These are strange times, indeed. Was it just 10 months ago when we were talking about how lucky kids are these days with all the technology that’s available to them? They can chat with their friends 24/7. Toddlers as young as two can go to indoor playgrounds and meet new friends. They can play interactive games on tablets. And yes, of course, there’s YouTube and the millions of kid-friendly videos that will even make adults bob their heads to the music.
And then, the pandemic happened. Somehow, even though adults are struggling to come to terms with the loss of life and livelihood, kids are having a hard time as well. They’re virtually stuck in their homes with only a small patch of garden as their link to the outside world. And even if they can go out, they have to wear a face mask. While the superhero approach may work for older kids, toddlers in the age range of two to three are having a hard time with the situation.
Of course, no one is diminishing the difficult roles that parents play today. From working at home to homeschooling their kids, it takes so much energy just to survive one day. So, how can you cope with bored and confused toddlers?
Find Age-appropriate Toys
It’s true. The only reason why your kids are bored or uninterested with their toys is because they are not age-appropriate. Making your two-year-olds build a castle out of building blocks will only frustrate them because they do not have a good grasp of their fine motor skills. Find educational toys for two-year-olds so that they can keep up with the instructions and challenges. Also, children as young as two can already learn a lot from toys.
Keep a Healthy Routine
So, what’s a healthy routine like? Creating a sense of order is one of the first things that you should have done when the government started restricting movements and interactions. Kids need structure. They need to follow a healthy routine that includes, among others, active play, quiet time, schoolwork, homework, chores, exercises, family time, and bedtime.
Take Them out for a Drive
It is better if kids stay at home during these trying times, but you should at least take them for some drive-thrus. That will help them get a sense of what’s waiting for them out there. Take them to their favorite fastfood chain. Let them order what they want. A cheat day is always warranted even if you are trying to raise healthy-eating kids. Just make sure they understand that junk food is not going to be the norm.
Do Indoor Activities
You can learn some great indoor activities you can do with the kids. A peep into some YouTube channels will give you some great ideas. You can learn how to make tie-dye shirts together. How about paint by numbers? Kids love art projects, so that will be good, too.
Enroll Them in Virtual Classes
By now, you should already have a good idea about your kids’ interests. Find online classes that they can enroll in. There, they can meet new friends and share interests with them. The instructors will guide them in their activities. Learning new skills will also boost their confidence and self-esteem. And at least for now, these will keep their minds off their boredom.
The pandemic isn’t easy for adults, but it might even be harder on kids. Answer their questions as truthfully as you can. Never shrug off their concerns. A lot of things have happened in the past months. Though they are still young, your kids deserve to understand how these are affecting them.
