When millions of children are displaced from their schools as a result of the coronavirus, a sub-crisis for parents has arisen: What will the children do all day? The widespread school closures have sent shockwaves across parent families, with many scrambling to find ways to ease their children into at-home life.
It's one thing to keep them entertained all day on weekends. When you have seven days a week to fill for an infinite period of time, it's a different story altogether.
The key is to have a schedule, which is something that schools are well aware of. Having a day's blueprint will make things fall into place because kids are used to following a timeline. It's a lot less difficult than you would imagine. Take out a pen and paper and make a detailed plan.
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The Routine:
Here's how to get your child into a routine:
- Begin with their daily routine at school.
- Use school as a guideline and stick to your child's usual routine
- When do they usually eat breakfast? Is it time for a snack? What's for lunch?
- What time is recess?
- Break the day up into little pieces, just like you would in school for topics.
- Is it better for your child to focus on schoolwork in the morning or afternoon?
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Make time for play
Once you've scheduled meals and school tasks, it's time to fill up the remainder of each day, and setting out time for focused child-led play is crucial for children. When a child imagines, creates, builds, or invents, he or she is engaged in serious learning.
Have a few 15- to 30-minute periods of committed child-led playing in your new daily routine (more or less time based on the age of the child and play development). A child's ability to play improves as they play more.
The right toys can make a big difference in the development of a child, so ensure you give them something that stimulates their minds.
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Reading Activities:
Study after study demonstrates the value of reading to children. Being able to do that when at home all day is a fantastic opportunity.
Put reading blocks in place. Starting with fifteen to twenty minutes a day (remember, total minutes, not all at once) is a great starting point. Dismantle it. Consider various ways to structure this reading block: parent reading aloud, children reading aloud (if the kid can read), and family quiet reading time.
And don't worry about upsetting the routine if your child wants to prolong a reading session. There is no such thing as too much reading, and you can always postpone a scheduled operation.
These tips should make it easier for you to keep your child engaged and curious, while actively playing a part in their development during these times. Also, to keep your newborn engaged, grab some cute baby toys online for him.
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