Photos | Home Olympics and watching a sunrise among lockdown activities for shire families

Martine and Carlos Nunes, of Sylvania, took their children to Cronulla early on Saturday to watch the sunrise and have given them their first games of tennis.

The two couples are among thousands of Sutherland Shire parents who are rising to the challenge of keeping their children active and combating the boredom of lockdown and home schooling.

There have probably never been so many family groups out bike riding or walking, and parks and playgrounds are getting a real workout.

For Shannon Presland, a nurse at Sutherland Hospital, the home Olympics she and her husband Steve are running for Jarra, 9, and Brodie 7, are a welcome diversion from daily COVID work challenges and saturation coverage on TV and in social media.

"We came up with the idea of trying a different Olympic event every day," Ms Presland said.

"So far we have done athletics, soccer, gymnastics, surfing and skateboarding.

"High jump was one of our athletics events, which is something the girls had never done before.

"We set up a high jump in the backyard and used some old lounge cushions for the landing.

"We still have quite a few events to go, including swimming, cycling, BMX, tennis and basketball.

"Some we do at home but we also use the local park. We went to Greenhills for skate boarding and will do swimming at one of the rock pools and BMX at the North Caringbah jumps.

"Jarra and Brodie are really loving it, and I think it also makes the Olympics even more exciting for them when they see it on TV."

Martine and Carlos Nunes and their children Cooper, 9, and Eloise, 7, were spotted watching the sunrise at Cronulla Point on Saturday and the Leader's chief photographer John Veage caught up with them later in the day when they played tennis for a second time at the Sylvania Waters courts.

"We are trying to stay positive and do something different every day," Ms Nunes said.

"Cooper and Eloise had never seen a sunrise before, and that was a really good activity.

"We have been bike riding at the BMX track at Sutherland, playing soccer in the local park, going for walks and making Olympic cakes."

The couple are both working full time from home and juggling home schooling.

"Our kids go to Star of the Sea at Miranda, which has been very supportive," Ms Nunes said.

"The hardest part is that the days are so long, but it is what it is and everyone is in the same situation."