The Coronavirus pandemic has upended family life around the world. School closures, working remotely, physical distancing – it’s a lot to navigate for anyone, especially for parents. Here are a few tips to help manage this new normal.
One-on-one Time
Can’t go to work? Schools closed? Worried about money? It is normal to feel stressed and overwhelmed.
School shutdown is a chance to make better relationships with our children and teenagers. One-on-one time is free and fun. It makes children feel loved and secure and shows them that they are important.
Set Aside Time To Spend With Each Child
It can be for just 20 minutes, or longer – it’s up to us. It can be the same time each day so children and teenagers can look forward to it.
Ask Your Child What They Would Like To Do
Choosing builds their self-confidence. If they want to do something that isn’t OK with physical distancing, then this is a chance to talk with them about this.
Ideas With Your Baby/Toddler
• Copy their facial expression and sounds
• Sing songs, make music with pots and spoons
• Stack cups or blocks
• Tell a story, read a book, or share pictures
Ideas With Your Young Child
• Read a book or look at pictures
• Make drawings with crayons or pencils
• Dance to music or sing songs
• Do a chore together – make cleaning and cooking a game
• Help with schoolwork
Ideas With Your Teenager
• Talk about something they like: sports, music, celebrities, friends
• Cook a favourite meal together
• Exercise together to their favourite music
Keeping It Positive
It’s hard to feel positive when our kids or teenagers are driving us crazy. We often end up saying “Stop Doing That!”. But children are much more likely to do what we ask if we give them positive instructions and lots of praise for what they do right.
Say The Behaviour You Want To See
Use positive words when telling your child what to do, like “Please put your clothes away” (Instead of “Don’t make a mess”)
It’s All In The Delivery
Shouting at your child will just make you and them more stressed and angrier. Get your child’s attention by using their name. Speak in a calm voice.
Praise Your Child When They Are Behaving Well
Try praising your child or teenager for something they have done well. They may not shoot it, but you’ll see them doing that good thing again. It will also reassure them that you notice and care.
Get Real
Can your child actually do what you are asking them? It is very hard for a child to keep quiet inside for a whole day but maybe they can keep quiet for 15 minutes while you are on a call.
Help Your Teen Stay Connected
Teens especially need to be able to communicate with their friends. Help your teen connect through social media and other safe distancing ways. This is something you can do together, too!
Get Structured
Covid-19 has taken away our daily work, home, and school routines. This is hard for children, teenagers, and for you. Making new routines can help.
Create a Flexible But Consistent Daily Routine
• Make a schedule for you and your children that has time for structured activities as well as free time. This can help children feel more secure and better behaved.
• Children or teenagers can help plan the routine for the day – like making a school timetable. Children will follow this better if they help make it.
• Include exercise each day – this helps with stress and kids with lots of energy at home.
Teach Your Child About Keeping Safe Distances
• If it is OK in your country, get children outside
• You can also write letters and draw pictures to share with people. Put them up outside your home for others to see!
• You can reassure your child by talking about how you are keeping safe
• Listen to their suggestions and take them seriously
Make Handwashing And Hygiene Fun
• Make a 20-minute song for washing hands. Add actions!
• Give children points and praise for regular handwashing
• Make a game to see how few times we can touch our faces with a reward for the least number of touches (you can count for each other)
You Are A Model For Your Child’s Behaviour
If you practice keeping safe distancing in hygiene yourself and treat others with compassion, especially those who are sick and vulnerable – your children and teenagers will learn from you.
At the end of each day, take a minute to think about the day. Tell your child about one positive or fun thing they did. Praise yourself for what you did well today.
Bad Behaviour
All children misbehave. It is normal when children are tired, hungry, afraid, or learning independence. And they can drive us crazy when stuck at home.
Redirect
• Catch bad behaviour early and redirect your kids’ attention from bad to a good behaviour
• Stop it before it starts! When they start to get restless, you can distract them with something interesting or fun: “Come, let’s play a game together!”
Take A Pause
Feel like screaming? Give yourself a 10-second pause. Breathe in and out slowly five times. Then try to respond in a calmer way.
Use Consequences
Consequences help teach our children responsibility for what they do. They also allow discipline that is controlled. This is more effective than hitting or shouting.
• Give your child a choice to follow your instructions before giving them the consequences
• Try to stay calm when giving the consequences
• Make sure you can follow through with consequences. For example, taking away a teenager’s phone for a week is hard to enforce. Taking it away for one hour is more realistic.
• Once the consequence is over, give your child a chance to do something food, and praise them for it.
One-on-one time, praise for being good, and consistent routines will reduce bad behaviour.
Give your children and teens simple jobs and responsibilities, Just make sure it is something they are able to do. And praise them when they do it.
Keep Calm And Manage Stress
This is a stressful time. Take care of yourself, so you can support your children.
You Are Not Alone
Millions of people have the same fears as us. Find someone who you can talk to about how you are feeling. Listen to them. Avoid social media that makes you feel panicked.
Take A Break
We all need a break sometimes. When your children are asleep, do something fun and relaxing for yourself. Make a list of healthy activities that YOU like to do.
Listen To Your Kids
Be open and listen to your children. Your children will look to you for support and reassurance. Listen to your children when they show how they are feeling. Accept how they feel and give them comfort.
Take a Pause
Taking a pause can be helpful when you find your child is irritating you or has done something wrong. It gives you a chance to be calmer. Even a few deep breaths or connecting with the feeling of the floor beneath can make a difference. You can also take a pause with your children.
Talk About Covid-19
Be willing to talk. They will already have heard something. Silence and secrets do not protect your children. Honesty and openness do. Think about how much they will understand. You know them the best.
Be Open And Listen
Allow your child to talk freely. Ask them open questions and find out how much they already know
Be Honest
Always answer their questions truthfully. Think about how old your child is and how much they can understand
Be Supportive
Your child may be scared and confused. Give them space to share how they are feeling and let them know you are there for them
It Is OK Not To Know The Answers
It is fine to say “We don’t know, but we are working on it, or we don’t know but we think”. Use this as an opportunity to learn something new with your child.
Heroes Not Bullies
Explain that Covid-19 has nothing to do with the way someone looks, where they are from, or the language they speak. Tell your child that we can be compassionate to people who are sick and those who are caring for them. Look for some stories of people who are working to stop the outbreak and are caring for sick people.
End On A Good Note
Check to see if your child is ok. Remind them that you care and that they can talk to you anytime. Then do something fun together!
