A Kingborough family have found a creative way to help children and families in the community process information about the coronavirus.
Alex and Oliva Rule, with their mother Miriam, are creating a series of videos about adjusting to all the necessary changes in daily life and tracking their journey throughout the global pandemic.
Focussing on the children’s adventures with their friend Pandy, the videos use a fun, easy to understand, cartoon format and are narrated by Alex and Olivia.
Their first video was about changing the way children can play and interact with their friends while still practicing social distancing.
Miriam said the idea started very naturally, growing out of a simple conversation at home.
“One evening we started talking about COVID-19 and what activities we could do to have fun at home,” Miriam said.
“It is hard explaining COVID-19 to children and the idea just popped into my head to use the power of video to help bring it to life.
“I then put it on Facebook thinking that it might be useful to other parents and it grew from there.”
The family intend to focus on stories of fun things to do at home whilst practicing social distancing and have an ever-growing list of topics for the videos.
“We are hoping that it might help other families going through the same thing,” Miriam continued.
“It’s a bit of light relief in an unprecedented and strange world.”
Miriam guides the process of creating the videos, already having the skills needed through making videos in her role at work.
Alex and Olivia are involved in the thick of the creative process, choosing topics and adding their own flair to the final product, helping Miriam with everything from props to proofing.
“We’ve started an ideas list which the kids add to whenever we have a story idea,” Miriam explained.
“From there we pick one idea and form the rough outline and storyboard it.
“Then we start adding different elements such as scenes, props and characters.
“They are there with me the whole way through.
“From picking out props, colours, elements, even helping with proofing,” Miriam said.
“The final part is narration.
“This is probably the most fun part as it’s when the kids bring the story to life.
“It really is a team effort,” concluded Miriam.
The videos can be found on a dedicated facebook page by searching for ‘The Wonderful World of Alex and Olivia and their friend Pandy’.
Pictured above: Alex and Olivia Rule set up a toy picnic in the loungeroom which is the topic of their videos, which are aimed at helping children and families during the coronavirus pandemic. (PS)
