CANTON, Ohio — During the pandemic, health experts have stressed the importance of finding ways to stay active while working from home and practicing social distancing.
For parents working several hours a day while home-schooling their children, finding that balance has been easier said than done.
Stay-at-home orders are taking a mental, physical and emotional toll, especially on children.
“This is a unique and challenging time for everybody,” Kent Hamilton said.
Hamilton is a Plain Local Schools P.E. teacher known for his creative methods of keeping students engaged.
“With everything going on with the coronavirus, it’s really important to keep them active and off the video games and not watching TV all the time,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton is now sharing his innovative ideas with everyone on the internet.
“We had one activity where we played DIY air hockey,” Hamilton said, “And they use Tupperware lids to slide the puck back and forth in their house.”
Over the last several weeks, Hamilton has created easy-to-follow video tutorials for parents and students by utilizing everyday items that won’t break the bank.
“All the activities I create use common household objects,” Hamilton said, “Things they have at home, not things they have to go out and buy or not specialized equipment.”
The videos have been shared thousands of times on Twitter and Facebook.
“We got a really positive response with that video,” Hamilton said, “It now has over four million views on Facebook, and it was shared by one of the greatest tennis players of all time, Billie Jean King.”
With famous athletes and student organizations taking notice and clicking “Share,” Hamilton’s efforts are reaching far beyond the borders of Northeast Ohio.
“It’s everyone working together,” Hamilton said, “And as a teacher I’m hoping that by creating activities that students can do at home, I’m doing my part to help out.”
