Keeping busy at home

KEEPING BUSY IDEAS – COVID-19 RESOURCES

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We have entered a new world! How long will we be here and when can we go back? When we go back, will some things stay the same? Can we ever really go all the way back?

One thing is for certain, we are staying home as much as possible. It’s not advice anymore; it’s the law. Whether it’s a blessing or an extra challenge (most likely both!) we have been forced to unschedule our lives, to appreciate the little things, and to create some sense of normality, routine and fun within the four walls of our homes (or our fences – fresh air for the win!).

The best thing about going through challenges together is seeing the way that people come together to share ideas, pool resources, innovate and adapt. Social media is absolutely full to the brim of great ideas to get creative, get outside, make, build, play, connect and more – so that’s why we’ve created this page. This is a resource for you; kids, parents, carers, support workers, to find some ideas to not only pass time, but to make memories and develop skills and knowledge. Together, we can make lemonade from the proverbial lemons barricading our front doors!

This page will be updated regularly with new links and ideas, so make sure you bookmark it and keep coming back!

If you have any resources to add, shoot an email through to Faye – faye.lougheed@ioe.org.au

SOCIAL STORIES

  1. Printable one page social story – click here
  2. Free downloadable social story for adults – click here
  3. Free self isolation social story – click here
  4. My Coronavirus story online flip book – click here
  5. Printable social story booklet – click here

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

  1. Beyond Blue – Looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus outbreak
  2. BBC – Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health
  3. 10 way to help others during the Coronavirus outbreak – click here
  4. Managing Your Mental Health Online During COVID-19 – click here

MINDFUL ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

  1. 75 calm down activities for kids – click here
  2. Open Heart Studio kind home family activity pack – click here
  3. Favourite kids books read by famous people – click here
  4. Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts – click here
  5. Free at-home kids yoga – click here
  6. Free Isolation Journal or My Lockdown Journey (print at home or free shipping) – click here
  7. Eastern Regional Library live story times or catch ups – click here

ACTIVITY IDEAS

  1. 100 activities to do at home during school closures – click here
  2. The Growing Space – Top thirty ways to use support workers creatively while avoiding COVID-19
  3. 60+ activity ideas to do with kids at home – click here
  4. Illustrated fun kids recipes – click here
  5. Kid-friendly workouts – click here
  6. Indoor and outdoor scavenger hunt inspiration – click here
  7. Write letters to friends or family. Make activities for them to do such as word searches and puzzles.
  8. Nature Play Week – top 10 list of fun things to do in your own back yard
  9. Over 200 free colouring pages and activities – click here

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

  1. Australian Special Education Principals Association – Online resources for students and families
  2. One million free printable worksheets from toddlers to teens – click here
  3. Learn the valuable skill of touch typing for free
  4. Learn a language for free
  5. Dive into the world of weather for kids

SCREEN TIME ACTIVITIES

  1. Go on a virtual tour of some of the most famous places in the world
  2. Online photograph jigsaw puzzles from six to 1000+ pieces
  3. Coding with Star Wars
  4. Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover
  5. Get answers to your worldy wonders via short videos
  6. Educational games for all ages
  7. ABC ME TV channel 23 – Educational curriculum based programming
  8. Accessible Apps – 10 fun game and activity apps for people with disabilities
  9. Air BnB Online Experiences – ‘unique activities we can do together, led by a world of hosts’
  10. Online board games – every game you can imagine from Boggle to One Night Werewolf- click here

MOVEMENT AND GETTING ACTIVE

  1. Pegasus Project – Catching made easy for all abilities
  2. Dance & Roll virtual dance sessions covering a range of dance styles
  3. Living Room Sports on Facebook Live
  4. SPROUT – The Special Olympics app, for home based inclusive fitness for any ability
  5. PE with Joe 30 minute body weight fitness sessions for all levels
  6. Build an obstacle course, or a chalk or tape course, in your house or in your yard
  7. Cosmic Kids free yoga on YouTube
  8. Gymnastics Victoria Aerobase program – online free videos