During this difficult time dealing with COVID19 many parents are finding themselves spending a great deal of time in close quarters with their children. As a parent myself, and an Occupational Therapist who has been working with children in the schools for over 20 years, I know it is easy to become overwhelmed and short on patience. Here are some ideas and suggestions for these trying times:
Sensory Tactile Play:
- Make playdoh
- Make Gak: Instructions. Mix the glue and 1 /2 cup of water together. Add the food coloring. Set aside. In a measuring glass, dissolve 1/2 teaspoon Borax with 1 / 4 cup of warm water. Stir until it's completely dissolved. Add the borax water to the glue mixture and mix well, until the Gak forms a blob around your spoon. Make fun colors and you can also add scents with a little essential oil.
- Shaving cream: On a tray or on the shower wall during a bath (practice making letters, shapes or just draw)
- Finger painting
- Cooking or baking
- Hide items in a bin of rice, sand, noodles or beans
Heavy loading activities:
- Take pillows off the couch and have them jump onto the pillows (safely!)
- Obstacle course (Crawl under a table, do a somersault, jump off a chair, jump on the bed 3x….)
- Animal walk races (crab walk, bear walk, frog hop….)
- Use a rolling pin while baking
- Digging a hole and planting
- Pulling heavy things in a wagon
- Blowing Bubbles
Attention Games:
- Freeze dance
- Simon Says
- Red light Green light
- Mother May I
Calming relaxing activities:
- Smelling cotton balls with drops of essential oils
- Building a fort with blankets
- Rolling them in a blanket like a hot dog
- Big hugs
- Calming music
- Playing in water
I am a big proponent for teaching keyboarding. There is a great program called Dance Mat Typing that is free. It teaches kids the correct finger placement for keyboarding and is fun. Keyboarding is a great skill for ALL kids to have!!!!
I hope some of these ideas add to your parenting toolbox on these days where we need to isolate and stay sane! Please stay safe and healthy and try to find moments to enjoy with your kids during this strange time. Best Wishes to all!
Photo by Hannah Rodrigo on Unsplash