Life under lockdown has been tough on everyone. For working parents, attempting to balance working life and family time has always been a challenge. But now, under lockdown, with your children having to learn from home things have been extra tough.
The normal weekday routines that they are so familiar with are gone, and there is limited contact with their classmates and teachers. Moreover, these changes to their daily lives’ structure can have a major impact on their small minds.
The connection between innovation and well-being
Multiple studies demonstrate that creativity and well-being are positively connected. Psychologist Bernice Castle agrees, saying that art and creativity support children’s development in different ways.
“For children and adults alike, art can be a powerful tool. They learn much better in all disciplines if kids engage in hands-on art activities,” says Castle.
- Art promotes fine and gross motor abilities: Art helps children apply their gross and fine motor skills to something meaningful and helps them through visual cognitive responses to tap into their problem-solving skills. It has also been shown to stimulate imagination, enhance the ability to observe, boost self-esteem, provide a sense of achievement, and reduce stress.
- Art allows children to communicate: Art creates opportunities for your children to express how they see and experience the world and allows them to express their feelings about the circumstances they encounter in their daily lives.
Here are some ways you can tap into the creative outlets of your children and keep them engaged in meaningful ways:
Establish an Art Station
Dedicate a small section of your home to projects involving art. BIC has a broad range of high-quality stationery that is perfect for children’s art projects.
Set everyday challenges
Give a challenge to your children for the day. This will allow them to achieve daily goals and provide a sense of achievement at the end of the day.
Keep everything
Don’t throw away anything. Show off your child’s really good works of art and keep the rest in storage. These are not only great keepsakes, but they show children that their job is special and deserves attention.
Find Resources online
From blogs to Youtube tutorials and more, there are thousands of online resources that can help your child get ‘arty’. To add a creative spin to things, make use of these resources. See Facebook’s #BICStayInspired tutorials as well.
Involve yourself
Use the resources you have to get involved and stay connected with your child, whether it’s reaching out to other parents you know, searching for ideas online, or asking a teacher.
