School holidays have never looked so different to what they do now hey? Kids with endless amounts of energy being told to stay at home, stay in their rooms, stay quiet, don’t make a mess. Yeh good luck with that and it looks like this could last a while with words like “lockdown” and “home-schooling” being bandied around town in response to the threat of covid-19.
So, how do you look after their mental health (and yours) during this time? My advice is this:
1. Be honest with them. Tell them the truth about Covid-19. Don’t tell them it is “just a flu”. How do you think they will react when later in the year or next year you or Granny May comes down with a flu? Use age appropriate language and tell them the truth.
2. Give them some control over the situation by giving them choices that are age appropriate and choices that you agree with. Eg: “Do you want roast beef for dinner or roast chicken”? Not “Do you want chips or roast beef”? 😊 We all know which one most would pick there.
3. Look after your own stress levels and model desired behaviours, a “Monkey see Monkey do” type of approach. Stay positive, stay off social media, turn off the news. Stay informed but not engulfed in all the doom and gloom.
4. Keep socialising via online methods. We need contact and so do our kids. Set up some online chats for them with their friends, extended family members etc and make sure you do this for yourself also.
5. Draw up a daily schedule. Take it day by day. Each day draw up a schedule for the day allowing time for chores, sleep, meals, physical activity, “free time” and screen time. If online learning is something that you will have to deal with then also allow time for school activities.
6. Come up with a list of activities for each child that they can do independently or with little help during their “free time”. This is a list you can simply point to when you hear the inevitable cries of “I am bored” or “there is nothing to do”.
Here are some ideas for your “Free time” lists to help get you started.
1. Lego/Magnetix/Duplo
2. Bake a cake
3. Drawing
4. Colouring in
5. Play hopscotch
6. Card games like Uno
7. Board games like Monopoly
8. Make a blanket fort
9. Trampoline
10. Have a “Dance off”
11. Cosmic Kids Yoga
12. Put on a concert
13. Put on a magic show
14. Make videos
15. Play on the swing
16. Change bedroom around
17. Playdoh/Slime
18. Read a book
19. Take a virtual train ride (YouTube)
20. Tea party
21. Play dress ups
22. Make an “Affirmations jar or “Gratitude Jar”
23. Nerf gun battle
24. Write a song
25. Gardening
26. Meditate
27. Ride a bike
28. Play with Match box cars
29. Play with LOL’s/Dolls/Barbies
30. Blow bubbles
31. Chalk drawing on the concrete
32. Start a journal
33. Have a Wrestling match
34. Go on a scavenger hunt
35. Write a story
36. Face time with friends
37. Face time games like charades
38. Watch a movie
39. Watch a documentary
40. Paint a picture
41. Create a comic book strip
42. Skateboard
43. Have a Mini Olympics
44. Make an obstacle course
45. Make sock puppets
46. Origami
47. Jigsaw puzzle
48. Learn to knit/crochet/sew
49. Paper airplane races
50. Visit the zoo, museum or even space via their interactive websites
Here are some other resources that may help you at this time.
Articles for Parents to Read
Top 9 Stress Busters for Kids and Teens
More Stress Busters for Kids and Teens
Articles for Teens and Adults to Read
Just Breathe (Breathing Techniques for Kids, Teens and Adults)
Managing Teen Angst (A Guide for Teens and Parents)
Meditations for Kids
Meditations for Kids, Teens and Adults
Remember, stay informed and act accordingly but also stay as positive as you can. Research shows that stress weakens our immune system so anything we can do to stay on top of our stress and anxiety at this time can only help.
I am also available for online sessions at this time should you require personalised strategies.
Kim X
© copyright. May not be reproduced without acknowledgement to the author. Written by Kim Norton 29th March, 2020.
