8 Tips to Keep Your Kids Productive at Home During this Pandemic Lockdown

The pandemic lockdown many countries are experiencing right now is making everybody stay inside their houses and not leave unless necessary.

Aside from work, school is also suspended indefinitely for now. Only after the problem is solved, it can be safe and no longer bothering to go back.

In the meantime, people are required to stay still at home to keep safe and to help for the good of many. While older children have online classes and requirements to be submitted, younger kids around preschool to the earlier years of elementary do not have a lot of things to do. Well, it depends on the school, yet it’s fine to assume that they do not have tasks as heavy as the older students.

Because of that, they tend to spend a lot of time using gadgets, playing video games, watching cartoons, surfing the net, going to social media and other activities which might not be very productive at all. Well, it is alright because it’s like a break for them, but you should not let them spend all of their time with those things. Even if they are just at home, they should know how wisely time must be spent.

With that, below is a list of 8 tips for you to keep kids productive at home during this pandemic lockdown.

[1] TURN TO EDUCATIONAL CHANNELS

You might be using your television at home for a longer time today since you do not have much to do anyway. Instead of only watching tv shows that adults and teenagers enjoy and benefit from, turn to educational channels that younger kids would find interest in and that would make them curious to learn more.

These educational channels include those about the animal kingdom, geography, cultures, eras and more. Even if they might not completely comprehend everything yet, the thing is it will make them aware of some of the most important things to know in the world.

You might not know, they could find their main interest from those educational TV programs! It is also fun and advantageous for you to learn and explore fresh information as a family. If they have questions, they can ask you and other adults in the house.

Watching educational channels will also make your kids get used to proper speech, learn new words and their meanings, as well as get familiar with foreign language. These are just some of the biggest boons your kids can obtain and take with them as they grow. While you are just at home for quite a long time for now, it would be enough time for your kids to learn so much through TV.

[2] MAKE THEM READ INFORMATIVE BOOKS

In this day and age, the new generation is starting to forget the importance of print, or some are not used to it since their parents or guardians introduced electronic gadgets to them initially before it.

Magazines, newspapers and books are not as attractive and interesting to younger generations today. That’s because of the presence of their electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and laptops where they could access games, social media and endless amounts of information in an instant. As you know, technology has countless advantages, but it should not be abused in terms of utilization. Balance is always required.

It is good to start your kids young when it comes to reading books; it will make it easier for you to put a book in front of them and make them read without hesitation and objection.

During this pandemic lockdown, why don’t you let your kids read actual books that will sharpen their reading comprehension and increase their knowledge on certain matters! Moreover, if they are using their gadgets for reading they could be easily distracted because they can open many tabs. However, if they are using books,  they will only  acquire what’s written in them. No bad news. No temptation of clicking other websites. Focus is what they obtain.

Let them enjoy the feel of holding a book, turning its pages and smelling the peerless odor of print. There’s none like it.

[3] DO ARTS AND CRAFTS

Prepare activities for your kids which will enhance their creative skills such as arts and crafts. With the use of available materials at home such as colored papers, specialty papers, crayons, colored pens, pencils & more, you can have a very productive and fun bonding with them.

This improves their drawing and coloring skills and their ability to interpret art and convey a message through art. You can have this activity both in digital format or paper, but then again, choose paper format to keep them away from gadgets which they are holding most of the time. Let them experience how art is done with their hands and art materials they are presented with.

Making arts and crafts is also one of the chiefest ways to catch up and have a blissful time with the whole family. It makes everyone discover who the artists in the family are. It is also a great time to share skills and find out talents which are yet to be unraveled.

[4] TEACH THEM COOKING

Many kids love eating, but many are also interested in cooking! Yes, even younger kids can learn how to cook simple dishes, tasty snacks, main course meals. While all of you are just at home, spend your time educating your kids of the proper ways to prepare and cook food.

Let them know how their favorite meals are made, so they can make them themselves as well. They can learn a lot of discipline in the kitchen and in the strategies of cooking, too, which they can apply to more aspects of their lives. What are some of those? Patience, orderliness, completeness, mindfulness, cleanliness, hygiene, balance, creativity, uniqueness, time management and more.

This will require tons of efforts and patience from you as well but go for it. After the lockdown your house’s young chef will be more than ready!

[5] LET THEM SLEEP RIGHT

Unlike before when kids sleep early around 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., kids today stay up late at night just like the adults they are with them at home. You might say it is already normal because of modernization and changes in lifestyles, however, you should not let them freely and irresponsibly do that.

Sleeping is resting, and resting is also productive. Tell kids to sleep right even if they do not have classes the next day, just because they have to be healthy and to grow well.

[6] CLEAN THE HOUSE WITH THEM

Make your kids get up on their feet, pick up the broom and clean. Don’t just let them lift their feet up when you are sweeping or mopping the floor; rather, give them a chance to take part. It is for them to learn how to clean right and to keep the house tidy and pleasant.

If you have two or more kids, you can make a list or a schedule of cleaning for them to help you. You can assign them different tasks and let them know that it will be beneficial to get work done quickly. Make them help you fix their own beds, throw trash away, dust off old cabinets, clean rooms, water plants, wash the car, tidy the pet houses, wash dishes and more.

[7] CREATE NEW CORNERS AT HOME

Aside from letting your kids help fix broken items at home, you can also make them lend a hand to create new corners inside your house.

If for a long time already, you have been eyeing on a specific corner at home which you want to do something on so it won’t be a mere useless space, go get the tools with your little buddies.

You can especially execute this if you have some knowledge and probably experience on item or furniture construction at home. You can teach your children some knowledge and techniques regarding it too.

Because of this, there is no need for you to contact and hire carpenters, designers, new home builders and other house modifying experts, knowing that there might be only less than 5 companies operating to serve clients due to the lockdown. It is another exceptional and productive bonding activity with your kids.

[8] PLAY FAMILY GAMES

One of the best ways to keep kids productively busy at home is to let them play with you. You might be a working mom or dad without so much time to spend with them because of work on a regular day. This is your golden opportunity.

What’s more not only kids will enjoy and be productive but also adults. This is the perfect time for all of you to bond, communicate, share thoughts and ideas, laugh together, giggle together and spend a lovely time with the whole family.

Furthermore, family games boost camaraderie, get members closer with each other, sharpen minds and loads of other pros!

PRODUCTIVE KIDS AT HOME

Kids can be lazy and not very productive today at home because they might mistake a long period of lockdown for a simple vacation. Remind them and encourage them to spend time on things and activities that will help them learn and grow better.

It is not anymore an opinion that most kids in the present time often have gadgets in their hands, spending so much time in their hobbies which are not all healthy while they can do better. Bear in mind that these devices plus excessive use of the internet can be toxic and dangerous too.

Take note of the 8 tips mentioned above because they can definitely guide you to guide your children on how productivity must be maintained at home during this pandemic lockdown.

AUTHOR BIO:

Nicole Ann Pore is a writer, an events host and a voice over artist. Travel, health, shopping, lifestyle and business are among the many subjects she writes about. Through quality and well-researched writing, she informs and even entertains readers about things that matter. She is also interested in film critiquing and filmmaking. Giving all the glory to God, Nicole graduated Cum Laude from De La Salle University Manila, Philippines with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts.