The ‘active opportunity’ in this quarantine period: Part I
IT has been a month now since the declaration of the enhanced community quarantine. Following the sharp increase in the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases throughout the country, classes and all school activities at all levels have been suspended officially until April 30. However, there is a big possibility that this might get extended.
During this period, what do your kids do the whole day? How about your toddlers and preschoolers? As a parent and educator, I believe there is an “active opportunity” for our parent-child “learning relationship” this quarantine period.
Why not use this time to get to know your child more? Why not create special memories of play while getting to know how your child learns most “enjoyably”? Why not reboot routines from hours of screen time to sustainable ways of active play...all of which would be helpful even after the lockdown?
I have always been an advocate of “Learn Through Play” because I have seen the results with my own kids, both academically and psychologically. I have seen them more confident whether in handling a math problem, or in trying new hobbies. I have seen them open to mistakes while looking forward to the next try. Most of all, I see them happy. I believe play allows kids to experience happiness and carry this feeling as they grow each year.
The next question is: how? Will this entail reading tons of books? Will this entail a lot of time? It is actually simpler than we think. It just takes simple routines and a learning mindset.
First, try to set the following these daily “time blocks” for your kids—learning time, creative time, active time and starting at the toddler stage, chore time.
Below are some age-specific activities you can do:
INFANTS LEARNING TIME
■ Flash cards or black and white drawings
■ Grip toys like knob puzzles or pull-along toys for babies to follow when they start crawling
■ Books—best after bathing and before going to sleep
■ House items to smell—vanilla or lemon extract
CREATIVE/FREE PLAY TIME
■ Black and white mobile
■ Egg crayons and finger paints
■ Audio music or musical instruments
ACTIVE TIME
■ Tummy time on activity blanket
■ Activity gym
■ Small pools with antibacterial play balls for babies
TODDLERS LEARNING TIME
■ Age-appropriate puzzles
■ Alphabet or numbers teaching tools
■ Books—rhyming books, audio books
CREATIVE/FREE PLAY TIME
■ Large or triangular crayons
■ Washable toxic-free paints
■ Multisensory development toys like Color Me a Song let kids create a song while they draw. The faster they scribble, the faster the rhythm of the music. You can even select from four different instruments— piano, banjo, trumpet and drum.
ACTIVE TIME
■ Mini-sports like basketball or soccer
■ Swimming with your own inflatable or abovethe-ground pool, which is more hygienic than public pools
CHORE TIME
■ Let them mimic you with safe pretend play toys that they can pretend with to prepare or serve
PRESCHOOLERS
LEARNING TIME
■ Age-appropriate puzzles or tangrams
■ Various books—stories and facts
■ Teaching tools and games, like The Learning Journey Math Lab game. I used to use this for my son’s play dates and our game nights.
CREATIVE/FREE PLAY TIME
■ Doodle in magnetic writing board
■ Coloring materials
■ Water Wow activity books
ACTIVE TIME
■ Sports like basketball or soccer
■ Swimming with your own inflatable or abovethe-ground pool
■ Action Blocks
CHORE TIME
■ Pretend play toys for cleaning
■ Fold clothes
■ Pack away
GRADE SCHOOLERS
LEARNING TIME
■ Work books you can do together like Kumon
■ Books that interest them. Various books – narratives and informative facts
CREATIVE/FREE PLAY TIME
■ Arts and crafts
■ Science kits
■ Free play with blocks like Legos and the newer Techno Gear Action Blocks encourage creative, sorting and goal-setting skills. Kids can choose what they want to create and allow them the freedom to make their own creation. Finish it off with a photograph.
ACTIVE TIME
■ Sports
■ Jump rope, jogging or sit-ups
■ Set up camping sessions with your kids with tents, air beds or sleeeping bags while planning your camping menu
CHORE TIME
■ Fixing the dinner menu with what is available in the cupboard
■ Arranging 1 or 2 drawers in their own room
■ Folding clothes from the laundry
■ Washing dishes
These tools above are normally available in major stores but during this quarantine, you can try to message the distributors through their Facebook pages. Next week, let me share to you the learning mindset and more concrete ways on how to maximize this active opportunity during this lockdown period. ■