Most schools worldwide have resumed classes in classrooms, but they still revert to online learning from time to time when Covid-19 cases rise. This situation is unprecedented and was formerly only a product of science fiction movies. Two years after discovering the virus, students have more or less settled in the bizarre situation of learning at school with masks on or e-learning from home. No matter how professionals and guardians try to provide the best environment for growing and learning, no one can argue that these times are far from orthodox.
The saying ‘It takes a village to raise a child’ emphasizes the youth’s need to grow in an environment supported by various internal and external factors. Your kid can bond with you and the rest of your family at home and get the experiences they need from home life. But there’s so much more they can learn outside your abode, which the pandemic has robbed them of. Thanks to the internet, connecting with others isn’t a glaring problem these days; getting back a bit of normalcy is. To give your kid the best childhood, even during lockdowns, here are entertaining indoor activities you can do.
Promote Self-expression
Being with their peers at school helps your kid know their preferences and create a personality. They can still form individual opinions at home. But, their scope for creativity and imagination remains limited without a person closer to their age whom they can throw ideas at and talk to freely.
To encourage self-expression, you can give your child projects that stimulate their imagination and allow them to come up with decisions. You can try giving them art projects to help enhance their creativity or immerse them in sports to keep them active.
Create a Routine
Going to school provides a schedule that students can follow; it also gives structure to their daily lives, making the most out of their days. However, routines were the first to go out the window when the pandemic hit. With the temporary suspensions of work and school, following a schedule is also on hold. Leading structureless days can make anyone feel at a loss, but kids always find ways to make even the dullest things interesting. Still, it’s vital to have them follow a routine.
With schools scheduling lessons at home or on an e-learning platform at the last minute, you must have at least two timetables prepared for your kid to follow. For example, if it’s an online classroom day, you can create a circle planner with slices devoted to school work, breaks, play, and rest, while you can follow their school schedule for traditional classroom days. With different plans prepared, you help your kid feel used to various circumstances.
Encourage Outdoor Play
Staying at home seems like a treat, but without the need to get up and accomplish activities you can only do on a typical pre-pandemic day, your kids do not get the exercise they need. To keep them away from their devices, you can turn your backyard into an area where they can play or perform sports activities.
For instance, if it’s well within your budget, you can have an inground pool built in your yard, complete with a DIY swimming pool fence to prevent critters from trespassing into the area. Installing a jungle gym with a climbing rope and other features will also help improve your child’s flexibility and strength, helping them stay fit when P.E. is off for the day.
Include Them in the Process
Schools can only teach your child so much, and you can bridge the gap by helping them more at home. Hands-on activities make children more appreciative of certain things. For example, if you let them help in the kitchen, they can witness how you cook their meals and the amount of preparation that goes into every dish, encouraging them to eat the food that goes into their plates.
Gardening is another activity that combines exercise and instilling a love for nature. When you teach your kid how to grow plants, they’ll better appreciate the products of nature and feel passionate about protecting the environment.
Expand Their World
Just because your child stays at home most of the time and travel is still widely discouraged doesn’t mean you can’t expand their world. Having an internet connection at home lets you access many portals and allows your child to see different places and even timelines.
From movies to shows, documentaries to books, there’s a wealth of mediums ready at your perusal to make the days you spend indoors more meaningful. To ensure that your kid can fully appreciate the materials you show them, you can engage them in discussions or have them write reviews to polish their writing and vocabulary.
By immersing your kid in various activities, you can make staying at home fun and even help them hone their abilities.
