Evernews

• Through Storypark (including daily home challenges)
• Through our Everlearn Online Resource Drive (we are currently adding to this)
• Through our YouTube channel

As we progress through sending these resources out to you we wanted to get the ball rolling with some useful tips and activities that you can get going with right away…

Right now, in the midst of all of this change it’s vital that we recognise the emotional impact this will be having on our little ones. With lots of big words like ‘virus’ and ‘pandemic’ being thrown around and visible uncertainty it’s important to recognise this and support them as best we can. There are many books out there that help children navigate their feelings and understand their emotions.

Here’s a few of our favourites for preschoolers and primary school aged kids…

Reading and storytelling with your child promotes brain development and imagination, teaches your child about language and emotions, and strengthens your relationships.

You don’t always need to read books. Try looking at picture books, singing rhymes and songs, or  telling stories from your culture.

Anytime is a good time for a book or story! As your time will surely be spent juggling many responsibilities there’s always the option of having someone else read a story for you. That’s where Audible comes in. And right now they’re offering many children’s titles for free. Just tap the link and head straight there. Don’t forget the classics!

“Play is our brains favourite way of learning.” – Dianne Ackerman

Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength.

Play is important to healthy brain development. It is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them.

Here’s 8 classic games that secretly teach life skills:

1. Duck duck goose – excellent game for teaching strategic thinking
2. Musical chairs – helps children to practice patience and resolve conflict peacefully
3. Simon says – helps children pay close attention to instructions
4. Row your boat – helps encourage physical self awareness
5. Parachute game – great way to learn teamwork (works just as well with a sheet)
6. Hopscotch – great game to encourage critical thinking and gross motor planning
7. Red light, green light – great for teaching patience
8. Sleeping lions – helps with staying focused despite distractions

Cooking with kids provides practical experience with many essential skills such as reading, following directions, and measuring.

Getting involved in cooking helps your child to develop fine motor skills, eye hand coordination, and even early concepts of maths and science.

It can also be a lot of fun. Here’s a few links to some great websites that offer recipes that you can enjoy with the whole family. Remember: No licking of fingers and all cooking begins and ends with a good 20 second hand wash.

• Kidspot Kitchen

• The Kids Cook Monday

• Healthy Little Foodies

Meditation at a time of instability is the perfect way to bring peace to a busy mind. 

The great thing is, children benefit just as much as adults. Even as little as five minutes can make a huge difference to creating a calmer day. 

What are some of the benefits you ask?

• Helps children to learn core emotional regulation skills
• Provides an opportunity to unplug from devices
• Helps to reduce stress and anxiety
• Builds emotional and psychological resilience
• Helps to learn breathing techniques
• Helps to increase focus
• Fosters a mind, body, spirit connection

To help you get started, here’s some links to great meditation sites:

https://mindtastik.com/meditation-for-kids-benefits-guide/

https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids

https://magicalmeditations4kids.com/

https://www.cosmickids.com/mindfulness-meditation-videos-kids/

Ok….so you’re stuck at home and still wondering what else can you do as a family?

These activities will help your children:

• build confidence
• feel loved, happy and safe
• develop social skills, language and communication
• learn about caring for others and the environment
• develop physical skills.

20 Great Activity Ideas

1. Create a bubble painting.
2. Animal walk – pretend to be different farm animals
3. Keep the balloon up game
4. Dance party
5. Create a marble painting.
6. Craft a story together.
7. Dig in the dirt.
8. Collect leaves together from the backyard for art work
9. Make an obstacle course.
10. Bake together (see links above)
11. Fold towels.
12. Do the washing up together
13. Build a house of cups.
14. Play dress-ups
15. Make a path of pillows to use as stepping stones.
16. Write a book.
17. Play I Spy with colours.
18. Draw pictures in chalk on the sidewalk.
19. Make a large box into a playhouse
20. Complete a connect-the-dots picture.

Technology can be empowering for children of all ages, with tools that help children learn in fun and engaging ways, express their creativity and stay connected to others. In moderation, at this time when our movements are temporarily limited, the use of devices to remain engaged have never been more needed. Here’s a bunch of apps that we feel may help inspire, entertain and learn.

Right now there’s A LOT of information coming at us from all forms of media. Whilst it’s great to be informed, it’s also a little daunting. So we thought we’d help you out by linking some articles and websites we thought might best help you navigate this time with your little ones, including how to care for your loved ones if you get sick with COVID-19.

Coronavirus and Children in Australia

https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/a-z-health-reference/coronavirus-and-children-in-australia

Bluey is now helping kids to understand the coronavirus pandemic

https://www.kidspot.com.au/health/family-health/real-life/bluey-is-now-helping-kids-understand-the-coronavirus-pandemic/news-story/b7a6e3213d7827647a9adfe28f64d82a

6 Ways Parents Can Support Their Kids Through Coronavirus – 19

https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/6-ways-parents-can-support-their-kids-through-coronavirus-covid-19

How to talk to your child about Coronavirus

https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/coronavirus-how-talk-child.html

Supporting Children During the Coronavirus

https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/supporting-children-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/

Coronavirus Tips for Homebound Kids-Parents

https://www.livescience.com/coronavirus-tips-for-homebound-kids-parents.html

Caregiving during Coronavirus

https://www.wired.com/story/coronavirus-parents-caregiving-guide/

Now, in a preschool we’re used to having to maintain a high level of hygiene at all times. We have regulations and guidelines that we must adhere to, to provide the safest centre and highest quality service. At home, as much as we all try to keep a clean environment, we obviously relax a lot more. With the arrival of this pandemic our individual approaches to cleaning has had to be centralised (if you will). Why? Because to protect ourselves and our families there’s a few key things we need to  implement as a part of our ‘new’ daily lives.

We’ve found this article from the ABC a great source of important information – https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-24/how-to-help-keep-your-house-free-from-coronavirus/12080550