Getting creative during lockdown

Last modified: 29 Jul 2020 10:36am

Part of our series on how Selwyn residents are spending their days in isolation. We hope it will inspire you with some ideas.

With the kids at home and no places to go, Southbridge resident Liv Dewhirst put together a routine to keep her family active during lockdown, full of fun ideas and activities she’s always wanted to try with her kids. “I had all these craft plans to do with my kids for ages, but I’ve had no time, there’s just always stuff on.”

At 9am the Apple Music school bell rings from Liv’s phone and her children, seven year old Lexie, six year old Billy, four year old Bobbie-Rose and three year old Rocco, gather around to hear what activities are planned for the day. First up is a fun family fitness activity to get the blood pumping. “So far we’ve done an obstacle course, a fitness circuit course and walked around the streets of Southbridge playing follow the leader,” Liv said.

Next the kids settle down for reading and some crafts. They’ve made pigs out of stuff in the cupboard after reading The Wonderful Pigs of Jillian Jigs and learnt how to grow apple trees from apples after reading about aliens growing apples on their planet.

The family resourcefully made bubbles from household products and a wand from a sock and a plastic bottle. “We didn’t have any bubbles so I looked up a recipe on how to make bubbles. I would never normally do that, I would just go buy it,” laughs Liv.

Inspired by a previous teaching career and activities she did as a kid, Liv’s ideas don’t stop there. From pasta creations to making volcanoes and cheerio cereal necklaces, it’s fair to say the Dewhirsts will be entertained long after lockdown.

Liv says having a lockdown routine gave their family a purpose in the day and she encourages families to be kind to themselves when making a routine and create a routine that works for them.