Children and adults alike are getting tired of this pandemic. But here we, are heading into yet another lockdown in the UK.
Kids were quite enthusiastic about washing hands and social distancing when COVID-19 was a novelty back in the spring. But now, that enthusiasm has long since gone. And who can blame them? Nobody likes being told to clean and wash up all the time.
As parents, we have to do all we can to fight off that pandemic fatigue so we can keep our homes and kids safe. No matter how tiring lockdowns and social distancing may be, they are better than getting sick!
We’ve got some fresh new ideas to make it a little easier to keep your home clean and a little more fun to protect your kids from germs.
Teach Handwashing with Fingerpaint
Kids love to cut corners, especially when washing hands. I’ve never heard anyone count to 20 faster than a hungry child washing his hands before lunch!
Suffice to say, most kids (and adults, too!) could use a little refresher on proper handwashing. But it doesn’t have to be boring!
We love brushing up on handwashing by covering our hands with fingerpaint. Masking the seriousness with some silly fun makes it memorable and exciting for kids to get it right.
Here’s how to do it.
Get some fingerpaint in your kids’ favourite colours. Place a soap-sized amount of paint on one hand. Then, give them 20 seconds to cover both hands with paint using just that little bit.
After, check their wrists, palms and between their fingers to see if any part of their hand is uncovered. If so, they have to try again! Once they get it right, give them a reward.
You can use this activity to explain how much they need to scrub in the bathroom to rid their hands of germs. It’s educational fun and it can be done indoors. It’s the perfect pandemic activity!
Make Masks a Reward
Masks used to be fun. Kids loved to wear them. Now, they’re not so thrilled. Nothing is fun when you’re forced to do it every day.
But that doesn’t change the fact that mask-wearing is still so important, especially for kids. And parents are sick and tired of fighting with kids to keep their masks on.
Masks have gone from new and fun to being part of the everyday slog, which kids hate. So, to fix this, you’ve got to infuse a little novelty into it.
You can do this by turning masks into a reward for… wearing a mask! It sounds crazy, but it really works.
Kids love new things, and you can “bribe” them with a new mask of their choosing in return for wearing their current mask properly.
These days, masks come in all sorts of colours and designs. You can get them decorated with every superhero and princess there is. A stylish new Spider-Man or Elsa mask is still enough to get most kids excited enough to comply.
Masks should be replaced often, and they shouldn’t be worn for longer than one day without washing, so there’s no harm in getting a lot of them. In fact, it’s probably healthier to have a big supply.
Antimicrobial Towels
Just because kids aren’t going outside as much doesn’t mean they’re getting any less dirty. Cleaning of fingers and faces is almost constant, and it’s got us thinking a lot more about the material we use to wash and dry.
Before the pandemic, we’d wipe them down with any old rag or towel. But now, those towels could contain germs that we just wiped from a doorknob, countertop, or phone screen.
So, we switched to antibacterial towels for peace of mind. We recommend Soji towels because they’re all-natural, 100% antimicrobial, and super soft.
Every thread of Soji is infused with real antimicrobial silver. Silver is a natural antimicrobial, and viruses like COVID-19 as well as bacteria, mould, fungus, and allergens can’t survive on it.
That means, no matter what you wipe down, whether it’s a doorknob, toilet seat or the sticky fingers of a toddler, Soji will remain sterile forever.
Unlike other scratchy antibacterial towels, Soji is super soft. It’s made with a special type of cotton called bamboo cotton, which is one of the softest materials on Earth. Kids actually want to wrap up and snuggle in them, which is great for parents. It’s like wrapping your child in an anti-covid shield!
The bath towels are also wonderful for parents. It’s soothing to know that you’re drying off with a truly clean towel after each shower.
Soji comes in bath and hand towel sets. If you pre-order their newest line of towels, you can save up to 50% off the price.
Arrange Virtual Playdates
The pandemic has made playdates, park visits, and pizza parties all but impossible. Instead of risking the spread of germs to meet up with friends, why not have a virtual playdate? It’s much safer, and it can be loads of fun.
Virtual playdates might use the same talking-head technology you use for work, but they’re miles from your boring Zoom meetings. There are a number of activities you can do online that let kids and adults have fun together. We love playing JackBox party games and Drawful 2. They are full of fun animations, and they put everyone in funny situations that get us all laughing. It really lightens up those dreary lockdown days.
If you need help with technology, you can just ask your kids. They probably know bunches of online games you can play with family and friends.
All you have to do is set a time and get online. It’s a lot easier than you think! If you’re not tech-savvy, this is a great opportunity to learn. You won’t regret it!
Stay Safe and Have Fun
This pandemic is a stressful time for parents. But we should remember that it’s stressful for kids too. Our children will forever remember this strange part of their upbringing, so let’s try to make it as rewarding and fun as possible, even if it can be scary and frustrating at times.
The tips on this list will help you to protect your kids from germs and find a little peace of mind for yourself too. Keep things light and fun if possible, and your kids will remember the lessons they learned for the rest of their lives.
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.
It’s sad people don’t know this already they’re just like “I have gloves me safe”