Lockdown Day 39 – Polishing
Activities of Everyday Living
And here we thought we were going to be back at school today! 
Instead, we are still at home, and thankfully, homes are the best places in which to keep active little hands and minds occupied.
* POLISHING *
As we enter week 6 of lockdown, there will be many items of furniture around that house that need a good polishing, and you have just the right help at hand!
YOU WILL NEED
A small container to hold the following:
- A spray bottle of furniture cleaner*
- A soft cloth for polishing
- An old T-Shirt or an apron
* If at all possible non-toxic cleaning materials should be used. You can easily make your own wooden furniture cleaner by mixing 2 parts vinegar, 2 parts olive oils and 1 part lemon juice into a small spray bottle.
METHOD
Invite the child to help you polish the wooden furniture in the house. You may need to have a little discussion about what wooden furniture is (this is also a good idea to show the children where things come from!) and perhaps identify one or two pieces of furniture that you would like her/him to start with.
Explain to the child that s/he will need to be careful with the furniture polish (even if you are using a homemade cleaner, it is still prudent to advise the child to wash her/his hands after using the product).
Show the child how to spray a some of the cleaner onto the furniture piece and to replace the spray bottle into the container.
Take the polishing cloth from the container and rub the mixture into the wood until it has been absorbed.
Invite the child to continue until the whole surface of the furniture piece has been cleaned!
BENEFITS
Besides the obvious benefits to you (having clean furniture), polishing has many valuable benefits for the child too:
Movement:
Fine motor skills are exercised by using various skills to polish the furniture piece. Bilateral coordination of the hands is also exercised.
Independence:
The child will be able to contribute to cleaning routines at home and school and is further developing control over her/his mind and body.
Order:
Working through the activity in an ordered way fulfils the child’s need for order.
Concentration:
This will be developed through the child’s focus on her/his movements. The step-by-step sequence of the exercise will further help to develop concentration.
Social Skills:
The child will be able to assist in the care of the environment and this contributes towards a feeling of worth and social cohesion.
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