Introduction
Owing to the complete lockdown because of COVID-19, it was a challenge (but not impossible) to keep the tiny little souls sitting at home. They were used to going outside and playing with their friends. The home must be turned into a fun-loving place for them so that they enjoy being indoors too.
What Was the Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Children?
Good mental health is as important as physical health in children as it aids in developing social skills and emotional well-being. The COVID-19 lockdown has negatively impacted children’s mental health in the form of social isolation, grief, uncertainty, increased screen time, etc. The lockdown has also disrupted the family support and friendships of children. Parents are often unable to calm their children due to the stress and uncertainties they themselves are experiencing.
How to Keep the Child Busy During Lockdown?
The following are a few ways to keep tiny little tots busy during the lockdown period:
1) Make Them Build Castles out of Blocks:
Children love tall castles and towers. So, help them build a big one. Layout various colorful blocks and help them make their imaginary tower as desired. They surely are going to love being engaged in this entire fun-loving activity. After that, take their help to clear the blocks and put them back in place after the activity gets over. Teach them the art of cleanliness so that they learn to instill the art of cleanliness within themselves.
2) Teach Them the Art of Fireless Cooking:
Whether it is a boy or a girl child, it does not matter. One can teach their child to master the art of fireless cooking. One can teach them how to make their sandwiches and salads. One can begin by giving them a plastic knife so that they do not injure their tiny fingers. They will even happily have those sandwiches if they prepare them themselves. This will teach them to be responsible, and they will feel a sense of independence.
3) Play With Them:
One can engage themself by playing cards with their children. If they do not know the rules of the game, one can explain it to them. They will be happy to learn something new. One can even teach them to play memory-sharpening games like chess. Business, monopoly, and ludo are other fun-loving games that one can play with their family. Kids will surely love it. These tiny tots need their parent’s time, affection, and love. So do not forget to give it to them during the lockdown period as they are the ones who need it the most at the moment.
4) Engage Themselves in Some Funtime Clay Activity:
Children love to make new things with clay. One can teach them to make various fruits, vegetables, and animals with clay. Parents can even show them what fruit or vegetable they have made today. Look at multiple clay-making activities on social media sites to learn to make more fun-loving things out of clay.
5) Organize a Small Home Picnic for the Kids:
Kids always love going to picnics. Since it is not possible to go outdoors during the lockdown, organizing a small picnic at home is better. One can lay a bedsheet in their living room and add a basket of eatables, maybe fruits and sandwiches. One can switch on some music and dance with their family and play passing the parcel. One can even organize a mini-karaoke event for the child to sing to the tune of her favorite nursery rhyme. The mini picnic organized for the child will make one’s child happy, and they will love being indoors.
6) Engage Children in Solving Interesting Puzzles:
Children will love solving various puzzles. Look at the little bundle of joy after they solve the puzzle correctly. It makes them feel like a genius. It is not necessary that one needs to purchase such puzzles. One can even make puzzles at home. It is time to showcase one’s skills during the quarantine and build a strong bond with their family, especially with one’s child. Please make the most of it.
7) Tell Them Interesting Stories:
Children love stories and listen to them very curiously. One can also show them various storytelling media forums where someone recites a story for the kids. The child will definitely love it and keep himself/herself completely engaged during the lockdown period. One can even make some cute little puppets with their help and tell them stories with the help of these puppets by organizing a puppet show for them.
8) Dress Them Into Their Favorite Character:
The child might love watching cartoons on television. Now is the time to make one’s child a cute little mickey mouse. One can use a mickey mouse hairband for that purpose and a blackberry fruit for the nose and use a make-up kit for this purpose. Use one’s DIY (Do it yourself) skills for this purpose. All will love this activity, and the child will be delighted to be dressed as his favorite cartoon character. Do not forget to click a picture after it is done and make the child recite some favorite line of his cartoon character. Make a video clip of that. All these things help create memories. One can show them all these when they grow up!
9) Encourage Them to Draw and Paint:
Children love to draw and color. Teach them to use all their artistic skills during the lockdown. One can draw fruits like apples and teach them that they are supposed to color them red and green for the leaf. Teach them that colors should not go outside a particular boundary. This will prepare them to be more artistic before the actual school begins.
10) Teach Them Their School Lessons:
Along with engaging the child in fun-loving activities, do not forget to teach them their lessons for at least one hour daily before school begins. This should be done so that they do not forget what was taught in their previous class. Children need to be taught things repeatedly so that they can keep it in their memory. Hence, revise and teach them lessons regularly. Teach them that balancing studies along with playing is essential.
Conclusion
Keeping the children busy is a challenging task, especially during a crisis like the lockdown. But there are many fun things that parents can do to keep their children engaged during the lockdown. These activities not only help in overcoming boredom but also contribute to the growth of the child, make them independent, and help in building a better family relationship.
