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FORD DESIGNS FUN ACTIVITY BOOK TO ENTERTAIN KIDS DURING LOCKDOWN

• Sustained periods of social isolation, restricted movement, and confinement are challenging for anyone, but even more so for families stuck indoors with energetic small children during the COVID-19 lockdown
• Ford launches a publicly accessible Family Fun Hub to share creative and brain-teasing activities to keep little ones entertained, and give parents working from home during the lockdown an opportunity to get some work done
• Ford designs a print-friendly Kids Activity Book to engage mini Picassos and mini Einsteins around the world during the stay-at-home period, and invites them to share their colourful masterpieces on social media

PRETORIA, South Africa, 3 April 2020 – As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, South Africans enter Week 2 of the national lockdown. Ford South Africa, like all other major players in the local auto industry has temporarily suspended production at its vehicle assembly plant in Pretoria, and its engine assembly plant in Port Elizabeth.

“Staying home saves lives; it’s the only chance we have of flattening the curve,” says Dr Herina Grobler, Occupational Medical Practitioner – Life EHS, who runs the on-site medical centre at Ford’s inland plant. “And whilst taking care of our physical health in self-isolation is important, we need to take care of our mental health too. You cannot have one without the other. They work hand in hand.”

“Regardless of what your family unit looks like, sustained periods of social isolation, restricted movement, and confinement are bound to be challenging,” she continues. “Now, more than ever, we need to take extra care of ourselves, and one another, as we try and adapt to this so-called ‘new normal.’ ”

“For families stuck indoors with small children during this time, it can be particularly trying, and even more so for those who have to carry on working from home,” she says. “That's why Ford has launched the Family Fun Hub, with amazing ideas on how to keep your kids entertained during the stay-at-home period, so you can get some work done.”

The print-friendly Kids Activity Book, in PDF format, has been test-driven by Ford employees' little ones – for quality control purposes – and is designed to offer a few creative and brain-twisting distractions to keep your own littlies out of your hair for a while. There are several sections, including a Colouring Book and a Maze, plus Connect the Dots and Spot the difference, as well as a cool Guess the Material quiz, to engage both mini Picassos and mini Einsteins for at least a few hours.

Simply print it out, grab the coloured pencils, highlighters, koki pens, oil pastels, or wax crayons, and let them unleash their inner artist or boffin. Then snap photos of their most colourful masterpieces and upload them to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram with the tags @FordSouthAfrica #FordKids #StayHome

Check back regularly on the Family Fun Hub page, as Ford promises to share more creative activities, brain-teasing quizzes, and other awesome stuff for your kids to do over the coming days.