has declared a severe lock down for a prolonged period of time. With daycares and playschools being shut, children are forced to stay cooped up indoors and as a result may feel restless and bored. This reduced interaction may cause delays of developmental milestones, an increased screen - exposure and higher levels of anxiety and agitation.
Children are completely reliant on parents to engage them in fun and interactive activities that will keep them occupied and away from screens. To help you achieve this, our team at Bum Print Baby has compiled a list of ideas that might help you!
1. Cooking Classes
The kitchen is one of the most underrated yet best places to keep your child engaged! Have them help you with simple chores whenever you are in the kitchen; washing vegetables, making dough balls for rotis/ cookies etc. Getting children, no matter the gender, acclimatized to kitchen activities encourages creativity and instills good habits.
2. Read Books
Even on a normal day, reading books is one of the best habits to inculcate in your child. However, during a pandemic such as this one, reading good children's books can be even more beneficial as they are healing and could lead to meaningful discussions about the world. Here is a list of free books that are great for parents to read to their children now and even after the pandemic clears:
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My Hero is You, Storybook for Children on COVID-19
- Farmer Falgu Stays at Home
- Piggy & Bunny and the Stay-at-Home Plan
3. Music Lessons
Learning to play an instrument will help you child develop physical skills such as co-ordination and motor skills, it will cultivate a social culture that encourages team work, collaboration and communication and will also refine discipline. With your kids still attending school on a 15 inch screen, learning an instrument can be the perfect break from the digital world we live in while boosting their self esteem and overall character.
If you're wondering which instrument to introduce to your child, here is a list of questions you can consider before finding a teacher and investing:
- Is your child excited to learn this instrument? Do they like the idea of playing it?
- Is the instrument in your budget range and will you be able to afford the maintenance costs that come with it?
- Does it match the music style that your child is interested in?
- Are there teachers around your area that teach this instrument to children?
- Does the instrument compliment your child's frame and temperament?
4. Bike Rides, Walking and Nature trails
A child's favorite pass time is to run around with friends, collect stones and twigs as memorable and be absolved in nature. As kids are spending more time indoors now than ever before, it is important to make sure they don't lose connectivity with the outdoors. Going on bike rides around the colony, walks in your local part or even playing in your own garden can help keep them rooted to nature.
5. Painting, Arts n Crafts and more!
Shapes, colors and patterns are key to a child's early development. Art can also help kids process the world they see around them. It is simply wonderful to allow kids to indulge in their curiosity and creativity; and the pandemic has provided the time for just that.
You can create art and play experiences for your kids with simple tools you will already have at home such as pencils, markers and crayons. Here are a few suggestions:
- Ask your child to find random objects around the house such as stones, leaves, tv remote etc. Depending on your child's skills, they can either trace the objects, replicate them by drawing and coloring or use the objects as an inspiration to create their own masterpiece!
- Pick up an old magazine and tear out a few pages for your child. They can now draw a simple figure on an A4 sheet and make a collage! Glue and a pair of scissors are all you'll need (be sure to supervise the use of scissors).
- Another messy yet fun and stimulating project is finger painting! You can find multiple templates for finger painting online.
- Origami is yet another fascinating yet education craft for kids to indulge in. In a nutshell, it improves hand-eye coordination, spatial skills, memory, concentration and motor skills. Depending on the age of your child, you can start off with simple paper folds! Paper boats and airplanes are good beginner projects.
We hope our suggestions have helped you find interesting activities for your children! Be sure to post pictures tag us in any fun activities you do partake in - we'd love to see and share! Happy indulging.