The Trumpet Newspaper Issue 517 (April 22 - May 5 2020)

Page10 TheTrumpet APRIL 22 - MAY 5 2020
Children
Indoor play ideas to stimulate young
children during lockdown
Young children love to play together,
but with the outbreak of the
coronavirus (COVID-19)
pandemic, play dates with friends and
games with large groups are sadly not safe
ideas. Physical distancing is a responsible
way to protect ourselves and others, but for
little ones learning about the world around
them and connecting with their peers
through play, it can be especially
challenging. But just because your children
are stuck inside doesn’t mean they can’t
have fun and learn at the same time.
UNICEF teamed up with the LEGO
Foundation to come up with some creative
ways to enjoy playful moments with your
child and expand his/her world when
physical space is limited.
How to talk to your child about
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
BABIES 0-9 MONTHS
Peek-a-boo!
All you need to play this game is your
hands and a sweet voice. Sit with your
baby, raise your hands (or a piece of cloth)
to cover your face, then remove them and
say “peek-a-boo!” Your little one will
delight at watching you disappear and
reappear. As your baby gets older, she will
start playing back with you.
See and say
Point to different things around the house
while naming and describing them. “See
the cat? That’s an orange cat.” This will
help to build his language skills while
strengthening your bond
Family band
Sing songs with your baby and create
musical instruments from safe objects you
find around the house. For example, put
buttons or beads inside of an empty bottle
to make a shaker and secure it well. Music
helps with sensory development, and
holding the shaker is great for motor skills.
The most important part is to get creative
and – of course – to have fun!
The body game
Name your baby’s body parts and point to
them to help teach her their names. “Where
is baby’s nose? There it is!” You can point
to your own as well to help her make the
connection between the two: “Where is
mommy’s nose? Here it is!”
TODDLERS 1-2 YEARS
Box car
Find an empty box/carton and place your
child in it safely with some soft blankets to
keep her comfortable. Then, pull the box
around while making car noises: “vroom
vroom!” She will have fun zipping around
the house in her new go mobile (and you’ll
get some exercise, too!). If space is limited,
you can still have the same effect by
moving the box from side to side and
making noises together.
Kitchen drummer
Turn over safe, shatter-proof bowls, pots
and pans to make a set of drums straight
from your kitchen. For drumsticks, grab
some wooden spoons. Your little rock star
will keep himself entertained exploring all
the different sounds he can make. This
game is also great for helping him develop
his fine-motor skills.
Free draw
Give your baby some crayons and paper
and let him draw away! This will allow
your child to unleash his creativity and
enjoy independent, creative play. When
he’s done, talk to him about the different
colours he used.
Ball pass
Grab a soft ball and roll it back and forth
with your toddler. This back-and-forth play
is great for confidence building and teaches
her that you will respond to her actions. To
make it even more fun, try adding in
another ball and talk to her about the one
she chooses.
PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN 3-4 YEARS
Dress up
Grab some different fabrics and clothing
and encourage your little one to make a
Indoor play ideas to stimulate young children at home (Photo by UNICEF, Frank Dejongh)
pretend costume out of what you have.
Then, play a game together based on what
he chooses. Who knows what adventures
you’ll have!
“I’m going to catch you!”
Play the “I’m going to catch you!” game
around the house by playfully chasing your
child around your living space. If she has a
lot of energy, this will help her to get it all
out. You may need to join her for a nap
yourself when you’re done.
Name that noise
Make different animal noises and have him
guess which animal you’re pretending to
be. Encourage taking turns and let him
make some noises too while you guess.
This is a great opportunity to teach him
more about the animals you each choose,
too.
Toddler challenge
Toddlers love to be given challenges as they
are growing more physically coordinated.
Ask your child “Can you lift your arm? Can
you touch your hands to your toes?” Using
the names of her body parts in context helps
her learn, and let’s her show you what she
can do!
YOUNG CHILDREN 5-8 YEARS
Obstacle race
Create an obstacle course using furniture,
pillows, and toys – anything safe and soft.
Show him how to move through it and have
him try to go through as fast as he can.
Time him, and try to get him to beat his
record every time he goes through!
Wash away!
Grab some toys that can safely go in the
water, fill up a bucket and let the fun begin.
Encourage her to “wash” her toys by
dunking them and playing with them in the
water and then cleaning them off with a soft
cloth.
Make believe
Have him take the lead and encourage him
to come up with a make-believe scenario.
Follow along with his instructions and ask
him questions about the world he has
created.
Build-a-snack
Have your child help you prepare a snack
for the family and challenge her to use as
many colours as she can. Grab some
healthy options and have her lay them out
on a plate in a design she likes. She’ll be
proud of her delicious creation.
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