A Reflection on Things that Helped a Parent During Lockdown

Well, hasn’t this been a strange time to be alive?!

Here we are in the third week at Level 2 on the Covid-19 alert system. We’re all doing things a little bit differently now while trying to get back a sense of normality and I thought I’d take the time to share some things that helped this parent through the lockdown. At first this was a list, but then I decided to refine it, and mention some of the library’s resources and these are still available now.

I also decided to put them in a particular order, because we like order, and we’ve so missed putting things in order!

Alrighty, on with my reflective list of things that helped a parent through life during lockdown:

1. Picture books and Look and Find books that I had around the house
A lot of these have been read over and over and over again, and that is completely OK. Of course, depending on your children’s age, having a book thrust into your lap with an accompanying moody grunt from your offspring can be annoying, however there are many (many) worse things to have put on you. Spending 5, 10, 20 or 40 minutes sitting down with a book and your child in your lap has been, is, and always will be a joy. I have been enjoying a number of look-and-find and maze books including these ones, Alice in Wonderland: a Puzzle Adventure from Big Picture Press and Follow Finn: a search-and-find maze book by Peter Goes, both large hardback books with beautiful illustrations.

2. Creative play

Small Fry Play Catalogue link

There is huge value in play, particularly creative play. I have seen my four-year-old son do some interesting things with ropes in the past 8 weeks. While concentrating on making loops and tying knots he said, “I’m making a trap for the baddies”. He also took to making sure his favourite soft toys have capes also, like him, naturally.

Lego: Awesome Ideas Catalogue link

My seven year old took to the trampoline a lot, and enacted classes for her younger sister and brother.
And the Lego play and creations, between them all, they carried on for days! Go sustained individual play! Actually I’d just like to give a big shout out to the value of play in general.

3. Teachers
I have to acknowledge that all school staff efforts have been amazing all throughout this crazy time. All the teachers in Aotearoa have been outstanding. In what has seemed the strangest time to live through, it has been revelatory to see who is actually essential and who isn’t. Teachers have definitely come out on top as vital, I believe.

4. Story Box Library
A good-looking, well-presented and curated collection of stories that are read by some well-known Australians and New Zealanders. Presented as a video with a storyteller holding the picture book, it is interspersed with two-page spreads and added subtle sound effects to accompany appropriate moments in the story. This is a resource that Hastings District Libraries has a subscription to, and is well worth a gander. I particularly liked I am Jellyfish, written and illustrated by Ruth Paul and read by Akina Edmonds. Story Box Library is an Australian outfit and they have a large range of books, authors and presenters including a focus on indigenous stories. Though the intro ditty at the start of every video would suggest Story Box is for a young audience, there are also stories aimed at the upper primary age group so you’ll find something in there for everyone.

And last but not least on my list of things that helped a parent through life in lockdown:

5. Home Learning TV / Papa Kāinga
The return of Suzy Cato!! Oh how I missed her voice and that giggle! And the whole cast of presenters, teachers and content is top-notch. The introduction of this TV channel in such a short amount of time from it being announced as happening, and going live was amazing to watch. Papa Kainga TV is actually still going too, it wasn’t just an alert level 3 and 4 offering. So if you have to keep your child or children at home and away from school for any reason, consider checking out some of the videos on there and participating in the activities at home.

Thank you for reading!

Posted by Hana