Millions of South African children will be staying at home for at least four weeks following a call by President Cyril Ramaphosa to close schools longer than the one-week termly break. 

In his statement on Sunday, 16 March 2020, Ramaphosa told millions of South Africans they had decided to take drastic measures to curb the spread of the disease. 

As part of this measure, schools will be closed from 18 March until after easter. 

 Many parents will now be stranded at home with their children. While this was not a planned break, schools and parents have to ensure that students are not missing out on school content. Not only that parents must also maintain a routine so that when your child goes back to school it’s not a challenge. 

Here are ways you can keep your kids busy during this social distancing period. 

Read together

Create a reading space in your house to get your child to read. Instead of spending time watching tv the whole day, this is a great way to get your child’s mind engaged. If you don’t have enough books at home, you can download free books online. Here are some sites for free books and stories. 

Magic Keys 

Free kids books.org 

https://nalibali.org/story-resources

Do some school activities 

Ask your child school to provide worksheets, so that your child doesn’t fall behind during this period. Ensure that you get your child to do some school work daily to ensure that they are still staying on routine and are not missing out on school content. 

Playtime 

Allow your kids to have some fun and give them time for playtime. If you can, also take part in the games, this is a great way to bond with your kids. 

Physical activities and nutrition 

While you will be confined in your house, this doesn’t mean that you can participate in physical activity. Things such as jumping jacks, squats and running in one place is a great way to keep the whole family moving.  Eat healthy and nutritious food to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 

Hygiene & Nutrition 

• Have a hand washing routine for your children. Ensure they wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. 

• Sanitise their hands with alcohol-based hand sanitiser. 
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Include vegetables and fresh fruits.