Lockdown Blues: How to create fun for your kids using basic home supplies

Parenting expert Nikki Bush kicks off a four-part series on becoming a hero to your children during the Covid-19 lockdown.

A bit nervous about spending at least 21 days at home trying to keep your kids entertained?

Well, parenting expert Nikki Bush has loads of tips on creating fun activities using the simplest things you already have in your home.

Today, she kicks off with the first in a four-part Sunday series on how to become a hero to your children during lockdown.

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Bush says the key is to distract kids from their frustration and discomfort.

One of the ways we can do that is to become a hero in their lives over Covid-19 during the lockdown by being a source of magic, wonder and surprise, every now and again.

Nikki Bush, Parenting expert

I'm not saying entertain your children for 12 hours a day - that's going to be absolutely impossible!

Nikki Bush, Parenting expert

She suggests for example that just a couple of times a week, parents come up with something craft-or cooking-related or even a science experiment.

It's an opportunity to teach 21-st century youngsters the art of making fun out of nothing:

Even teaching your children how to create a game out of nothing. We're living with a generation of children who are so used to having boxed fun, whether it's boxed on a screen or whether it's in a box - a game or a toy.

Nikki Bush, Parenting expert

A lot of the old-fashioned stuff is actually quite 'wow!' for kids because they haven't been exposed to it.

Nikki Bush, Parenting expert

This could be something as basic as playing hopscotch, using a piece of chalk on your driveway.

Togetherness gives our children a sense of safety and security.

Nikki Bush, Parenting expert

Bush points out that there are endless possibilities to foster this fun togetherness, simply by using things that we already have in our homes.

She lists the resources parents already have at their disposal:

· Toys and games

· Household items (furniture, hosepipes, tools, linen, kitchen implements etc)

· Household ingredients (pantry, stationery, arts and crafts supplies)

· Their time and attention

All the activities are available on her website which focuses on learning through play www.toytalk.co.za.

Listen to Nikki Bush's tips in the audio below:

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