Keep children entertained and educated during Covid-19 lockdown
With the current lockdown many parents will be at home with their children. This provides a unique opportunity for parents to play a constructive role in their children's education.
WITH all the chaos caused by the Covid-19 outbreak and closure of schools, libraries, educational and child-minding facilities, children have a lot of time cooped up at home, likely restless and bored. With the current lockdown many parents are at home with their children. This provides a unique opportunity for parents to play a constructive role in their children’s education.
Linda James, chairperson of Wentworth-based educational after school programme, Youth Education Support Services (YESS), advises parents to draw up a balanced time table for their children. “Children thrive on a routine. Don’t allow them to have an unstructured day. Get the children to add their input into the timetable. The timetable should include provision for get up time, breakfast, school work, exercise and leisure activities. This could also be the ideal opportunity to work on a home improvement project that all family members can participate in. Some school teachers have given prescribed schoolwork for this period. Parents should ensure that these tasks are completed in a methodical fashion a little at a time. Reading is also key. Parents could have a compulsory reading period where all family members read.
Like Linda, Montlands Library librarian, Lionel Reddy says reading is an essential activity during this period away from school. “The closing down of libraries due to this pandemic happened very abruptly, leaving us with no measures in place to ensure that people have access to books over the 21-day shutdown. However, we still urge children to parents to continue a culture of reading. Reading not only builds a strong language foundation, but it also introduces vocabulary and can help develop empathy, curiosity and critical thinking. Books and reading is our absolute passion at Montlands Library. It is so fulfilling to do work which benefits and develops minds at a young age that will set them up for a bright future,” he said, motivating children continue to source any constructive reading material. Children can read old magazines or newspapers if there are no suitable books in the home.
Linda also encourages children to engage in other stimulating activities like starting a small veggie garden, learning to bake, knit, sew or crochet or undertake other small DIY projects like laying paving or painting a room. “Games like snakes and ladders, 30 Seconds and Scrabble are both fun and educational. Parents should limit screen time. This refers to TV and mobile phone screens. It is also an opportunity to teach children the housekeeping skills that we often take for granted when we have domestic help. Get children to keep a 21-day lockdown diary. This will capture an interesting time in our history from the children’s perspective,” encouraged Linda.
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