The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has left many parents feeling overwhelmed with the sudden shift of responsibilities. Parents can no longer send their children to daycare or school to learn as many governments have enforced mandatory closures.
For many parents, the struggle of dealing with these seismic changes can be stressful. You may find yourself juggling several new responsibilities as you work from home with no childcare while trying to follow the government’s health and safety guidelines.
This additional time with your children shouldn’t be seen as a negative experience. Yes, you may face new challenges, but there are several ways you can turn this into a positive outcome for you and your children. Here are a few tips we recommend you follow when it comes to practicing proper hygiene, managing your children, educating them, and introducing routine into their schedules.
Your main job during this uncertain time is to keep your family safe and healthy. The best way to do this is to stay calm, focused, and logical.
Follow the government’s guidelines on good hygiene practices. This means washing your hands more frequently and for at least 20 seconds. One trick is to have your child sing their ABCs or Happy Birthday twice. Make sure you instill this in your children, especially if you’ve been outside. And there’s nothing wrong with supervising them during this critical task.
Another important guideline is to avoid touching your face. Try your best to teach your children this rule. Most kids will find it difficult to avoid touching their faces altogether, so be vigilant about handwashing.
Finally, keep away from everyone outside of your household. In public, do your best to stand at least 6 feet apart. This includes elderly relatives. Because people over 65 are especially at risk, it’s imperative that you keep yourself and children away from grandparents during this time. You can make this a fun experience for younger children by encouraging them to line up like ducks in a line.
While you may be tempted to drop your child off at a friend’s house for the afternoon, you should avoid playdates at all costs. Public health experts have widely asked for people to avoid all non-essential contact with those outside of your households. This is because it can take up to two weeks before you develop physical symptoms of the virus. Digital playdates are another way your child can still interact with their friends. They can use free apps like WhatsApp, Facetime, or Zoom.
Even if you are self-isolating, exercise is still important. If you can, take your child out for a daily walk in an open park. Avoid public playgrounds as they are breeding grounds for germs and go against the principles of self-isolation.
Fresh air and exercise will help to keep you both sane and healthy. If you do head to the park, steer clear of the playground, where your child might interact with other children, or pick up the virus from the equipment.
While children are less likely to show symptoms or experience severe manifestations of the disease, it’s still crucial you do your part to keep your child healthy. However, if your child does become sick, the first thing to do is to call your doctor for guidance. He or she will probably suggest that you make sure your child gets plenty of rest and liquids, as though they had the flu.
If your child has underlying health conditions such as asthma, an autoimmune disease, or type 1 diabetes, be in close contact with your doctor and take extra precautions about hygiene and social distancing.
You may find that your child begins to show signs of anxiety and fear due to the current situation. Depending on your child’s age, they are probably aware of what is going on and the seriousness of the situation.
Learn to strike a balance between answering questions truthfully and withholding some information to alleviate your child’s anxiety. There’s no need to tell them catastrophic stories you may read in the news. Instead, explain the situation calmly and reassure them that by staying inside and practicing good hygiene, they will stay safe and stop the spread of germs.
Your child may start exhibiting some physical signs of anxiety. Look out for frequent:
These are all signs that your child’s body has gone into flight or fight mode. If you notice these symptoms, try speaking to your child about the pandemic in logical terms to calm them down. If the problem persists, speak to your doctor about how you can help your child to manage.
If you or your child is suffering from anxiety due to the current global situation, try introducing a mindfulness meditation practice into your routine. Studies have shown that mindfulness can be particularly helpful for treating children with anxiety.
If you find yourself in the situation where you are supervising your child through their school’s homeschooling program, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the job.
First of all, don’t put too much pressure on yourself or your kids in this situation. It’s very unlikely you will be able to implement a strict schedule or that your children will complete as much schoolwork as they would normally. So lower your expectations and don’t be too hard on yourself.
Play-based learning is an effective way to teach your children through the wonders of play. While it may seem easy to print out a few worksheets and have them complete them, try and make your lessons more engaging.
For example, a nature walk could turn into a lesson about the different seasons, plants, trees, and the various animals that live in the forest. You may expand it by encouraging your child to think about what a specific animal eats and where it lives in the forest. Perhaps you may try the classic baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment to teach your child about science and chemical reactions. Remember, children learn in different ways and play-based learning is an easy way to make learning fun and memorable.
Here are a few other activities you can try:
Establish a routine so that your kids don’t feel like they’re on holiday. Set a specific time to wake up and get ready for the day. Try to have them ready to start their work at 9 or 10 AM. Set specific break times throughout the day where your kids can play, have snacks, do some artwork, or go for a walk with you. Here is a sample schedule that you can use to keep things both structures and enriching for your child.
| Times | Activities |
| 7:00 – 8:00 | Morning hygiene, clean bedroom, and breakfast |
| 8:00 – 8:30 | Free play/30 minutes of TV |
| 8:30 – 9:30 | Outdoor play/go for a walk |
| 9:30 – 10:00 | Bathroom routine and morning snack |
| 10:00 – 11:00 | Arts & Crafts and Music & Movement |
| 11:00 – 11:30 | Free play and wash hands |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Lunchtime and bathroom routine |
| 12:30 – 2:30 | Naptime |
| 2:30 – 3:00 | Bathroom routine and afternoon snack |
| 3:00 – 3:30 | Story time |
| 3:30 – 4:30 | Learning activity |
| 4:30 – 5:00 | Outdoor play/go for a walk |
| 5:00 – 5:30 | Free play/30 minutes of TV |
Set your children a few specific tasks to complete each day. Of course, they won’t be able to complete as much as they would at school, but do set some goals. Come up with a simple reward system. When they complete their daily tasks, give them extra time to play the next day, or take them for an extra-long walk.
If your kids are acting up, you may find it difficult to get through each day or get anything done. Your children are probably struggling with a huge shift in their daily routines. If creating a daily routine with a rewards system isn’t working, learn how to make time outs effective. Don’t negotiate with your child or scold them. Be firm and consistent. Hopefully, your child will learn that you mean business!
Remember, the things we are dealing with this year are unprecedented. If you are feeling overwhelmed by your current situation, you are not alone. Try your best to stay positive and communicative with your children.
Focus on implementing good hygiene practices and accept that anything else will be a bonus. If you manage to get your kids focused and busy throughout the day, give yourself a pat on the back. The current situation isn’t easy, so cut yourself some slack!
