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What to do with your children for the next 3 weeks amid social distancing for COVID-19

As parents we all expect March Break to arrive, to go on vacation, or be at home with the kids for the week. Maybe we have a camp planned for them.

This year plans have gone out the window. We’re now juggling work, family and the uncertainty of COVID-19. Social distancing, isolating ourselves and our children are both a priority and a challenge.

It’s with that in mind that we decided to offer some ideas on what you can do to keep your children busy.

Daily routine to keep kids busy amid COVID-19 courtesy of busytoddler.com

The Busy Toddler blog has provided a full daily routine for parents with young kids to take the stress away from planning activities in their recent post Realistic Daily Schedule During Covid-19.

Busy Toddler’s creator Susie, mom of 3 and early childhood educator, recommends you get up and ready before your kids, break your day into small chunks and be flexible. If you are using a schedule like hers, “it’s more about the flow” than sticking to the timing. Don’t rely too heavily on screen time. If you can avoid it, save the screens for when it’s crucial and use some time to encourage independent play.

The list below is from JoyousHealth.com’s Instagram feed @joyoushealth entitled:

How to survive the next 3 weeks 🤪-- 24 ideas for things to do with kids!

  1. Nature walks - get outside every day 🌳🌲⠀

  2. Have a family dance party 💃⠀

  3. Storytime / reading⠀

  4. Baking (make homemade granola) + cooking (make a soup)⠀

  5. Clean up the yard, rake some leaves

  6. Clean up the planet: go for a walk and collect garbage you find, bring 2 bags. 1 for garbage and 1 for recycling (wear gloves)

  7. Colouring⠀

  8. Painting ⠀

  9. Buy some cut flowers and make an arrangement together ⠀

  10. Puzzles (with at least 100 pieces)⠀

  11. Build stuff out of recycled items - egg cartons, toilet paper rolls⠀

  12. Spring clean! Every room ⠀

  13. Look at old photo albums with your kids from when you were a kid ⠀

  14. Sing together - get all the instruments out and have a jam sesh!

  15. Do yoga 🧘‍♀️ (or a fun variation aka just make up some movements and call it Yoga)

  16. Work out together 🏋️‍♀️

  17. Buy some sprouting seeds and grow some nutrient-dense sprouts 🌱⠀

  18. Play board games ⠀

  19. Play dress up⠀

  20. Create a time capsule of all the things you're grateful for right now ⠀

  21. Watch a nature show on @Netflix like One Planet⠀

  22. Create a Spotify playlist with all your fave family songs and sing your heart out⠀

  23. Have a nap 😴(if that's even possible! 😬).

  24. Do NOTHING 🙏🏻