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Covid 19 tips to make the most of lockdown with your children

Help to juggle working from home with childcare

Dear Parents, 

None of us could have predicted that you would all need to become mini teachers and children’s entertainers and we know that many of you are still trying to work from home. Despite not being available in person we are still here to help!
We know the children will be missing their friends and the team, but here are some ideas and tips to help you.

Tips
1. Try to maintain a daily routine that is similar to the nursery - children respond really well to routine - they can predict what comes next, it relaxes them and enables you to structure your working day around their needs.
 If you are working from home share your daily routine with your employer; if they know when you are playing with your child each day and when you will be giving them tv sleeps or a quiet activity that frees you up you can then arrange meetings and plan deadlines. 


2. Explain to your child (if they are old enough) how the day is going to run so they can pre-empt what’s happening and understand when they will have your attention and when they won’t.

Routine Guidelines

Breakfast at 7.30am
After breakfast we have free play so you allow your child to choose what they want to do whilst you get started on your work for the day. Having two or three choices of activity is best otherwise your child will not settle and you will end up being distracted away from your work. Puzzels, colouring, role play with dolls or small world play such as garages and cars or farmyard animals etc are good for this time of day.

Snack at 9.30am
You and your child will need a break by now and a snack to keep you going so whilst you grab a coffee allow your child to have a squash and something to eat, fruit and a biscuit if you have them or a yoghurt and raisins etc. Do sit with your child during this break so they have your full attention for 10 mins.

Morning Exercise
Your child will need fresh air and so will you! If you can allow them to play outside then great, but you may need to do the same. If not why don’t you go onto the nursery website and allow Alisha to teach you a routine or Theresa and Emily to hokey cokey with you? Otherwise choose a popular outdoor game and give you child 10 mins of uninterrupted play before you settle down to work.

Play-time
For you this means working till lunch but for your child this means the opportunity to build a den in the front room or a pirate ship in the garden so fire up their imagination and send them on a quest, otherwise a story from Vikki or Caitlin from our website or a short film may be the answer, depending on your child’s energy levels.

Lunch at 12pm
Both of you stop for lunch together and if they are able, ask your child to help you prepare it. Make sure you sit together and eat together so you can give them all your attention for this important break.
Sleep time/ Quiet playtime
If your child sleeps, settle them down and get back to work but if your child is awake it’s important to discuss the options with them of activities they can choose for the afternoon.

Tea at 3pm
You and your child will need another break by now and a snack to keep you both going till dinnertime so whilst you grab a cuppa allow your child to have a glass of milk and something to eat, fruit and a small sandwich or teacake if you have them or a couple of crackers and cheese etc. Do sit with your child during this break so they have your full attention for 10 mins.

Afternoon Exercise
Your child will need fresh air again and so will you! If you can allow them to play outside then great, but you may need to do the same. If not why don’t you go onto the nursery website and allow Alisha to teach you a routine or Theresa and Emily to hokey cokey with you? Otherwise choose a popular outdoor game and give you child 10 mins of uninterrupted play before you settle down to work again.

Storytime @ 5pm
After a long day sit with your child and share a favorite story. Again, make sure you are giving them your full attention and try only offering one or two options of books or no doubt you will be there all evening! Before you start the story tell them what will come afterwards e.g. bath-time, cooking dinner together or spending time with either Mum or Dad, older siblings etc.

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