AN Elderslie mum has launched an online group to support parents and youngsters while schools are closed during the coronavirus lockdown.
Natalie Burgess created the Lighthouse Facebook group and leads fun activities with her two-year-old son Isaac, to help kids with their education and mental health.
The 31-year-old health and wellness coach, who used to be a teacher at Kirklandneuk Primary, in Renfrew, hopes her daily activities will help parents who may be struggling to work from home and provide schooling for their kids at the same time.
“As soon as the coronavirus hit and the schools stopped, I knew I had to do something, especially with my skills and formerly being a teacher,” Natalie told The Gazette.
“My goal is to build a community of mums and dads so they know they’re not alone and help them have activities they can give to their children.
“The activities are designed to build confidence and peace in young people because I don’t think we realise how much children are affected by these things.”
On weekdays, Natalie hosts a Facebook livestream using the video conference service Zoom, starting at 10am.
Each session involves a variety of activities, such as singing, and lasts for around 30 minutes.
Natalie said: “Parents and children can join in with us in the Zoom call or watch it on Facebook if they would prefer not to be in the video.”
Once the coronavirus lockdown has ended, Natalie plans to have her Lighthouse group registered as a charity and open up a venue for children in the local area to play and learn.
She added: “I hope Lighthouse will become a community hub for parents and provide some light in the darkness for their children.”
Search for ‘LightHouse ~ Peace, Joy & Learning’ on Facebook for more.
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