coronavirus school closures: back to basics
Since schools in the U.S. have closed, there has been a surge of great children’s daily routine templates floating around the internet. However, with all these sudden changes, adjusting to new routines can feel overwhelming—especially considering the other pressures we parents are now facing.
Our preschoolers are also affected by these closures, and since they don’t have schoolwork to follow at home, keeping them entertained is more important than ever. In an ideal world, we’d love to say just relax, slow down, and enjoy time with your children, but let’s be realistic—many parents are still working during this time. That’s why child-led activities may be a lifesaver. With our go-to play centers, swimming pools, and local farms temporarily closed, many of us are going back to basics.
So here at Sweet Dreamers, we’d like to suggest a balanced approach during this tricky time—mixing structured activities with free, unstructured play. We’re not going to give you an hour-by-hour breakdown of the day because, as we all know, kids at home are very different from kids in a structured school setting. Instead, here’s a list of 30 fun, free activities to do whenever you need them:
- Play board games
- Sit down and eat meals together
- Draw pictures
- Do sticker books
- Read together
- Read independently
- Offer to help neighbors where possible
- Free play—let kids make their own entertainment
- Write short stories
- Call or FaceTime family members
- Go for a nature walk
- Plant flowers or herbs
- Play hide and seek
- Ride bikes or scooters
- Watch a movie
- Bake treats
- Play soccer in the backyard
- Let kids help with age-appropriate chores
- Do arts and crafts
- Play music and dance
- Play with toys
- Cook dinner together
- Do a puzzle
- Take a nap (if you’re lucky!)
- Practice handwriting
- Follow a kids' fitness routine online
- Color in coloring books
- Blow bubbles outside
- Go to the park (if possible)
- Most importantly—laugh together and stay positive. This will pass!
Repeat as needed!
We’d love to hear what activities you’re doing—drop a comment below and let’s all share ideas!
Baa for now x
