School’s out for the kids and parents are working from home, thanks to the pandemic that is taking the world by storm. With a fifth of the world’s population now practicing social distancing, quarantine and isolation, it’s hard to stay sane during this unprecedented time.
On the bright side, if you are stuck at home with your beloved family, consider yourself blessed and take this opportunity to turn this scary event into a productive and enjoyable time for you and your children with these 8 tips.
1. Create and maintain a daily routine.
First things first, you need to accept that this is the new normal. For how long? Well, that, we do not know. So in order to stay sane and avoid getting overwhelmed in the long run, you need to create a new routine which is not that far off from your pre-pandemic schedule. Bedtime and waking up hours may change a little, but stick with the same schedule for meals, learning, and play.
2. Do household tasks together.
It’s the perfect time to get your kids more involved in doing household tasks and teach them some useful skills, such cleaning, sorting and folding up laundry, as well as meal prepping. I know moms will need help now, more than ever, since everyone’s at home all day. So that’s definitely a bonus.
3. Have fun in the kitchen.
Speaking of meal preparation, encourage your little ones to help you out in the kitchen too and prepare their own snacks. Baking is also a very enjoyable activity for the kids. Together, you can make cookies, cakes, brownies, and other delicious goodies. Or even learn to make your own delicious and healthy yogurt.
4. Make a space and set a time for learning.
They may be out of school as of the moment but that doesn’t mean they should stop learning every day. Set up a designated schoolwork area, where your kids can read books and answer workbooks, to keep them focused and ensure that their minds keep working.
5. Do fun tech-free activities.
Despite of being stuck at home 24/7, you have to be mindful of yours and your kids’ screen time. So make sure to plan fun activities for the kids that doesn’t involve TV, computer and iPads. You can play board games, set up an indoor treasure hunt, do arts & crafts, play an instrument, the options are endless.
6. Stay active.
Aside from mental and emotional stimulation, physical activity is very important to avoid cabin fever. Spend time outside even just in your own backyard or porch and play games, bike, or just run around. If you live in a building, then encourage your children to do some indoor kids workout. Also, there are a lot of Youtube videos for kids to sing and dance along to get them hyped and stay physical active.
7. Visit virtual libraries, zoos and museums.
Another activity that the whole family can enjoy is visiting virtual libraries, zoos and museums online. The following libraries and museums offer virtual tours and resources to stay actively learning even on quarantine.
- International Children’s Library
- Smithsonian’s National Zoo
- Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- National Aquarium
- Georgia Aquarium
8. Stay virtually connected.
Social distancing doesn’t mean that we should all be inactive socially. Thanks to the internet, we can still maintain our social ties and stay virtually connected with friends and families. Utilize digital communication to reach out loved ones, especially the grandparents, through video calls, chat and sending video messages.
These are just 8 of the many things that we can do to make the most out of our idle time at home. I know it can be hard and really boring, but we just need to challenge ourselves to stay positive and productive during this difficult time.
