In the frantic rush to prepare for lockdown very few, if any, parents thought of stocking up on toys, stationery and creative craft materials.<\/p>\n
Many households have been left scrambling to occupy children, especially younger children, while trying to run the household and work online.<\/p>
Online schooling and supporting their children has also been a challenge for many parents.<\/p>\n
Children initially relished the idea of limitless screen time and relaxed routines and schedules.<\/p>\n
However, the novelty has worn off and parents and children are looking for other ways to keep occupied during the lockdown period.<\/p>\n
Although there is hope that schools will start reopening, the younger grades will only return to school later in the year.<\/p>\n
As parents you can easily utilise the toys your children are \u2018bored\u2019 with in a different way and use everyday items around the home to entertain the little ones (and even older children) to keep them busy.<\/p>\n
Here are some ideas to use toys in a different way:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Puzzles that have been built should be turned over. Get the children to draw or paint their own picture on the blank side of the puzzle to create a unique new puzzle. If you don\u2019t have paint search online for homemade paint recipes. <\/p>\n ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Lockdown boredom \u2013 keep your furry friends stimulated and entertained<\/a><\/p>\n Make the most of playtime<\/a><\/p>\n \n Ideas of fun toys to make at home:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Play dough is easy to make at home and lasts a long time in an airtight container. Cookie cutters etc are great fun, but children can be quite creative just moulding the dough with their hands. Games that have stood the test of time:<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Pillow fights. We have an opportunity to make special memories with our children now.<\/p>\n What are your fondest childhood memories?<\/p>\n Adele Spear, an occupational therapist, said hers are of playing toy cars in the mud and making tunnels for them in the side of a sandy bank, having tea parties with her dolls, playing marble games and turning the lounge furniture upside down and making a fort.<\/p>\n Let your memories guide you now.<\/p>\n Your child will treasure these moments of play and creativity with you in years to come.<\/p>\n We can change the value of real play for future generations.<\/p>\n Written by: Adele Spear (Occupational Therapist) <\/p>\n * Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Dear reader,<\/em><\/p>\n As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as \u201cfake news\u201d) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.<\/em><\/p>\n Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za<\/a>) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 LEGO is a firm favourite with children. Set a challenge and get them to create something with their LEGO, like a tablet stand, a key holder, a marble track. Posting their creations is a must.
\n\u2022 Dolls and teddies can be used to have a tea party or picnic with their friends. Encourage them to chat to their friends about their day. Record it and send to their friends\u2019 parents. They can also set up adventures like going to a game farm, camping or playing a favourite sport. Social engagement in fantasy play is very important.
\n\u2022 Toy cars can be used to aim at targets. Make a garage from a food box and write numbers on top of the holes. See how many points the child can score. You can also encourage the child to take the cars on an adventure and build the scene, like driving to a holiday destination or going to school. Play outside and make roads in the sand or make muddy tracks.
\n\u2022 Teach your children to build houses from a pack of cards. Play memory games. Teach them a new card game.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Keep your food boxes, egg boxes, cold drink bottles and other plastic containers. Any tape can be used to help the child to create robots, buildings, cars or animals. Take a photo to remember it at a later stage.
\n\u2022 The carboard rolls from inside toilet rolls can be stuck onto doors with Prestik to create a marble track.
\n\u2022 Polystyrene trays can be turned into photo frames. You can cut them or press toothpicks into them to make pictures.
\n\u2022 Squash up newspaper or scrap paper into small balls to have a paper ball fight.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Building forts with the lounge furniture and blankets.
\n\u2022 Hopscotch on the driveway with chalk.
\n\u2022 Draw a snakes-and-ladders board on the driveway with chalk. The children are the pieces and you can make a large dice from cardboard and tape.
\n\u2022 Play noughts and crosses or Marabaraba.<\/p>\n
\nFounder of Virtual Aunty (Online visits to children and parents in lockdown to share creative ideas individualised to the child)<\/i><\/p>\n
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