Right now, it’s difficult to socialize with others because of
the risk of virus transmission. You can take precautions, but it’s still
dangerous to meet up with your child’s friends often because of the danger it
poses.
Luckily, you can navigate the issue by choosing a few
creative ways to allow your child to enjoy playtime even while socially
distanced. While not everything listed is a solo activity, your child will
learn the importance of staying safe and adhering to social distancing rules
while having fun.
The Best Ways to Foster Understanding About Social Distancing
Social distancing, while familiar to adults, might not make
sense to every child. Children are social, so it makes sense that they want to
see their friends even if it’s dangerous. You can help them stay social while
also staying safe by providing alternatives and teaching them the importance of
simple tasks like washing their hands.
1. Set
Up Video Playdates
While it may not be the same thing as an in-person playdate,
your child can still see their friends over a video screen. Encourage them to
embrace how technology allows them to talk to their friends.
You can prompt your child to talk about their day and show
off their room or favourite toys. This way, it allows your child’s friends a
glimpse into your kid’s life without risking anyone’s health.
2.
Encourage Online Gaming
If your child is old enough, encourage them to play games
with their friends. Technology has come so far in just a few short years, and
kids can play with their entire friend group on mobile apps. If your child’s
friends like playing games, steer the other parents in your group toward
downloading a game all the kids can enjoy together.
Online games, while tricky, can elicit more happiness from players than by
playing single-player games. If a game has voice chat capabilities, your kid
and their friends can talk to each other as if they were in the same room.
Allowing them to play a multiplayer game with friends can show them that you
can still have fun with other people while being safe.
3. Teach
Good Manners
Always remind your child to cover their mouth and nose when
they sneeze or cough. If they’re old enough, you can teach them how to wash a
mask correctly and when to dispose of it or wash it, if it’s a reusable mask.
It might help if you present the facts about virus
transmission in a fun yet serious way. Try to turn learning into a game by
having them guess the correct answers. Through this type of learning, your
child should understand the dangers of meeting up with friends frequently
during the pandemic.
4. Visit
Safe Playgrounds
Frequent the playgrounds that have fresh air all around them
and that go the extra mile to keep your child safe during this time. You might
visit a playground with fun, brightly coloured designs on the ground. Just like
how you may see arrows in locations you visit, these designs serve as a social
distancing boundary that can help your child visualize the 6-feet-apart
rule.
5. Focus
on Individual Play
While your child’s friends are important to them, you should
also encourage them to play and learn independently. You should explain to your
child that it’s essential they play alone some days to slow the spread of the
virus and decrease the likelihood of mutations so that life can get back to
normal and they can see their friends without restrictions.
Introduce your child to fun crafts, like making homemade
slime or creating a butterfly out of popsicle sticks, or fun activities that
you can do indoors or in the backyard. Soon, they’ll be having so much fun that
they won’t mind spending a day with individual playtime.
6. Take
Play Outdoors
If you can stay within your local community, outdoor play is
an excellent idea that allows your child to socialize more safely. Transmission
of COVID-19 is lower in outdoor spaces, meaning your child
will be more protected than if they were to meet up with friends indoors.
See if you can organize a neighbourhood-wide playdate. You can
orchestrate a giant activity like painting a mural on paper that can be hung up
at the entrance of your neighbourhood. If you can’t do something that large,
provide sidewalk chalk for kids to doodle on the streets or in your driveway.
7. Teach
the Importance of Sanitizer
It’s never too early to show your child what hand sanitiser
can do and why it’s so important. You must drive home that your child should
use hand sanitiser when they feel their hands are dirty if they don’t have
access to washing their hands. Likewise, stress the importance of your child
keeping their hands away from their face while they’re out and about with you.
Practice makes perfect, and it’s not likely that your child
will understand all these new rules from the beginning. Reward every little
step toward being cleaner and safer, and your child will pick up on the
importance of sanitizing their hands and keeping their distance.
Encourage a Different Kind of Playtime
Children can be hesitant to change when they’ve done things a
certain way for a long time. Socially distanced play is nothing new by this
point, but your child may still wonder why they can’t see their friends in person every day. Be receptive to their feelings, but explain that their
health matters the most to you.
Once you provide them with the education they need and a fun
alternative to seeing their friends face-to-face every day, your child will
understand.
*This is a collaborative post*