Lives in lockdown

THE National Trust is calling for children to get in touch with their experiences of Covid-19, including crafts made during the lockdown and video diaries of their new routines.

Initially, the experiences will be shared online by the National Trust, before eventually becoming part of the National Trust Sudbury

Hall and the Museum of Childhood.

Jodie Lees, creative programme manager at Sudbury Hall, says: “Many museums are working in lots of ways to collect stories of the current pandemic, as it’s such an extraordinary time.

“But it is really important to us that we give children from across the UK the opportunity to share their stories too.”

She says during the challenging time, for instance, there have been many acts of kindness, big and small – including those carried out by children; and her team has set

Picture credit for above and right: Liz Johnson

about collecting them; tales of children who have helped make masks for frontline workers, those who have fundraised for charity, or youngsters who have simply thrown a digital birthday party for a friend, and more.

There are four ways children can get involved:

■ They can submit any of the creative creations they’ve made during lockdown – from NHS Rainbow artwork to dance routines or musical performances,

scrapbooks to schoolwork and everything crafty in between;

■ Share stories of any acts of kindness they’ve done;

■ Record their own video diary of lockdown life, and

■ Curate their own mini-lockdown exhibition, with photographs and videos of what they see, PowerPoints, a video with voiceover or even a collage poster.

■ To get involved, visit nationaltrust.org.uk/sudburyhall

NEW family mobile game My Talking Tom Friends has just been launched by Outfit 7. Makers say the virtual pet game not only entertains, but teaches players different skills including looking after others, sharing, caring for something, creativity and the responsibility of keeping a virtual pet, and is ‘the most advanced game of its kind to date’ allowing users to play any way they want. Designer Barbara Erman said: “We wanted to give fans the perfect blend of caring for their favourite characters and having amazing experiences with them; and where the line between ‘you’ and ‘them’ disappears…” The game is free on the App Store and Google Play.

Drawings of rainbows thanking the NHS in the windows of 10 Downing Street (left); clapping for carers (above) and a thank you poster (right)