Hundreds of thousands of Irish people are coming to terms with staying at home amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar announced the closure of schools, colleges, cultural institutions and childcare centres on Thursday as Ireland moved to the delay phase of its attempts to cope with coronavirus.
Social distancing measures have been implemented by many organisations while those who have the ability to work from home have been encouraged to do so.
While the appropriate steps are being taken to halt the spread of Covid-19 in this country, it’s inevitable that those who are now forced to stay at home will become restless or bored.
With that in mind, some social media users have been coming up with fantastically imaginative challenges in the hope of promoting the use of people’s creativity.
Cork-based artist, Will Sliney, intends to set children an art challenge each day while the emergency measures are in place and will share the kids’ drawings on his social media every evening.
Lots of kids are stuck at home in Ireland now. I have an idea. I'm going to set an art challenge each day and I'd love to see the drawings that people do. I'll share them all at the end of each day
Good idea? pic.twitter.com/GGVxWeu7sQ— Will Sliney (@WillSliney) March 12, 2020
Meanwhile, a writing challenge has been set up by Dave Hendrick for tweeters to tell a story around a daily theme in just 280 characters.
So anyone up for a writing challenge to pass the time? How about 1 tweet stories? 280 characters (incl #1tweetstory) to tell a short of your choosing with a random theme generated daily. Day 1’s theme is “Walk” #KeepCreativeIRL
— Dave Hendrick (@DaveHendrick) March 13, 2020
Children’s writer Sarah Webb is preparing to organise writing and creative games, as well as story prompts for families.
I’m preparing my #sarahswritingclub #CreativeBursts for next week – short, fun writing and creative games and story prompts for children and their parents/ carers to do at home. What would be useful and fun for your family? Do suggest other things below if you think of any!
— Sarah Webb (@sarahwebbishere) March 13, 2020
Poetry Ireland’s poet in residence, Catherine Ann Cullen, has challenged kids to write a poem about a magic hat.
We're posting child-friendly creative writing prompts from our #PoetInResidence @tarryathome. Today's challenge is to write a poem about a magic hat. Here are a few from 1st Class in Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal who visited us on Tues. Tweet your poem and picture to us! #selfisolation pic.twitter.com/zQQ1L9dPr5
— Poetry Ireland (@poetryireland) March 13, 2020