Engaging a child with attention-deficit or hyperactivity
disorder is a difficult task of parenting in the middle of coronavirus pandemic
as people are confined to four walls, often restricting the little ones from outdoor
activities. But then you need to channelize his or her thought process
constructively.
Anju Minesh, a Kochi-based Consultant Psychologist, has
posted some tips on how to engage kids at home the other day and her Facebook post
has since gone viral. Here are a few guidelines:-
Kids in the age-group of two to four years
n —Make them draw patterns
n —Ask them to segregate toys and arrange
them in different groups
n —Engage them in peeling leaves of curry
leaves or Drumstick leaves
n —Ask them to tear newspapers into
small pieces
Children in the age-group of four to eight years
n —Request them to peel onions and
garlics
n —Teach them spelling of five new words
daily
n —Assign them the task of identifying certain
letters from paragraphs in newspapers
n —Make them to help you in cutting
vegetables
Children in the age-group of eight to 12 years
n —Make them join you in cooking small
dishes
n —Let them read a news article or a
story and summarise the same to you
n —Seek their help in cutting vegetables
and clean fishes
n —Request them to help you in daily
chores like cleaning and washing
n —Utilise the time to make them brush
up multiplication tables and poems they by-hearted earlier
Children above 12 years
n —Encourage them to take up all works
that elders do, with responsibility
n —Ask them to cook small dishes with
the help of you Tube videos.
n —Entrust them with small tailoring or
embroidery works. A lot of apps are available online which can aid them in the
tasks
n —Let them experiment craft works after
learning the same from internet
General Instructions
Parents can utilize this
period to identify the particular skill or interest of their dear ones and extend
them training or make learning arrangement in the particular field. For eg,
they can use online apps to learn musical instruments, drawing lessons or even
to enhance their vocabulary. Happy parenting happy quarantining…
