ParentsMarch 30, 2020

Emily Writes: Why TV is the answer for working parents turned home-schoolers

Contributing writer

Tips on how television can help educate your kids, for parents who have to keep working.

It feels as if a great many parents are simply flourishing during this lockdown with fairy gardens, bird song and mason jars, daily bongo drum dancing and essays written by three-year-old prodigies about how satisfying it is to be in the relentless proximity of their family.

And here you are and it’s 9.30am and you haven’t showered, yet you’ve somehow taken more work calls than you would on a normal in-office day and your kids are screaming and your husband is trying to fix the internet connection.

It’s OK. Breathe. A great many of us are trying to keep our jobs and keep our kids occupied, while essential workers have to leave their younger children with their older children or neighbours.

I have a solution for this time in which you have to do as much work, if not more, and care for your children.

Television.

Start by ignoring all the parents who are so stimulated by how beautiful their lives with their children are right now that they’re gushing all over every social media platform. Be happy for them. Or if you don’t want to be happy for them that’s fine too. You’re not a saint. But move on. So what if they judge you? You judge them! Everyone judges each other – we’re all adults, just move on.

Don’t cover yourself in guilt. Just treat it like work and get on with it. This is no time for a pity party, save that for your bottle of wine when they’re in bed. Should you take mental health advice from me? No.

Then, get your remote – it’s going to be your best friend through this. Here’s what to watch, and activities to go with the shows.

Lego Masters USA, 7.30pm Thursdays on Three and on ThreeNow

Our house stops for Lego Masters on a Thursday night. It’s so wholesome it’s like a basket of kittens in your lap and the kittens are mewling “hey friend, hey you’re going to be OK”. It’s everything you need at a time like this. Get your kids to watch Lego Masters then use the themes from each episode to create a masterpiece. You will judge. The child with the least impressive creation will be kicked out. As in the show, they have 15 hours. Make it count.

OK fine, nobody gets kicked out. The actual lesson? Get your kids to prepare a presentation for you about their creation. What inspired them, why they chose the colours or bricks that they did. Get them to share what worked and what didn’t for their build.

Blue Planet Revisited, TVNZ OnDemand

Hosted by Steve Backshall, beloved by mums everywhere, this two-episode Blue Planet spinoff explores the Great Barrier Reef then looks at how the Bahamas is a sanctuary for sharks. Get your kids to make a quiz together about sharks. They need to give you a five-minute wrap up of the lesson that covers the answers, then they quiz you.

Junior Bake Off, TVNZ OnDemand

The kids will love this because of the gentle humour and low stakes. Give the kids score cards and get them to write what they liked about every cake made. What values did the contestants need to get through the bake challenges? How does perseverance help? How do the bakers keep calm under pressure? What advice would you give them to help them through? Which piece of baking would you most want to eat?

How To Do Stuff Good, TVNZ OnDemand

Now the trick for this show is to ensure the kids know you’re not making all of this shit. Only some of it. So, the kids need to watch all of the episodes and then write down the thing they most want to make. Get them to think about what materials are available during lockdown. It’s a great chance for you to talk about how we all need to do our part – so do they really need to buy food colouring? Or should they just do Miles’ boring battery “tech hack” instead? If they don’t have the bits they need to do a craft, what could they use instead? They need to figure this out on their own and leave you alone because that’s an important part of doing stuff good.

What Now, TV2, 8.00am Sundays and TVNZ OnDemand

It’s the best show on TV and there are plenty of episodes online, all clocking in at a whopping two hours each. What Now is the perfect teacher. Last Sunday’s episode was typically excellent – clear, not scary information about Covid-19. There was no audience and the hosts explained why that was really well. The show gives great insight into the lives of kids all around New Zealand. ‘In my hood’ is a wonderful section that shows parts of New Zealand some kids may never have the chance to visit. ‘Hobbies’ profiles a different child each week – last week was a homeschooling surfer named Indica. I get my kids to watch it and then they can pick a bit that they want us to watch again together later. It’s educational enough that you don’t have to add activities to it.

Other TV ideas if you can access them

Mister Maker – insufferable shapes singing but the kids love it
The news – challenge is to see how long you can watch before you have a panic attack
The Casketeers – get your kids used to death
My World – a BBC news show for older children tackling big issues
Jay’s Jungle – Jay Laga’aia is the balm you need in these difficult times
Deadly 60 – Steve Backshall and his big snake
Maia the Brave – homegrown inspiration for your little ones.
The InBESTigators – the kids on the show are annoying but your kids won’t be able to stop watching.
You Vs Wild – make Bear Grylls eat shit

Solidarity parents, solidarity. We can only fuck this up if we don’t follow the lockdown procedures. Your kids spending too much time watching TV is fine in the grand scheme of things. So don’t worry.

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Finn is learning how to be a good friend to the family dog

ParentsMarch 26, 2020

Children talk to grown-ups about Covid-19

Emily Writes

Contributing writer

Finn is learning how to be a good friend to the family dog

Emily Writes speaks to children throughout the country about how they’re feeling right now and what advice they might have for grown-ups.

