Barnardos is delivering 700 meals each week as families around the country today (FRI) mark the fourth week of school and creche closures.
Schools and childcare facilities have been closed since Friday, March 13 and the initial excitement is wearing off for children, as they begin to miss their routine, their teachers and their friends.
And many parents are struggling to keep their children educated and entertained, as they try to work from home or carry out other responsibilities.
Others are worried about how to provide food for their children, according to Barnardos CEO Suzanne Connolly.
And many teen parents are trying to keep up with their own studies while looking after their children.
The closures were a shock to most children, who had to control over the Government decision to shut schools down, said Ms Connolly.
She said: “The closures have really impacted children’s lives and they had no choice in the matter.
“So while in theory children love having time off school, that novelty for most children is really wearing off now.
“They miss their friends, they miss the routine, they miss the structure. And children enjoy learning.
“It’s also highly stressful for the children who are facing State exams.”
Ms Connolly said the uncertainty around the evolving global pandemic is especially tough as children and parents don’t know when schools will reopen.
She said: “The uncertainty for children and for young people and for their parents about when it is going to stop is tough.”
But while children can no longer attend the seven Early Years Centres that Barnardos has around the country, staff are cooking and delivering 700 meals to families each week.
This means parents can feed their families and the children can see their teachers.
The Early Years Centres are based in Knocknaheeny, Co Cork and Thurles, Co Tipperary as well as the Millbrook, Mulhuddart, Loughlinstown and Dun Laoghaire.
Ms Connolly said, “We’re trying to help out people in any way we can. The children at the Early Years Centres are used to having the structure provided by the centres, and their parents are as well.
“So we’ve changed what we provide support to parents at home and we’re now delivering 700 meals a week to families.
“This means that the children and the parents are seeing staff they know, and the hot food is really welcome.”
The deliveries also means that parents who depend on the meals that the centres provide for their children do not face too many additional food costs.
Children who attend the centres have also been missing a popular puppet, a turtle named Twiggle, who helps children who are feeling shy or struggling to make friends.
To help out with this, teachers in the Barnardos early years centre in Knocknaheeny decided to drive the beloved puppet round the local community so children could see their friend and wave to him from their homes.
Ms Connolly said: “The children loved it. The idea is to support parents in any way we can, and keep everyone’s spirit up.
“The uncertainty is difficult now. Families are feeling restricted and worried.”
