5 Quick Parenting Tips To Get Your Family Through Quarantine
If you ask any parent, keeping track of your kids is difficult on a normal day. Add in isolation, social distancing, and a global pandemic, it becomes almost impossible!
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Sometimes, the stress of having kids can get to us but as parents, it’s our job to ensure that everything runs smoothly even in times of absolute disorder. Instead of losing your cool and giving in to frustration, make some sense of this chaos and try out some of these quick parenting tips for keeping kids entertained and keeping yourself sane.
Think Outside The Box
Even though you may not be able to leave your home much, there’s plenty of activities one can conjure up with some ingenuity. Don’t forget, a little creativity can go a long way!
While you may not be able to go to the mall to view the latest movie, turning your basement into a movie theater can be a fun alternative for many families. You can create tickets, have someone punch them at the entrance and foster ambiance with string lights or cozy seating. Make some popcorn and dive into a newly released family flick through one of the various streaming services.
Or, try running a restaurant in your kitchen that serves only the finest in kid’s cuisine. You get the cooking off your shoulders for a night and your kids may learn a thing or two about how to cook a meal. Start simple with dishes like scrambled eggs or grilled cheese and work your way up to something more complicated yet manageable, such as ziti or hamburgers.
No matter what choice you make, getting the creative juices flowing could be just the trick for curing overwhelming restlessness!
Want family friendly recipes? Here's a list of Mocktails, and fruit popsicles that the kids will love!
Stay Up To Date On Current Affairs
At the beginning of the pandemic, the news was constantly changing each and every day. Now that things have settled down and people have adjusted to a new normal, things may be more off your radar. Knowing the ins and outs of government mandates like school closures and social distancing regulations will make sure your family is staying safe during the pandemic.
Most residents in the United States are only leaving their homes for essential trips, like going to the grocery store or running other important errands, but things are constantly changing in regard to those activities as well. Be sure you’re doing your part to stop the spread by following all requirements, like using gloves and facemasks when in public.
This is a trying time for many Americans so be sure to keep an eye out for good news as well. Share your stories about combatting adversity and ingenuity as a way to help spread positivity throughout your community. You can also support others, like people on the frontlines in hospitals or those who have lost their jobs, by sharing fundraisers to help support those in need during this difficult situation.
Get Outside
It’s important to remain conscious of who you surround yourself with at this time since social distancing is such a vital part of flattening the curve. But it’s also essential to do your body some good by getting outside every now and then. After all, as the saying goes, the fresh air will do you good!
Visit your local park while keeping six feet away from others and limiting contact with railings, gates or benches. Go for a jog on the nearest trail or dust off your bikes for a family ride around the neighborhood. Or, keep it simple and stick to hanging out in your backyard. Now could be the perfect time to purchase a new swing set or outdoor trampoline for your kids to enjoy and release some much pent up energy.
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Look For Learning Opportunities
School may be closed for the time being, but that doesn’t mean you should put the books away. And, who knows? You may even have some fun reading the books they enjoy!
Rather than letting your kids’ studies fall to the wayside, discover unique ways for them to increase their knowledge and improve their learning abilities. There are many opportunities for digital learning, including virtual tours of your favorite museum, zoo or aquarium.
You can also take advantage of all the good technology can do for their studies. There are plenty of apps that can teach your child a new skill, like honing their math abilities, using online tutoring or learning a foreign language.
On top of it all, if your child is still e-learning, make sure you help them keep up with their latest assignments and be sure to notice when they might be struggling. Monitoring their progress with schoolwork can provide a lot of insight into how your child learns that you can use for the rest of your life. Learning isn’t just for your kids. It’s also the perfect time to start understanding more and more about being a parent.
Give Yourself A Break
Finally, the last tip is to give yourself a break. Between all the hustle and bustle of trying to keep a schedule, staying positive and functioning as close to normal as possible, you might lose yourself in the mix. Or, you may be experiencing negative feelings from being cooped up, thus leading to parenting guilt and shame. The fact of the matter is, if you aren’t at your best, then you can’t do your best for your kids, either.
Whether it’s setting time aside on the calendar or just taking a few hours after your kids have gone to bed, make sure you have time to yourself. Read the latest book on the NY Times Bestseller list, play a game on your phone or even meditate to ground yourself and remind yourself of what really matters.
If you want to, bring your kids in on it as some rest and relaxation can do wonders for all. Put on a relaxing spa day in your home by making DIY salt scrubs, applying store-bought mud masks or having breakfast in bed. Whatever means peace of mind for you, take the time to refresh and recharge during isolation so you can get back to what you do best — be there for your family!
