Prepare to be stuck inside - with kids

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, one of the most effective methods recommended by WHO to prevent people from getting infected is social distancing, and self-quarantine. But how are you supposed to do that when you have one, two, three or even more super-energetic kids that are not attending school, kindergarten or any other activities?

Image credit: https://www.workingmother.com/

Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Parents all over the world are struggling with this situation and while this may seem hard to manage at first, it’s not impossible.

1. Prepare yourself mentally

Yes, staying inside 24/7 may seem very difficult at first (even if you don’t have kids), but the first step to manage this well is to start with a positive vibe. Instead of thinking about this as something dreadful, since you’ll have to do more cooking, more cleaning, more of everything and less and less time for yourself, switch your mind and soul to consider this as a fortunate way to spend precious time with your loved ones and to nurture your relationships. Your kids will thank you later!

2. Make a schedule

While artistic things can come out of chaos, a house full of kids with nothing do to, can be quite the opposite of art.  Make a plan with the daily activities and you’ll notice how a bit of structure can do so much. Don’t forget to take some time to fill your own cup in the morning before you start taking care of your family and/or working. Please see an example of how your day could look like in our article. Adjust some activities to your needs, and change the others from day to day.

3. Prepare games, learning activities and indoor sport sessions

You’ll need to keep your kids busy, mentally and also physically, so take out those dusty board games from the attic to teach them our generation’s idea of games, put up some Zumba music a few hours later, and you’ll have them tired by midafternoon hopefully. If that is not enough, check out our extended article on how to keep your kids busy during a quarantine.

4. Don’t forget about homeschooling

With schools closed for an unlimited period in some states, you must make sure that your kid is not losing precious time by not learning. Whether you are lucky enough and your kid’s school offers online classes or not, you have to make sure that this important thing doesn’t get missed. It’s so easy to get carried away with the games, dancing and all the other fun activities, but you are a responsible parent and we’re sure you’ll have this taken care of. If your kid is very energetic and you’re having a bit of a hard time keeping him in front of books, make sure you get him/her an active chair. This will keep him/her focused on learning, and in the meantime also use their body to release that extra energy. You can read more about the benefits of active chairs HERE.

5. Prepare an engaging story to explain the situation to them

Kids all over the planet might be thrilled that they don’t have to go to school, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep them in a bubble. We know that they always ask a lot of things, so when they’ll ask why they can’t visit grandma, make sure you have a good answer ready. If you’re lacking inspiration, fell free to reach out toother quarantined moms over the internet and ask for some tips.

6. Limit the use of screen time

We can all relate. Give them a tablet with their favorite show on YouTube and they’re probably busy for an hour. The show ends, they come back, then you tell them to go play on their computer. You’re probably “free” for another couple of hours. We all do it, but we all know deep down that’s not OK. So, don’t feel guilty if you do this from time to time when you feel overwhelmed, but after that, take a deep breath, relax and remember that for them, you are their whole world, they are trusting you with their health, love and life. Spend this quarantined time in a way that you can look back and feel that you are worthy of their trust.

Conclusion

You are not alone in this. We are all trying to make the best we can out of this terrible, global situation. But as the saying goes “the stars shine brighter on the darkest nights”, seek the positive and make sure you spend this time showing your family nurture, love and strength. Stay safe, you’ve got this.