The Spinoff’s coverage of the Covid-19 outbreak is funded by The Spinoff Members. To support this work, join The Spinoff Members here.

About one third of New Zealand households have children. And today those children are home. In the rush of experts talking about how to support children through this unprecedented lockdown I wondered: where are the voices of children?

I decided to have a chat to a couple of kids to ask them how they’re feeling and what we as adults can do to support them through this. I don’t think anyone is a better expert on what will help a child than the child themselves. So in the words of some of our country’s youngest people, here’s what it’s like living in lockdown and how parents can help make it a little easier.

India, ‘nearly 7’

Well, I’m pretty good with it. I’m not that worried about coronavirus because the prime minister and my mum and dad will protect me. That’s why we went into self-isolation. I would say to parents just to keep your kids away from school and leave them in their house for a very a long time. You can just say that everything will be fine if we don’t worry and we stay at home and wash our hands.

Jack, 11

I kind of just don’t know what I think about it but I miss my friends and it feels kind of odd not going to school. I’m feeling like maybe a little anxious about some things like what might happen next. There were lots of events I was going to do that got cancelled. Keeping busy helps. As long as you’re doing fun things you don’t think about the virus. We have made kindness rocks and we’re going to give them to my friends. On their doorsteps. I think I would say to other kids, take this time to hang out with your mum and dad. Make memories.

Ārama, 4

My dump truck had to go into isolation in a garage because the truck has a cough and might have coronavirus.

Eddie, 7

I don’t like lockdown because I have to stay home. I don’t get to see my friends. I’m not scared about it. I watch television with my mama and dad I see the prime minister Jacinda and she’s looking after us. I like the prime minister. I’m excited that my nana bought me Lego and I get it this week. It makes me so sad I can’t cuddle her. That’s about it.

When you let the children choose their own words to spell

Cohen, 8

I feel it’s just an excuse to play games. I’m not thinking about the virus. I hope that all the stuff goes back to normal but school doesn’t go back.

Cash, 11

It’s pretty annoying. Everything that I like to do is being cancelled like all my sports and stuff are getting cancelled and everything is being shut down it makes me feel pretty sad not being able to do fun things. Parents should try and do the things the kids like doing. Like ask what they can do that makes kids happy.

I’m kind of nervous because I saw on TV the whole cycle of [the virus] and it makes me nervous because if someone touches something that makes the sickness move. So it goes from touch after touch to other people. Like if I got some mail that could get touched and I could touch it and then I would get it now. But I guess I’m not too worried because my parents are telling me how to be safe like using antibacterial soap and stuff.

Thea, 3

We are making cupcakes!

Neva, ‘almost 8’

It’s pretty fun being at home because you can do lots of stuff that you can’t do at school. I’m happy. If mums or dads are stressed out you can take a deep breath and you can say can we start all over.

Tessa, 6

I’m feeling quite frustrated because I have to spend more time with my sister. I’m trying not to think about the virus. Don’t go out. If a kid is sad they should stay in their room and don’t bother anyone. Don’t think about it.

Misha 11 writes messages for people passing by her house.

Samantha, ‘three-and-a-half’

I’m nearly four. I’m three-and-a-half and I’m feeling good. Stay at home and go outside but in your home.

Maia, 12

It’s a bit weird not being at school. I kind of miss it even though it has only been a few days. I write in my journal when I’m nervous. It feels strange not having much communication with people.My friend is a little bit freaked out because she hates the idea of pandemics. I think adults should maybe think of the positive things like maybe it’s good to get out of society and let your head breathe a little bit and have some quality time with your family. I think Jacinda Ardern is being really impressive. It’s disappointing but I want to stay on the positive side and think of the positive stuff that will come out of it. Someday we will do the things we planned.

Piper, 8

I kind of miss school. I feel nervous if [the virus] gets to Lyttelton. I talk to Mum and Dad when I’m nervous and they say don’t worry and it’s usually just a bad cold when kids get it and that makes me feel better kind of. It’s a little bit scary in some ways. I’m scared if we get it and we can’t see nana. I think the prime minister is doing a good job though.

Ronnie, 5

I feel so sad because I don’t get to see my best friend Annie, my other best friend Ms Chamberlain and my other best friend, Nana. I’m going to see nana when she’s in the car through the window. I saw Ms Chamberlain from the window. I don’t want anyone to get coronavirus. If you have a kid and the kid is sad you have to cuddle them.

Billie, 6

What I think about the lockdown is it’s going to be hard because I think home is a little boring sometimes. It is serious. I’m a bit worried. I want everyone to try and stop it. I want to do the opposite of helping it grow. I think adults can be kind and help us settle in so we feel like normal because it doesn’t feel normal right now because we can’t go to the café or the park. We can go to the beach or something but I miss my friends. Some people can be really stressed about the virus and really worried – I just want to say to them it’s going to be OK, don’t worry.