Parents and children have been stuck inside for over a month now, with many of them bored of going for a walk or a bike ride – but help is coming!
Local councils and at least one Facebook group are offering great ideas to parents looking for fun activities with the kids. Barbara Longo-Flint explores.
WITH half term approaching, families will be presented with the challenge of occupying themselves during lockdown – and now there are several sources of inspiration for them.
Hartlepool Council has launched Get Hartlepool Active, the first ever February challenge, with 28 activities – 14 indoors and 14 outdoors.
Every day the organiser, Louise George, posts a new activity, with prizes for the best photo.
Mrs George said: “Lockdown has been tough going for everybody and, with that in mind, we have created the challenge as a way to make activity fun and getting families out there together.”
Meanwhile, North Tyneside Active offers live classes on their Facebook page: every day Pilates or Barre for every level are just one click away.
Active Sunderland promises new surprises for the half term, with a special holiday club to keep everybody moving, while keeping up with the Step-Up Sunderland App, a walking competition across the city.
SR News spoke to Gemma Carrick, founder of Family sticking together North East, a Facebook group based in Sunderland. Every day they post new activities that parents can do with their children without spending any money.
Gemma believes that memories are not made behind game consoles or tablet, which is why she started the group, which now has over 3,500 members.
So, families have no excuses this half term: #stayactivenortheast.