Still-at-home survival tips for children

This, what seems like an extended vacation time, is the ideal time for all children everywhere to let their creative juices flow! Even as they attempt to keep up with some level of formal academic work, there is less time assigned to this at present and more time is being spent on finding different, creative, practical and more innovative ways to both learn and play.
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Here are some suggestions to add to your growing toolbox/playbox:

• Teach children basic stretches and breathing exercises and encourage them to do these as a morning routine when they get out of bed. This can help them to feel calm, more in control and mentally energized to face another day at home.
• Make it a fun activity by incorporating some imagery - "stretch up tall as a mountain, open arms wide as a river, bend over to the ground like a giraffe drinking water.."  "Breathe in slowly as if filling up a balloon with air, then breathe out slowly as if gently blowing away bubbles:.
• Bring out all the puzzles and board games - choose one or two a day for a week or whatever time frame works, depending on the age of the children.
• Older children may enjoy the challenge to make their own board game or puzzle,
• Let children elect an events coordinator for the week, from among siblings or cousins or friends - to plan various activities, for example:
•  - making puppets and putting on a puppet show
•  - planning and presenting a music concert
•  - Having a costume party
•  - setting up a games night
• They can collaborate and share this via online communication with relatives and friends, or just immediate family.
• Making up poems verbally can be a fun activity for children and adults to engage in together.
• Have children write a story or put together their own book. They can also create a story by drawing pictures only.
• Play games such as "I spy" or set up a treasure hunt for younger ones.
• Allow children to engage in some physical activity everyday whether inside or outside - playing moral or hopscotch, skipping, hula-hoop, football, basketball, kite-flying, etc.
• Encourage children to plant a garden or grow seedlings from seeds of fruit and vegetables that they have eaten themselves.
• Have children make a scrapbook in which they draw and colour pictures of all the plants. flowers, and trees in the yard and learn their names as they do so.
• Allow children to talk about their frustrations and concerns. Acknowledge their feelings.
• ​Allow children to have some down time.
• Brainstorm with your children and come up with your own creative ideas!