Best of the Web: Watch this beautiful children’s story from Melbourne on how humanity is shining through our Windows

The video above is a joyous expression of the human spirit, borne out of the hardship of physical separation caused by the pandemic.

Windows tells the story of children stuck at home, who when looking out the window, are entertained by the shapes of passing clouds, neighbours playing music, and grandparents dancing and goofing around.

In part, it’s the real life experience of the book’s author Patrick Guest, also a physio in close contact with the community, who has had to leave the family home twice to protect a son Noah, who has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a progressive muscle weakness disorder. Patrick has returned home to talk and play with Noah through the window. You can read his moving story in this report from The Age.

Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing this week released the book in digital form to coincide with the pandemic. It features beautiful illustrations by Jonathan Bentley.

You can click on the link below to find out more, and how to pre-order a hard copy of the book due in October. There’s also Windows activities, including downloadable themed paper for children to write to someone they’re missing.

The return to lockdown in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire has presented a whole new set of challenges and demands on families. One of the positives is that we have the experience of Lockdown 1 to draw upon.

This article draws on the collective wisdom for ideas to help us get through this. Useful suggestions include finding some ‘me’ time, if only for a few minutes, and the importance of staying connected.

(Clare Tanner, The Age)

This is an important study into how families coped – or didn’t – during the first lockdown. The author, a Monash University academic, interviewed working mums and dads about their experiences during Australia’s first lockdown.

The responses showed just how tough it was at times, balancing work and remote learning.

There are important lessons as we head into a second round of lockdown and remote learning. The thing that parents want to hear from workplaces and schools to relieve pressure? ‘Just do what you can.’