As the coronavirus pandemic continues to challenge us, lockdown is the key important strategy in “flattening the curve” of infection spread rates. These isolation periods involve staying within homes and not having physical contact with those outside for an unknown length of time. For now, we have the opportunity to spend quality time with family and partners more than the usual busy schedule of work or school allows. Having this attitude can also preserve our samity and reduce associated stress levels. 

Here are some ideas to help during lockdown..  

Get Cooking 

Teach your kids an old family recipe, or start a brand-new tradition by baking bread. If your kiddos can mold Play-Doh and make mud pies, they’ll be experts at kneading dough.

Check out these links for exciting and doable recipes that you and your family can follow: 

https://www.loveandlemons.com/baking-recipes/ 

https://www.cozi.com/blog/top-25-family-dinner-recipes/

Have a Singalong

Music has the power to be uplifting, and singing or playing together may help raise spirits during this challenging time. 

Get Creative

Keeping up with education is vital for children and teens, but they also need some creativity too. Choose some crafts for them to do whether for learning or just for fun. For older kids and teens, vision boards can be a good activity. Vision boards are boards for hopes, dreams, desires, hobbies, and goals made with visual representations. Cutting out scenes or pictures from magazines and pasting them on a vision board can help keep inspiration alive and imagination alive while we wait out this trying time. Remembering that there are better days to come ahead, and goals to reach.

Here are some crafts ideas to get you and your kids started: 

• https://thriveglobal.com/stories/juliewithrow/ 
• https://babbledabbledo.com/75-arts-and-crafts-projects-for-kids/ 

Teach Your Kids a New Skill

Learning or teaching new skills is important, and this is a great time to share new skills with family members. Basic home repairs can be fun, and seeing problems solved or transformed is inspiring. This is an opportune time to prepare your kids for their life ahead.

If you like to get more ideas of skills that you can teach to your children while they are at home, click the link below: 

https://www.thirtyhandmadedays.com/guidelines-for-practical-life-skills-for-kids/

Have a Picnic

Backyard or balcony picnics are another great way to get outside for some Vitamin D to keep your immunity alive while never leaving the house. Have your kids help with the process so they get excited about spending lunch together on nice days. Another suggestion for young kids is to have an indoor camping night where everyone camps out in the family room.

Play a Board Game  

Get out your old board games and have a family game night. Try Twister, Monopoly, Pictionary or anything else you’ve got hanging around in the cupboard.

Have a Family Movie Night

Everyone has a favorite movie, and this is a great time to join together as a family and share some favorite films. Perhaps each evening one member of the family can choose a favorite movie in rotation.

Go Outside 

Social distancing from groups is important but spending time in the backyard or balcony is still safe. Physical exercise is important and since many children will not be getting the usual activity they are used to in gym or recess, encouraging outdoor activity is a smart alternative during this time.

Exercise

Instead of skipping exercise altogether, why not take just 10 minutes out of your day to do a family workout? Exercise helps the release of endorphins or happy hormones. Thus moving your body helps you feel a lot better. We have listed a few moves you can do within your home.

Exercises You Can Do At Home:

1. REVERSE LUNGES, 6 REPS PER SIDE

Reverse lunges help strengthen your thighs and hips. They’re simple and target each leg individually for more balance and stability.

HOW: Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Take a long step back — so your knees make two 90-degree angles at the bottom — and pull yourself back up with your forward leg. Start without dumbbells and advance to a dumbbell or barbell in either the back squat or front squat position. 

2. LATERAL SPLIT SQUATS, 6 REPS PER SIDE

Squats are well known and pretty crucial to your workout routine. They’re a true multi-tasker. While performing them you practice balance, burn more fat compared to other exercises (due to muscle gain), activate your core and back, and promote circulation. By doing your squats side-to-side, you can build more strength in each leg than with regular squats while also targeting different muscles.

HOW : Start with a very wide stance and your feet straight. Sit back into one hip and push that knee out. Repeat on the other side. Add dumbbells to make it harder. 

3. PUSHUPS, 10 REPS

This is the best bodyweight exercise for your upper body: It builds a strong chest, shoulders, arms and abs. Using this many muscle groups at once causes your heart to work harder to get oxygen-rich blood to your muscles. Push-ups are actually a form of cardiovascular exercise that increases heart health.

HOW: Get in a pushup position with your hands about shoulder-width apart. Keep your lower back flat and don’t let your hips sag. Lower yourself and keep your elbows close to your body as you descend. 

4. HIP BRIDGES, 10 REPS

Want strong legs and a nice-looking backside? Look no further than hip bridges! They’re a simple way to strengthen your gluteal muscles and can even help release lower-back tension.

HOW: Lie on the ground with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Drive through your heels and squeeze your glutes to push your hips up. Repeat. Do not use your lower back to pull yourself up. 

5. MOUNTAIN CLIMBERS, 30 SECONDS

Spike your heart rate, burn extra calories and fire up your metabolism with this great cardio exercise. It looks simple, but in just a few seconds, you’ll feel it!

HOW: Get into a pushup position. Keep your core tight and run as fast as you can while driving your knees to your chest. Don’t let your hips rise; keep them at the same height as when you started.

During these challenging times it is important to remain both physically and mentally healthy. Let's work on building stronger connections and relationships, showing good learning examples and importantly keeping any anxiety levels at a manageable level. Taking control with these activities can help preserve our health and reduce associated stress levels. All the best health!