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Coronavirus: Arts and crafts and YouTube top resources during lockdown

Arts and crafts have been rated as ‘the most engaging resources’ provided by nurseries during lockdown, a national survey of parents has revealed.
Art-based activities, put together by nurseries for parents to do with their children during lockdown, were popular with families of pre-school children
Art-based activities, put together by nurseries for parents to do with their children during lockdown, were popular with families of pre-school children

More than 1,000 UK parents of children aged four and under, took part in an online YouGov survey commissioned by Fennies Nurseries to find out about their parenting experiences during the first lockdown.

Just over a quarter of parents, 26 per cent, said that arts and crafts were the most engaging resources provided by nurseries during lockdown.

This was followed by storytelling and singalongs, both at 17 per cent; physical activities at 15 per cent and then, in order, cooking; guided nature walks and mindfulness.

Other questions in the survey included sleeping patterns, dietary changes, hygiene precautions, mental health and online entertainment.

YouTube won the battle of the screens, trailed by Netflix. And Disney Plus, a platform only released in the UK on 24 March 2020 – one day after the spring lockdown - was children’s third choice.

The research also highlighted the positives of lockdown with nearly two thirds of parents, 64 per cent, stating that the biggest overall benefit was spending more time with their children.   

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