The current health crisis we are experiencing as a consequence of SARS COVID-19 is affecting everyone. However, little is said about how children are coping with the pandemic. Their daily lives have also been affected and they share the same concerns most of us have. Children observe adults in constant anguish over the uncertainty that COVID-19 is bringing and the wave of false news that easily propagates via social media. Yet, they do not necessarily find a way to express their fears, concerns and emotions.
Due to (i) the current uncertainty, (ii) the call of authorities for people to stay home #StayHome and (iii) the message that Francesco Tonucci sent to all children around the world the team “Exploradores de la Ciudad” from Mexico City got inspired and designed a didactic tool for children to express their emotions. The tool is an exploration diary called “Exploring at home”. Thanks to Huasipichanga we were able to translate this booklet into different languages including English, Dutch and Italian.
By using this booklet, children will be able to reflect on the current issues related to COVID-19 and discuss hygiene and healthy distance measures recommended by the authorities. Furthermore, this booklet includes activities to help children expressing their feelings and processing the experience that we all are going through as a measure of emotional support.
“Exploring at home” is a free booklet that aims to reach as many children as possible. It is created under a Creative Commons (CC BY NC) free license, so we ask you to share it with all your networks so that it can reach every corner of the planet. The explorer’s diary can be easily viewed from any electronic device. However, if you want to print it, it is set so that two pages can be printed in letter size, they should be cut in half, on the dotted line.
Additionally, we would like to encourage you to take many pics during the development of the activities proposed in the booklet and share them with us to homeexplorersjournal@gmail.com, as we will create a microsite where we will upload all your photos. You can also share them on your social networks using the Hashtags #StayHome #JeResteChezMoi #OstaniDoma #IoRestoAcasa «خليك بالبيت»# #Blijfthuis #BleibDaheim #Zostanwdomu #YoMeQuedoEnCasa and open the conversation to the world about how children live the COVID-19 health emergency. In this way, you will help us spread a message of solidarity to the world and rice children’s voices by showing what they have to say about the crisis and how they experience this process in different contexts.
From Exploradores de la Ciudad and Huasipichanga we hope that this tool becomes a useful material for children to go through these difficult moments of contingency.
