Keeping children busy with free daily activities while schools are closed due to coronavirus

Training in Care is using social media to share daily activities which parents can do with their children using only household items.

Since the scheme started on Friday, March 20 ideas have included making Frozen-themed silly putty and an Elsa doll out of socks.

Balloon tennis, make-your-own Playdough and paper golf are also on the cards.

All of the activities - aimed at children aged up to five - are based on the early years foundation stage statutory framework (EYFS) and are linked to the national curriculum, covering subjects including physical activity, maths and English.

The organisation, based at Chuter Ede Community Association in South Shields, is a centre of excellence in the training of adult and children’s carers.

The Play from the Kitchen initiative was originally developed more than 10 years ago, for disadvantaged families who didn’t have access to items such as Playdough.

Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that schools and nurseries would close on Friday, March 20 to all children except those of key workers.

Click here for an interactive map showing the spread of Covid-19 across the UK

The team realised the activities could be used to help parents suddenly faced with the prospect of home-schooling.

Senior tutor Sarah Jolley, said: “Our values are very much in the community and what we can do to support people.

“We’ve always been based around linking people together, which is really important at this time – when everyone is having to stay at home and self-isolate and social distance - to see that there is still something we can do as a community.”

The activities are also designed to appeal to older children and adults and with learning disabilities and additional needs and elderly people living with dementia.

“The team are coming together and trying to do what we can to help the whole community, '' said CEO Angela Brown.

“We are spending a lot of our time now finding some more interesting things that we can share.

To get involved follow the Training in Care/The Care People page on Facebook for a daily update.