Resources for caregivers during COVID-19
The information resources on these pages have been developed specifically for South African caregivers facing the Covid-19 pandemic. They are free to use and distribute by anyone on any channel. If you are an organisation working with caregivers, please download and share on your social media channels, WhatsApp groups, and any other ways of connecting.
For general resources and up-to-date information on the South African government’s response to Covid-19, please visit the government Corona Virus portal. You can also join the official South African government Covid-19 WhatsApp group. Save the number, 060 012 3456 on your WhatsApp contact list and then say ‘Hi’ to be added to the group. You will receive a welcome notification and can then select from the menu what type of information you would like.
What resources are you looking for?
Physical health
- Supports pregnant, birthing and breastfeeding mothers with facts
- Up-to-date relevant information from the National Department of Health
- Fights fake news
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Mental health
- Supports mothers feeling anxious, sad, or in distress
- Helpful meditation and breathing techniques that are easy to use each day
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Early learning
- Ideas on keeping your young child learning while at home
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Resources
Parenting Young Children in Lockdown
In this time of COVID-19, children may have questions that are difficult to answer. Sometimes those questions can make you feel stressed. Children may respond to a stressful situation by changing their behaviour like: holding on to you, feeling nervous or worried,...
Use of face-masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19
In order to stop the spread of the Coronavirus, it will be compulsory from 1st of May for everyone to wear a cloth face mask when in public. It is possible to carry the Coronavirus and feel well. Face masks help to stop infecting other people. Here are the most common...
Have Fun with Counting
This resource assist caregivers to teach young children how they can have fun with numbers, shapes and counting, by suggesting easy to do at home exercises according to age group: 0 – 18 months, 18 months – 36 months, 3 – 5 years. Compiled by the Department of Basic...
Learn about space
This resource assist caregivers to teach young children about the relations of objects in space, by suggesting easy to do at home exercises according to age group: 0 – 18 months, 18 months – 36 months, 3 – 5 years. Compiled by the Department of Basic Education,...
Playing and sorting
This resource assist caregivers to teach young children about sorting, by suggesting easy to do at home exercises according to age group: 0 – 18 months, 18 months – 36 months, 3 – 5 years. Compiled by the Department of Basic Education, Department of Social...
Let’s Play, Learn and Grow Together: Mini activity books for parents of young children
These little booklets were developed by the Department of Basic Education and UNICEF to support parents and their young children with reading, pictures and ideas that focus on the early learning and development of children from birth to five years. Available in...
Early learning under lockdown resource 10: Square shapes
This resource assist caregivers to teach young children about different shapes, by suggesting easy to do at home exercises according to age group: 0 – 18 months, 18 months – 36 months, 3 – 5 years. Compiled by the Department of Basic Education, Department of Social...
Early learning under lockdown resource 6: Learning with food
The following resource teaches caregivers about early learning activities they can do with their young children which center around healthy food. Activities are suggested according to age: 0 – 18 months, 18- 36 month, 3 – 5 years. This resource was developed by the...
Early learning under lockdown resource 9: Counting
The following resource offers caregivers ideas on activities to do with young children to teach early numeracy. These activities keep children learning if they cannot attend early learning centres. This resource was compiled by the Department of Basic Education and...
Early learning under lockdown resource 8: Fun with leaves
The following resource offers caregivers ideas on fun activities to do with young children using leaves from the garden. These activities keep children learning if they cannot attend early learning centres. This resource was compiled by the Department of Basic...
Early learning under lockdown resouce 7: More healthy habits
The following resource teaches caregivers about activities they can do with their young children to support healthy habits, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Activities are suggested according to age: 0 – 18 months, 18- 36 month, 3 – 5 years. This resource was...
Explaining COVID-19 to young children
This resource, developed by the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development as well as Unicef, supports parents to explain the virus to their young children and teach them how to protect themselves. All content is sourced from the World Health Organisation....
Early learning under lockdown resource 5: All about object positions
The following resource offers caregivers ideas on activities to do with young children to teach them about the positions of objects. These activities keep children learning if they cannot attend early learning centres. This resource was compiled by the Department of...
Early learning under lockdown resource 4: Healthy habits
The following resource teaches caregivers about activities they can do with their young children which teach about healthy habits, during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Activities are suggested according to age: 0 - 18 months, 18- 36 month, 3 - 5 years. Download as...
Early learning under lockdown resource 3: Movement games
The following resource offers caregivers ideas on movement games to do with young children, as well as playtime ideas which keep children learning if they cannot attend early learning centres. This resource was compiled by the Department of Basic Education and...
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