#Staying at Home with Kids Strategies - The Potential Ability Group (TPAG)

August 13th, 2021Tiana RamsayEmotions, Nature & Outdoor Play, News & Information, Play & Socialising, Self-Care, Teenagers

School holidays are often fun for children and some kids may be super excited to have time off school or to be able to spend more time at home, but for other children, it can be an extremely disruptive and confusing time. The information in this blog includes strategies to support your children during this time and also some fun new activities you may not have thought of to enjoy all this extra ‘home time’.

How can I help my child adjust to staying at home more often?

Create a new schedule for your child - maybe even get them to help out with tasks! Creating a structure may help your child feel less anxious about the changes to their daily routine. Consider the use of pictures and/or words to demonstrate the activities in the day. Try to keep usual routines the same as possible to help with feeling calm.
Try and keep their wake and sleep time as close to their regular schedule as possible.
Go on a virtual outing! Did you know that Zoo’s SA offer live streaming of some of their animals so that you can check out what they are up to? This might also facilitate learning about various animals. Check out the link below in 'references' to have a look!
Connect with your local library and download some books to read - the options are endless!
Try to keep in contact with friends… consider the use of play dates, facetime, video games and phone calls to connect with others.
Try to set yourself a goal for each day... this could be to spend 15 minutes outside, to play a game of fetch with the dog, or play a board game as a family!

Here are some indoor and outdoor activities to help fill some time:

Indoors:

Art and Crafts: Paper planes, scrapbooking, origami, sock puppets, decorate a t-shirt, drawing, painting!
Puzzles, board games, Lego, mazes, playdough.
Do some science experiments. Kidszone has some great ideas.
Consider playing some ‘minute to win it games’ and having a family competition! For example, ‘you have one minute to get a potato to the other side of the room, using only your nose’. Use Google for more ideas.
Learn a new skill, such as photography or video making.
Cooking or experimenting with food play.

Outdoors:

Set up a complete an obstacle course, practice a sport, get gardening!
Try running races, hopscotch, throwing a frisbee or explore what’s in your garden; what can you see? What can you feel? What can you use to make your very own nature cubby house?
Consider the use of Go Noodle to get active.
Organise a nature treasure hunt.
Collect leaves, twigs and flowers and use then to paint/create an artwork.
Get some chalk and get creative on the pavers! o Do you have a tent? Maybe go camping in your backyard.

For more ideas on some creative activities to do at home, refer to our website and click on our blogs or look through our Facebook page to view various videos that may spark a creative idea!

References

ABC News, 2021. Lockdowns are changing the way I parent — and that's probably a good thing. [online] Abc.net.au. Available at: <https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-04/lockdown-with-kids-how-one-family-has-kept-busy/100257754> [Accessed 23 July 2021].

Health Direct (2021). COVID-19 and mental health. [online] www.healthdirect.gov.au. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/covid-19-and-mental-health.

National Autistic Society (2021). Tips for autistic people and families. [online] Available at: https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/resources/tips-for-autistic-people-and-families.

Zoos SA https://www.zoossa.com.au/zoo-to-you/