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Intermittent lockdowns have become somewhat of a regular occurrence, bringing with them some challenging home dynamics. For some of us, that means parents working from home and children learning from home, which can be difficult to juggle. Throw in school holidays, and parents everywhere may feel like running away from it all.
It’s only natural for children to want to spend time with their parents, after all, especially if they’re at home. Unfortunately, this situation can be tricky when working from home is a concept not well understood by the little ones. As a result, tempers may flare up and conflicts may arise. A great way to help children understand the reality of what their parents are doing is to check out The Dream Job on Saturday, 7 August at 17:30 on Da Vinci Kids, DStv Channel 318. In this show, company bosses allow children to join their companies for a week in the hopes of igniting a future passion and career.
In an attempt to keep the peace, and your sanity, here are some other ways to keep kids busy, active, and entertained while you work hard to bring home the bacon.
Embrace the great outdoors
If you have a garden, we have some suggestions to get the kids out of your hair. First on the agenda? Camping. Challenge the kids to build a tent, or fort, outside and spend the day ‘camping’. They can spend time looking for creepy crawlies, play some games and eat their favourite snacks – without making a mess inside. To inspire their outdoor adventures, The Bureau of Magical Things will have them looking for fairies, elves, and a whole load of magic to save the world. You can catch it on Monday, 2 August at 18:30 on Nickelodeon, DStv Channel 305.
Another great idea is having a picnic outside. Lay a blanket outside, prepare their favourite snacks and let them enjoy the ultimate parent-free feast. And if you don’t have an outdoor space, they’ll have just as much fun camping and picnicking in the lounge!
Clean things up
Let’s face it, toys get dirty. So why not let the kids have fun playing with soapy water as they clean up their toys – and kill germs in the process. Give them everything they will need to make their prized possessions squeaky clean and set it up in the bathroom or kitchen where cleaning up spills is easier. It’ll keep them busy and helps with the chores – win-win.
Movie day
Snacks, blankets, and a line-up of kid-friendly shows ready to be played – that’s all you will need for this one. Let the kids choose the movies and contribute to the snack-making process. If your children would rather leave the line-up to someone else, Nicktoons has a great schedule of shows lined up for International Friendship Day. Make movie day on Friday, 30 July from 09:45 and tune in to Nicktoons, DStv Channel 308, to join in the fun.
Another way to keep kids busy is to watch Just Roll with It. This show features audience participation that determines the outcome of various situations. When the air horn goes off during the show, the cast leave the stage and get the audience to decide what happens next. What will happen next? Find out weekdays at 16:35 on Disney Channel, DStv Channel 303.
DIY crafts
There are so many easy-to-make crafts out there, why not find a few age-appropriate options for your children to try? Not only will this buy you an hour or two of quiet, but it could also turn into a hobby that they actually enjoy. This will require some prep, so research some ideas on the weekend, make sure you have the supplies they need and then leave them to unleash their creativity!
To manage your DStv account and parental controls, download the MyDStv app. You can also stream your kids’ favourite shows on the go with the DStv app.