Lockdown in NSW is almost over! With the unpredictable developments of the pandemic, some parents of children attending our preschool have preferred to let them stay at home.
Although a child is not on-site, we have been keeping our preschool community connected with online and at-home activities. They help learning to continue—but we’re not talking about things like numeracy or spelling. It’s all about play!
A care package of fun
Yep, lockdowns can get a bit (or very) boring. We wanted families to have something fun to do at home with their children, and sent out care packages. They included colouring pencils, a big pad of paper and make-it-yourself playdough. We also created a booklet with colouring-in activities, science experiments, games to play at the park and home, plus QR codes to scan for our video resources.
Getting together on Zoom
To keep the children engaged with preschool, we have been holding daily Zoom sessions at the same time (predictability is important) for families to add to their routines. They’re not your typical catch-ups. Parents receive a program at the start of the week about things to prepare for various activities.
For example, we’ve had a hat party day, a science week, scavenger hunts… and a ton of fun using the care package contents. The children have also enjoyed showing their toys and other items at home. Sharing them really brought the home and school relationship together.
Safety and fun continues at preschool
Rest assured, we are keeping everyone at preschool safe with temperature checks and hand-washing that are recorded and registered. Drop off and pick up procedures may change, and we will send out updates when needed.
The children are having fun, too! Besides the Zoom activities, we made dampers or told stories by a campfire. Having lesser numbers let us concentrate on developing some of the kids’ social skills, and we’re super pleased with the progress they’re making.
Staying connected
We contacted Plumtree Preschool families whose children were not attending preschool in-person or online to see how they were going home. Encouraging them to join our online activities helped make the Zoom sessions even more successful and gave the parents some lockdown relief.
Having a continuing connection with our early childhood teachers every day, or just knowing that they’re available, has been settling for parents and a wonderful enjoyment for the children. After spending some time away, this engagement can help make the children’s transition back to preschool easier.
We’re looking forward to seeing everybody face-to-face again. Stay safe everyone!
Related stories
View About Play, our video series about engaging with children during play for positive developmental outcomes
Read our blog on Promoting calm communication with your children at busy times
