Parenting and Homeschooling During Quarantine

Written By Nina Essel
COVID-19_Virus.png

This is an unprecedented and challenging time for families. Trying to manage work loads, home schooling and all of the uncertainties can feel insurmountable. Below are resources for families including strategies for managing your days, talking to kids about the Coronavirus and social distancing as well as educational resource links.

Whether you are a family that thrives on a schedule or a family that needs to go with the flow, take some time to focus on relationships. Staying connected to friends and loved ones can be critical for your mental and emotional health.

Start and end your day with a feelings check-in

This can be as simple as a thumbs up, thumbs to the side or thumbs down or use a feelings chart and have kids pick (or point) to a feeling. Ask them to tell you about the feeling. “What does it feel like?”, “What made you feel that way?”, “What were you thinking about?” If your child isn’t ready to talk about it, that’s ok. Don’t push it. Just validate their feeling and allow them to experience their feeling.

Sometimes kids experience feelings but are unsure of how to start the conversation. Doing a feelings check-in can be a great way to initiate conversations you may have otherwise missed. Meal times (breakfast, lunch or dinner) or bed time can be a perfect time to check-in. As it becomes a habit, kids will look forward to these times and open up more. Keeping open lines of communication will be crucial in helping your child cope with our new normal.

Structure and Routines

Don’t try to compete with your neighbors or what you see on social media. We are all flying by the seat of our pants just trying to hold it together. You need to find the balance of structure and routines that works for you and your family. This may be a timed daily schedule, a relaxed order of events, or even a to-do list in which the order is flexible. Every parent, child and family is different and you need to find what works best for you. Include your children in planning out your days and weeks. Having them involved in the process can often reduce battles.

Find time for joy

This is a long term game. Be intentional about building joy into your day. It does not need to be over the top or full of fanfare. Snuggle in bed and read your favorite childhood book to your child, have a dance party, belt your favorite songs in the kitchen. Whatever lifts your spirits and makes you smile, add it to your schedule.

Stay Connected

Humans are social beings. With social distancing it is easy to become isolated and disconnected. Call or video chat your friends, schedule video calls with family members, plan a post bedtime in-home date night with your partner.

Self-Care

Self care is not only bubble baths and spa visits (as nice as those are). Try to take at least 15-20 minutes a day to do something for yourself. Whether it is sipping a cup of coffee in the morning, using an adult coloring book, listening to music, meditating, calling a friend or going for a walk.

Resources

Supports for Talking to Kids about Coronavirus

Free Online Learning Resources

Literacy


STEM

Music, Theater & Art

Health & Wellness

Nina Essel
Previous

Managing Parental Anxieties Around Scary World News
Next

Parenting Workshops: What are they and how can they help?