Awww! 8 sweet kids reveal what they've loved about being stuck at home

While parents may be entirely over being stuck at home, for some kids, it's been a catalyst to gain a fresh perspective on life and family. Here, eight Canadian children share some of the upsides to cocooning, from learning new skills to cute puppy cuddles.

Getting crafty

“My dad’s an electrician, and he’s been showing us how to make stuff,” says Erin, 9, of Calgary. “We made birdhouses and we painted them, and that was fun, plus we twisted copper wire to make 'trees' with wood for a base. For Mother’s Day, I carved the word mom out of soapstone, which I wouldn’t have had time to do normally.”

Talking tech

“Instead of going to school, I make logos,” says six-year-old Phoenix in Toronto. Scratch coding and animating YouTube videos have also been keeping him busy, says his mom, Susan. Phoenix is on the autism spectrum but has still been able to access virtual therapy appointments from Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. “We talked to the doctor on Zoom, and what I liked is that she could really understand the dynamic of what he’s like at home—she can see him in action.”

Learning to shop local

“I know now that local businesses will be struggling, and I want to help them stay intact, because they’re the backbone of the community,” says 10-year-old Audrey of Calgary. “I don’t want some of the stores I love—like the Cornerstone Music Café or Eastridge Sports, Cards & Games—to be gone by the time COVID-19 is over. So, I’ve been doing their online classes or going in. We need to help each other get through hard times.”

Appreciating the little things

“The good part about quarantine is that when you are hungry, you can get food without having to ask a teacher or wait two hours ‘til break,” explains Dahlia, 10, of Burlington, Ont. “I like chips with guacamole and salsa the best. Plus, the environment has been better. The air feels cleaner because there are fewer cars on the road.”

Stitching connections

“I have learned how to knit and built a better relationship with my family,” says Salma, 11, in Toronto. “Hopefully, we can learn to make Canada and the world better by helping the environment and stopping the racism.”

Putting things in place

“We changed my room around and I helped out,” says nine-year-old Kaiyan in Toronto. “We actually moved stuff from the other bedroom and the living room, so now it’s much more organized and easier to do things. I play games on my phone there like Roblox and Sudoku, or read books if I’m having trouble sleeping, like the new Wings Of Fire graphic novel.”

Exploring the great outdoors

“It’s been fun because my dad and my brother and I go to Trestle Beach Trail and we do survival games with our Swiss Army knives,” says nine-year-old Gabriel of Powell River, BC. “We never used to do that. And we’ve started going on long bike rides down to the beach, then back along the logging road and alleys.”

Living with less  

“I realize now that we don’t need everything we normally have to stay happy and motivated,” says 12-year-old Emmett in Ottawa. “My mom and sister are home, and they are really supportive, plus we have a puppy and spending time with him has been amazing. I’m also keeping in touch with Brian, my “big” from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada. It’s important to be grateful for what we do have.”