Parenting Guide

10 Ideas to Keep Your Kids Entertained During the Coronavirus Quarantine

Published by SchoolAdvisor | Apr 17, 2020

As Malaysia enters the period under the Movement Control Order (MCO) announced by the Prime Minister, Malaysians are advised to stay at home for a period of time to reduce the Covid-19 outbreak. Schools and daycares have been closed, and small children have been sent home during this period. It can be challenging to keep them isolated from other humans and public places, in the interest of public health. Here are some tips on how to keep your children entertained during the coronavirus quarantine.

1.Travel the world from home

Did you know that you can explore the world without leaving your home with the help of virtual field trips? Click on the links below to experience free virtual field trips with your children at home!

Famous Landmarks

Petronas Twin Tower, MalaysiaThe White House - a virtual tour guided by President and Mrs. Obama

Historical Sites & Museums

Bank Negara Museum and Art Gallery, Malaysia

The Louvre, Paris

Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam

Guggenheim Museum, New York

Zoo Cams

The San Diego Zoo has ten live cams to choose from, including tigers, penguins, giraffes and koalas. The zoo also has a website exclusively for kids that's loaded with stories, videos, activities, and games!Panda Cam Zoo Atlanta 

Or you can even check out Mars!

Fly to the surface of Mars with this digital 360° camera. How cool is that?

2. Set up a treasure hunt

If you have access to outdoor space, make use of your backyard by burying small toys and craft a map for your children to have a pirate treasure hunt. Letting your children run around can burn off their excess energy. However, if you have limited outdoor space, you may hide anywhere from 10 to 20 items around the house or outside to keep kids occupied for a few hours.

3. Bake together

Try making brownies, cakes, cookies or anything with your little ones! Baking is a great lesson in measuring, ingredients, and of course in return, you will get to make scrumptious goodies.Here are some video tutorials for you to explore with your children!Hoopla Recipes - Cakes, Cupcakes and MoreHow To Make Yummy Fluffy Vanilla Cupcakes - Kids Baking | BKD

4. Keep to a schedule

Schools may be closed but it is very crucial to maintain your child’s usual routine. While it’s tempting to declare a quarantine holiday and drastically changing your child’s routine can also be a source of stress. Make sure you structure a week for your child that replicates to his/her school week. Set them a timetable with start and end time, with breaks in between. You may also want to map out the learning they will be doing.

5. Impose a digital quarantine

Some professionals recommend that it is important to limit your children’s screen time. When school work, reading, and other educational tasks have been completed, then you can reward them by giving back their tablets and phones for a certain period of time.

6. Throw a dance party

You may try indoor dance parties with your children and draw out the fun by enlisting help to make decorations, like posters or streamers, while you select festive lighting and music lists. Other contact-free games that you can try are Limbo or musical chairs.

7. Explore free online education resources

Great news for everyone! Scholastic has launched a “Learn at Home” website with ‘day-by-day projects to keep kids thinking, reading, and growing.’

8. Start an indoor herb garden or terrarium

Unleash your inner talent in gardening by starting an indoor herb garden using eggshells as planters or make a terrarium out of mason jars. Check Youtube Video to learn how you can build a tiny plant world!

9. Set up an indoor hopscotch

This easy indoor hopscotch game will help keep the littles occupied while indoors and will also help them get some of that endless energy out! Check Hopscotch Game Page to learn how you can DIY your own hopscotch game.

10. Create a chore-chart for your children

A 'chore chart' will definitely keep your children entertained while they are at home self-isolating. All you need are Monopoly money, a chore chart and snacks. Each 'chore' will earn a certain amount of Monopoly money (between $2 and $20), which can then be redeemed for tasty snacks and sweet treats, TV time and Playstation time. Get inspired by a mum's clever idea article..

Learn more about Nexus International School here.

References:

1. Stephanie Omanski, 2020, 'Avoid Cabin Fever With These 125 Ideas to Keep Kids Entertained During the Coronavirus Crisis', Parade.

2. Nexstar Media Wire, 2020, ‘Coronavirus quarantine: Things to do at home with your kids while schools are closed’, FOX40.

3. Adrienne So, 2020, ‘How to Entertain Your Young Children During a Quarantine’, Wired.

4. Sophie Haslett, 2020, ‘Mum shares the clever 'chore chart' that keeps her kids entertained while they are at home self-isolating - and wows thousands online’, Mail Online, UK.5. Kersey Campbell, 2020, ‘DIY Indoor Hopscotch Game’, Momtastic.