Jocasta, from Hebden Bridge, sent in this great passport related craft idea. Let’s take a look at it…
What did you do?
We were feeling sad that we may not get to go on our road trip holiday this year. So we decided to create my 5-year-old her own personal lockdown passport.
She created the front cover and first page with her personal information in it.
Then each day she chooses a different country she fancied visiting (she chooses through a lovely illustrated book we have showing world cities).
So far we have been to Portugal, Denmark and Germany.
We find out the capital city, we find out hello and goodbye in the language, we find out what food they like and sometimes make the food, we look at arts and culture (listening to traditional music, learning traditional dance or following a local artists style of work) and then we find out other fun things about the country that would interest my child (folk tales, local toys etc).
When we have filled out page spread in about the country I then draw a pretend passport stamp on the page to say we have been there.
When we have finished I will bind the book together.
So far everything has worked. In our work I always focus in child led so she is completely engaged.
The night before she chooses the country and I do a quick bit of research trying to find out the most fun things and a sort of plan for the day.
I tell her the information I find out and then it’s up to her if she is excited about expanding on those areas.
Do you have any tips for others?
We all know our own children the best. I know that my child gets most excited about art, fashion, fairy tales, food and looking at stuff visually (taking tours on the computer).
You know your child’s interests the best and also what is key is to ask them and if they say no I don’t want to know about that just accept don’t get upset about it.
Tell the Housebound With Kids community a bit about yourself…
Hello, my name is Jocasta. I live with my two children in England, Hebden Bridge.
My two girls are 2 and 5.
Before lockdown, I was a full-time mum but also ran a local preschool arts/messy playgroup and was about to start some classes for school-age kids.
How are you finding being housebound so far?
I’m finding being housebound pushes my creativity and thinking around children’s education to new levels.
There have been times where it has been tough definitely but overall it has been a really lovely bonding time.
Do you have any tips for other parents?
Follow your kid’s lead, don’t push them.
Children learn much better when they are interested in not being pushed.
Make sure they learn through the way they most interact with: my child learns best visually so we do a lot of arts-based or practical learning.
Remember also to always celebrate and encourage your child’s learning.
My child now reads the titles on her TV shows and because I say well done and get excited she gets very excited and read and tells me more.
We all need confidence-boosting to encourage us to learn more.
