Advice needed: friend is a grandmother who has to take grandkids during the day.

[Peregrine Took]

She and her husband are in their 70's and both are cancer survivors.

They have to care for these kids (under 5) and I am trying to help her keep them occupied indoors (can't be outside the whole day) while keeping she and her husband safe. She says they will both wear masks.

Think of any creative ideas to maintain that 6' distance with a couple of little kids?

Thanks for any game or ? ideas

Thank you.

[MLAA]

1. I'm assuming the children have absolutely no alternative for child care?

I just can’t think of anyway to keep kids 6 feet.

[Totally Tunsie]

2. Hide and (don't) Seek?

Let the l'il ones hide, but don't go looking for them!

[Phentex]

3. Link to some ideas. I'd build them an indoor fort and let them hang out inside.

I don't know how old they are but most online educational sites are offering free content. ABC mouse, etc.

If they are under age 5, they'd probably love to scoop stuff. You can fill some bowls with rice or cereal or beans and let them scoop and pour.

https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/easy-indoor-activities-for-kids/

Kids love to play with boxes or pots and pans.

They will paint with q-tips dipped in water (on any kind of dark paper).

Much will depend on their ages and the kinds of things that interest them.

[lunasun]

4. Make a day care area with table for drawing+ playing Put furniture around it and that is their area

inside the furniture space
With one of you of course watching them outside of the area serve lunch inside the area etc
Keep bathroom clean Be firm they can do it . Explain you are all sick and don’t want them to catch anything from you and it will only last awhile that’s why the mask . Under 3 will be harder
Reward them with words of love for doing good and staying in the area . Maybe prizes
Not really much different than some small day cares that break up one room by ages and kids have to stay when inside

[lettucebe]

5. Pretty hard to care or children at a distance

Get them iPads or some other gadget, and television. Yes, I said it. That's the only thing I know to keep kids engaged that doesn't involve a lot of contact. That said, you cannot care for children without contact so hand washing. Wash hands every single time you do touch. Wash the children's hands too.

My son's father was a complete freak about hand washing. Every time my son came in the house, "wash your hands," before dinner, "wash your hands," and so on. I thought it was excessive but my son had none of the normal childhood illnesses. No runny noses, no colds at all that I recall. I wasn't sick at all during those years. Hand washing is pretty effective.

[Peregrine Took]

6. Thanks for the tips - especially creating an closed off area for them with gadgets inside to keep

them there!