Top 7 Things To Do with Small Children During Lockdown

So, thanks to Coronavirus or its funkier title ‘COVID-19’, the UK is currently in ‘lockdown’. This means only essential trips for shopping or medicine, and one outing for exercise per day. No recreational trips out in the car, no playdates, all baby groups and classes are cancelled, and all the farm parks and usual ‘go-to’ boredom busters are shut. A bit like ‘Twixmas’ - you know, that bit between Christmas and New Year when you are dying to get out the house and do something other than eat, but everything is closed. It feels exactly like that, except, the police are on patrol clamping down on anyone leaving their home unnecessarily, and the nation hangs on the daily address from the Prime Minister with the latest wave of bad news. It all sounds like a bad plot from a cheap movie (even the name of the virus) and yet here we are, just over a week in with several more weeks to go. Add into the mix that as a nation, we are all getting to grips with home-working; it becomes even more surreal by the day (however, I have not had the Zoom-call treat of seeing any of my colleagues anything but fully clothed, and long may that continue, I may add).

 When the first whispers of ‘shielding vulnerable people’, ‘social distancing’ and ‘lockdown’ started rippling through the news bulletins, my first instinct was utter disbelief followed by sadness – firstly, Rhys was coming out of nursery. I felt incredibly emotional letting the nursery know. I had no idea when he would be back but optimistically thought it would be a few weeks - no big deal. He had settled in so well since January and I felt a big pang of guilt upsetting this routine but honestly thought it was a temporary blip… and we would soon enough be back into our usual routine and way of life. We made this decision for our own family’s protection (I have asthma making me ‘highly vulnerable’) however just a week later as the situation in the UK worsened, the nursery shut its doors temporarily anyway. Curtains drawn and silent.

 Overnight his once regular playdates with baby-buddies became little waves through windows as social distancing came into force. We have settled into a daily walk routine, passing the houses where children now sit, noses pressed against the glass – often decorated by drawings of rainbows symbolizing hope - watching the world go by in what I can only imagine was a state of confusion and scared. I am an adult and I am scared. Thankfully, Rhys is way too young to understand, but I still long for the day where he can go to the park, share toys and chase his pals around and generally, be normal.

 Faced with the situation we are in, I am keen to keep up his development – he is on the cusp of walking and loves ‘chatting’ away to his caretakers and other babies at nursery and various meetings with baby-friends. Not to mention stave away the boredom, everyone’s! So… we have tried to be inventive with Rhys’ play.

Here are the top 7 things we have been doing (and can be adapted for older kids) whilst we have been stuck in the house:

1. Water Play

Cheap and easy, you just need a shallow dinner tray or large dish, put a little water in the bottom …and basically wait for them to tip it over the kitchen floor, which in Rhys’s case is before I have put all the water in groan. Its intended purpose of course is to throw in bath toys, plastic spoons and kitchen utensils, sponges and plastic cups and have lots of fun splashing around. Add in some washing liquid and you may even get your kitchen floor (and walls, and cupboards) cleaned into the bargain! Or head outside where it is less of a chore. Rhys loved chasing bubbles round his highchair table.

2. Messy Play

Get the paint out, some little (and big) hands and a blank piece of paper. Old wallpaper is ideal of this both for table coverings and to get creative on – just use the reverse, it sucks up the paint too so dries super quick to minimize mess. Toxic-free paint is apparently fine for young children, even if they insist on eating it. Apparently, it tastes chalky (yum), I can’t say I have tried it.

  The alternative is food – you may want to head outside for this one (or get a hungry and willing dog involved on the clean-up operation) then plan to head straight for the bath… or garden hosepipe. Cooked pasta (with a bit of food colouring in the water), rice and jelly all make great sensory toys for exploring with mouths, spoons or just hands.

Or, get some garden bits – leaves, flowers, twigs, flowerpots and plastic non-sharp tools, and watering cans can all provide some good diversion whilst enjoying a bit of fresh air.

3. Make a Den

All the soft play centres are shut over here, and let’s face it, they are a haven for germ-spreading anyway at the best of times. Make your own with cushions, rolled up blankets and soft toys, or use furniture!

4. Put a Call Out to Friends

Several of our friends are using their downtime to have a little clear out so last week we acquired a little slide, a train set, and a floor jigsaw that makes a story. All great play and a bit of a change from the usual toy box favourites!

5. Get Baking

I am not a baker but there are some super-easy biscuit and tray-bake recipes out there. Rhys loves playing with the scraps dough (just watch young children as it will stick to the roof of the mouth which can be unpleasant even if it does keep them quiet) and the assortment of kitchen utensils I fling at him in his highchair to keep him entertained. Brilliant way of introducing babies to different tastes and textures once they are baked. Things like plastic whisks (which he strokes his head with… don’t ask), wooden spoons (for banging on… well, anything) and plastic mixing jugs are his favourite.

6. What’s in the bag?

Stolen from a TV show we love, put a few bits to explore in a bag, these can be everyday items like baby-safe mirrors, empty plastic bottles, dry sponges, egg box, soft toys, a potato (Rhys LOVES playing with veg and having a good old chew!), some wooden blocks or even a musical instrument.  I know from my older nieces and nephews that keeping a little stash of ‘new’ things can liven up the waning interest at any age.

7. Box of Curiosities

A twist on the above, a little box of everyday bits and bobs that contain the most magical items that make every toddler’s eyes light up – old sets of keys, old mobile phones, TV remotes, plastic bangles. You know, all the things they automatically make a beeline for despite having their own toys.

 We’d love to know what other inventive things you have been doing with your small children to keep them occupied during lockdown! What are your favourites?