Keeping teenagers and young children at home and occupied as Fiji battles COVID-19 is as critical as following COVID-safe protocols.
Parents and guardians around the country said they were taking different approaches to keeping their young ones safe and “busy” through the pandemic.
The Fiji Times conducted a random survey to find out how young children and teenagers were being entertained throughout the containment period.
The parents said social media, despite all the ills associated with it, was the perfect way of keeping kids connected and distanced.
The majority of people spoken to said they were giving their children unfettered use of mobile devices because it allowed them to interact with friends without leaving the safety of the home.
Concerned guardian Josaia Naulakia said he would rather his nephew “be glued to his phone rather than out there and get the virus”.
Families whose parents were working from home or stuck in containment areas other than where they worked spent the time on family activities.
Kayla Yee of Lami said her younger siblings had time on their devices but were given breaks to get some exercise and to interact with each other.
“They are spending significant amounts of time on their devices but we are breaking this with walks and we do a lot of baking together,” she said.
Other families were using devotion and prayers as a time for families to come together and build on their spiritual lives.
Joshua Faruk said he and his family were being faithful to their prayers and he kept in contact with his friends via social media.
Edward Wilson, a university student, said he and others were using the time to catch up on television series and sleep before virtual classes began this week.
