5 Ways You Can Keep Your Kids Engaged During The Stay At Home Order

 

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The past couple of months have definitely been stressful, to say the least, even more so for parents who have had to juggle working from home and taking care of the kids amidst a global pandemic. With the children all cooped up in the house, it can feel like a lot to handle, especially as their attentions can be quite short-lived. So, keeping them busy and engaged can prove to be quite the task. 

 

However, there are some activities that are sure to keep your little tykes occupied during the day. Here are five ways for you to keep your kids engaged during their mandatory stay at home. 

 

1. Make sure they’re involved in their online learning

Since schools are currently closed, a handful of them has resorted to making use of technology to provide students with online learning tools.  Even though your kids are at home, make it clear to them that it’s not a holiday, and they still have to attend their classes and participate in learning. 

 

This is very important because you don’t want them to miss out too much when schools finally reopen. Just because they're out of the traditional classroom doesn't mean learning has to end. One thing you can do is develop a daily routine for them on the weekdays so that they know that a certain period of time is dedicated to school and learning. Also, try to give them breaks in between, so that they don’t get overwhelmed. 

 

2. Practice fun games and exercises

Kids are always full of energy and excitement, so why not help them channel that into something fun? A good way for you to keep your kids engaged is by getting creative with games and exercises. It’s practically summer and the weather is already getting a lot more pleasant, so you can take full advantage of this with your kids. Try to get the entire family involved in more outdoor activities, even if it’s just around the neighborhood. A fun little idea you could try is scavenger hunting around the area. 

 

Simply hide some items in safe locations around the neighborhood, and your kids can go around trying to find the hidden ‘treasures’. You could also incorporate more exercise into their daily routine; how about a morning jog every day? This is a good way for the entire family to start their day off on a good note, and build up their physical and mental health. 

 

3. Teach your kids about the virus

Even though the entire family is at home as a way of social distancing to curb the spread of the virus, some kids are still unsure or unaware of what exactly is happening in the world. We all know that knowledge is power, so a way that you can engage your kids is by educating them about coronavirus. You can start by telling them that you’re doing everything in your power to keep them healthy and safe, just to put them at ease. 

 

Then, you can proceed by explaining to them why the virus is dangerous and why social distancing during a time like this is very important. Finally, you can discuss safety precautions with them, such as washing their hands regularly, wearing a mask when they go outside, and using hand sanitizers frequently. You can even throw in a kid-friendly educational video to help them understand it better. 

 

4. Grow some simple plants together

You can give your kids some responsibility at home using the fairly simple activity of growing plants together. Children are always eager to learn something new in a fun way, so try to teach them about the environment and nature in the process. You can equally purchase some seeds from your local grocery store and begin your experiment at home. 

 

If you have a garden, plant your seeds with your kids and give them the responsibility of watering the plants regularly. The joy of watching their seed grow into a plant can't be matched by a long shot. If you don’t have a garden, there are some plants, herbs flowers that you can grow indoors, such as basil and marigold, so you can always one of them out. 

 

5. Acquire some new knowledge/skills together

To while away time, you and your kids can pick up some fun new skills and knowledge together. What are your kids interested in? Do they like art? How about enrolling them in some art lessons online? 

 

Even more, are they interested in something more out there like astrology? Numerology and tarot card reading skills can be learned online and developed over time. The goal is to get them excited about acquiring some new knowledge, and who knows? Maybe you could find that you’ve learned something new yourself.