The Covid-19 outbreak has taken a toll on the lives of many, having to stay at home with the kids during this social distancing period can be especially challenging. With leaving the house being out of the question, boredom and restlessness are sure to invade everyone’s minds. Apart from trying to focus on working on your job from home, you also have to entertain and tend to the little ones – Talk about being a professional juggler.
Fret not, for every bad there is good. The Coronavirus Isolation is the perfect time for engaging in family bonding pastime while at ‘work’. We’ve got some tips and tricks up our sleeves, on handling the little ones and even the not so little ones during this pandemic. It is important to keep spirits lifted and to make the most out of this situation.
Speaking to them about the pandemic/Curious Beings
The Coronavirus global pandemic is frightening, we are still in anticipation and unsure of the further severity of the virus. Children are inquisitive by nature and are always asking questions to fuel their never ending curiosity, your child may ask you questions about the crisis and the way we respond to these questions can either make or break the already alarming situation. Children can pick up on fear and apprehension from the way their parents speak to them, so it’s important to stay calm and to not alarm them. When answering their questions, be sure there is clarity and only spew facts. Be certain or at least appear as such, young children see their parents as ‘walking encyclopedias’ and if we show signs of uncertainty or dismay, there is reason to worry. The information that parents need to share with their children depends on the child’s age, and little ones are usually satisfied with basic information – Acquaint them with the virus as something that will make us sick, everyone’s home is a fort of protection from the virus and our weapons of choice are soap and water. With older children, more explanation is needed as they may be instilled with the fear of the virus because of misinformation from friends and acquaintances – WHO and CDC are reliable websites for definitive information on the virus.
TV is your best friend
The easiest way to keep a child distracted when work’s piled up is to mount the child in front of the television or a screen, but too much mind-numbing screen time can be a negative territory for a child. Moderate screen time should be practiced, keep your child occupied with supervised TV programs and videos when all your attention has to be on work tasks. There are so many available documentaries, movies, and cartoons that will flourish your child’s mind with knowledge. It’s also the perfect time for the family to come together and binge classic movies, stock up on popcorn, and unwind with the family. Introduce your children to some of your childhood favorites and take an interest in their favorites as well. Moderation is the key to life, which is why you should limit your child to 3 to 4 hours of screen time and include some physical activity to your child’s daily routine.
Fun activities for your child
Not being able to go outside can make us feel cooped up, children being restricted from outdoor playtime can cause agitation from all their energy being bottled up. Being trapped indoors with little to no physical activity can affect a child’s emotional health, and here are some fun indoor activities that you can involve your child to engage in so they’ll tire out for bedtime.
- Just Dance – A fun dance game for the whole family. Your child will be involved in a hefty amount of physical movement while having a blast; it’s also a fantastic family-bonding activity that burns some serious calories.
- Arts & Crafts – Unleash your child’s inner Bob Ross. Look into crafting activities that both you and child can partake in, such as the art of origami folding.
- Baking – Children love baked goodies, so why not teach them how to make their favorite treats. It’s not only a fun activity, but they’ll also be picking up a new life skill.
Qua’routine’/Quarantine Routine
During such an uncertain time, it is important to keep to a familiar routine that is somewhat similar to your child’s regular routine. Set a new schedule for your child, it doesn’t have to be perfect or systemized. Here are some essential schedule time that you could add to your child’s daily routine.
- Lenient wake-up time – Set a reasonable hour for the entire family to wake up and eat breakfast, having breakfast together as a family is a great bonding activity.
- Academic time – It is important for your child to be engaged in academic activities.
- Fun activity time – Prepare fun activities for your child to carry out daily.
- Screen time – Limit your child to 3 to 4 hours of screen time per day.
- Nap-time – Children can get cranky and easily irritated if they’re not well rested.
- Lenient bed-time – Set a reasonable bedtime for your child, reading a storybook to your child before they sleep can aid in a child’s development in many ways such as an early development of their literacy skills.
Self-care
Me-time as a parent is important during this lockdown to ensure we are emotionally, physically, and mentally capable of tending to the kids. It is particularly draining having to juggle everything while staying sane and calm for the kids. Whenever you feel overwhelmed, take some time to yourself and relax with a cup of tea or a glass of wine. Ask your spouse or one of the older children to keep an eye on things while you relish in some much needed me-time.
Cut yourself some slack, it is difficult to juggle being efficient at your job while tending to your kid’s every need as the world is facing a crisis. However, some planning can ease the stress of the quarantine and make this lockdown period with the family a precious memory.