Cooped up all day indoors, working from home, online lessons and reduced outdoor activities is the new normal. With schools closing down, it is likely that our children are spending more time online. Cut off from friends and loved ones, families find it tougher to keep a sense of calm in the pandemic times.
Cooped up all day indoors, working from home, online lessons and reduced outdoor activities is the new normal. With schools closing down, it is likely that our children are spending more time online. Cut off from friends and loved ones, families find it tougher to keep a sense of calm in the pandemic times. But being quarantined at home has its advantages too. It has certainly created more time for a family to bond and connect. As lives are laced with fear, anxiety and uncertainty, it is important to make children feel safe and happy. We’ve put together few healthy parenting tips that can help a family sail through the Covid-19 crisis peacefully:
- Address children’s fears
Reassuring children at all times, is important. They rely on their parents for physical and emotional support. And talking to them regularly helps the family get through difficult times together. Recognize their feelings. Guiding questions help them get around opening up about their emotions and work through issues. For example, parents can check with them subtly, “It would have been nice to hang around with friends right now, only if the times were better. Am sure there are ways to stay in touch. What do you think?”. That would lead them to open up about their feelings slowly. Such conversations make them feel more secure and comfortable during times of crisis.
- Make healthy routines for them
Having a consistent daily structure will help shape their day. Creating a schedule that has time for structured activities and free play will help children develop a wholesome sense of being. Seeking their help in making this timetable together is also a fun activity. Scheduling time for lessons, play, screen time and helping around with home chores is ideal.
- Choose positive discipline
Our days are laced with anxiety and stress as we deal with the pandemic. Elders in the family are worried about their jobs, seniors about their health and children may not have the right words to describe what they are going through. But the fact of the matter is that younger children are anxious too and tend to act out their stress through their behaviour. They may get irritable and upset their parents. Help them manage their emotions by redirecting bad behaviour. Engage them in creative play, use rewards and privileges for acts of kindness and responsibility, praise them for good behaviour and know when to use time-outs.
- Create ways to deal with stress
Times are tough and everyone is dealing with stress. Managing these anxieties need ways to lighten up. Taking time out for yourself, engage in a hobby, meditate, reconnect with old friends are some ways to deal with the stress. Help other family members too, as they get more comfortable around the situation.
- Encourage healthy online habits
Create opportunities for your child to have positive online interactions. Connecting with loved ones occasionally, watching age appropriate content on online streaming channels, playing online games or attending non-school online events or workshops are some ways to channelize energy. However, adult supervision, parental controls and protected use of technology are necessary to ensure a secure digital environment.
- Create outlets for them to express freely
Spending time indoors may get boring. It may also dwindle spirits since there is minimum outdoor play and fun. Parents can create experiences for their children by signing up for creative fitness videos for kids that will engage them physically, in the confines of their home. Along with other offline recreation activities like art and craft, board games, creative writing and other fun activities, the lockdown times can be fun filled and educational too.
Finding ways to decompress in these difficult times is key. Keeping a check on impulses such that children are not hurt physically or emotionally is important. Adults and parents must focus on eating healthy, staying fit and sleep adequately. Take little breaks and keep up spirits to ensure the overall well-being of the family in Covid times.