Creative measures keep kids active and happy

Social distancing and quarantines are making a lot of people feel they’re at an all-time low, but that being said, it appears creativity is at an all-time high.

Social media posts feature great videos of people singing, dancing, honing their culinary skills, teaching and a whole lot more. Popular artists are performing online concerts and stand-up comedians are keeping us laughing while sitting at our computer screens.

That’s technology for you.

But, there’s also a lot happening without the use of technology, like what parents are doing with--and for-- the children in Orland Park’s Greystone Ridge subdivision.

Among the organized activities is the Quarantine Fitness Challenge, the brainchild of former teacher Laura Helfert, who created the activity to keep the children active while outside and still be able to practice social distancing. Hand decorated signs are posted on the lawns of participating residents displaying an exercise, which might be to run, to walk, do various poses, lunges, jumping jacks or more.

“Nearly every day after school, my kids would come home, have a quick snack and run outside to find their friends,” Helfert said. “This activity now allows them to still see each other and stay active without going into each other’s homes. When my daughter, Reese, sees a child doing the challenge, she yells out the window, ‘Great job!’ or ‘Keep going!’ She really enjoys watching her friends participate.”

There are nearly 70 kids in the neighborhood, with the majority under the age of 10, and approximately 15 homes participating with signs on their lawns. “Even some neighbors who are empty nesters have joined in,” Helfert said. “They like watching the kids play. We’ve also noticed some kids from surrounding neighborhoods doing the challenges while on a walk with their families.” She said neighbor Susie Aubin started the Window Artwork project, prompting children to make posters to hang on their house windows.

Other ideas being floated by the parents include an outdoor scavenger hunt and decorating the sidewalk around the area park with chalk art.

Coming together for group activities isn’t new to this group of residents. “As a neighborhood, we have an annual Easter Egg hunt, a Fourth of July family fun run led by Adam Wojcik, a huge Back-to-School block party and our monthly Greystone Gives Back events. We definitely are our own small community within Orland Park,” Helfert said.

The Greystone Gives Back initiative was created to provide the children with the chance to give back. “We want to instill a value of serving others from a very young age,” Helfert said.

Among those events was a collection of nursing home supplies donated to the St. Vincent DePaul organization, led by High Point School teacher Jill Wojcik, plus a walk-a-thon raising more than $800 that filled 15 backpacks with school supplies and gift cards.

In addition, they have volunteered at Feed My Starving Children, donated 1,300 gently used books to Bernie’s Book Bank, collected Halloween candy for the troops, made blessing bags for the homeless and have volunteered their time to make crafts with clients at Peace Memorial Church. “It has been a very positive and rewarding experience,” Helfert said.

As for right now, Helfert said they will continue to plan activities to keep the children busy and active during the quarantine. It’s a lot of work for the parents but they say it is definitely worth it. “If the quarantine goes much longer than expected, we just may have to consider creating a special challenge for the parents that includes alcohol,” Helfert said with a laugh.