5 tips to keep kids happy & active during coronavirus season

Hello {NAME}, So, school's out, summer vacation's here before you were prepared for it, all your travel plans have been put on hold and you're working from home for the foreseeable future. If you're like me and juggling work with parenting, you're wondering how to keep your kid(s) active all day and away from more-than-usual TV watching. It's one thing keeping kids entertained on weekends and during vacations, but it can be challenging when much of the usual routine around study, school and playtime is disrupted. So, here are some ways in which I'm keeping my kid busy and learning during this season of self-isolation: 1. Involve your kids in household chores whether it's cooking, gardening or tidying up. If your children are old enough, put them in charge of a few household tasks such as folding the laundry or laying the table at mealtime. This is a good way to spend some quality time together while getting help with chores and teaching children valuable life lessons. 2. If you're keeping your kid indoors, burning off all that extra energy might be tough. Find home-based online workouts that can keep kids occupied and physically active. YouTube is full of simple training videos that offer kids and adults a good home workout. Whether you're into [cardio]( or [yoga]( there's something for everyone. 3. Create a daily project that mirrors their regular school schedule. I switch between activities that combine reading, writing, journaling, watching educational videos or doing craft activities such as colouring or building something with unused or discarded stuff around the house. This is also a good opportunity to introduce your kid to the virtues of upcycling and composting. 4. I'm really using this time to build my kid's reading habit. We've set aside 30-minute chunks in the morning and evening when she reads aloud. And, before bedtime, we read together. This activity can sometimes lead into a writing activity the following day. 5. Have dedicated playtime. All this social distancing means that you and your kid are stuck indoors for long hours. This is a good time to dust out all those long-forgotten board and card games and enjoy some fun as a family. You can also find every one of your kid's favourite board games online whether it's Monopoly, Chess or Uno. You might have to relax your rules around screentime, but if it means you can get work done, it's worth it, right? I'd love to hear how you are keeping your kids occupied while they spend their days at home? Write to me with ideas and tips at shazia@thebetterindia.com. Cheers, Shazia. [Shop Vacation Activity Kits]( [DIY Block Print T-Shirt Kit]( This kit will introduce your kid to the world of block printing. It is a fun and educative means to keep your child entertained and engaged. And once playtime is over, be sure to flaunt the t-shirt. Get innovative and use the block with your own fabric colours to block print your clothes, envelopes, cushion covers, bags and greeting cards. [Handmade Terracotta Building Blocks Set]( Dragons, guitars or stars, let your child’s imagination go wild with these natural, baked miniature terracotta bricks. The different shaped miniature bricks included in this box are easy to assemble and disassemble. Just peel off the residual glue, and they’re as good as new! [L]( to make handmade paper]( Making handmade paper has never been so easy. Create new handmade paper from recycled paper using a portable wooden screen and explore the different textures as well as designs using petals, seeds, tea leaves and other natural materials. Suitable for children aged 5+. [Phad Painting Kit]( The ideal summer activity for your budding little artist. This kit is packed with art essentials that will let your child make their own Phad painting - a traditional folk art form from Rajasthan. It also contains materials to make natural colours, enabling your child to discover the traditional way of painting. . [Karnival on Facebook]( [Karnival on Instagram]( [Karnival]( Copyright © 2020 The Better India. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted for it on our website. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](.