Any other mamas out there struggling with this quarantine?
It’s okay, you can admit it! We are all feeling the weight of major changes to our lives from the Coronavirus. The pandemic has picked us up out of our normal life and dropped us into this strange world of working from home and being around our families much more often than we are used to.
So take a little break from the crazy and let me share some ways you can spend time with your ever-present family without losing your mommy sanity. I’m going to share a great list of activities put together by children’s author, Dan Pegram, and let you in on a few extra mommy-friendly tips and tricks I use around the house! So here we go…
1. Make time for school
With so much uncertainty about the future, it’s easy for kids to lose track of where they are going and get caught up in the moment. Guide them by scheduling a regular “school time” to work on their assignments each day. While many of us are working from home, our kids need a workspace of their own as well. Create a little area where they can focus in on their tasks. A designated spot with a chair, pencils, paper, school books, devices, etc. will help keep their attention off any at-home attractions.
2. Let them earn their screen time
With home-learning in effect, children are coming across a lot more free time than normal. Healthy activities like playing sports, visiting the playground, and spending time with friends are almost all cut out of their lives. Naturally, your kids are going to replace a lot of their normally adventurous activities with what’s in from of them – their screen. You can encourage your kids to build their inspiration from home by limiting their screen time. Use screen time as a reward for completing chores and assignments. Have screen-free activities readily available such as puzzles, books, and art supplies.
3. Breathe fresh air
Being cooped up indoors will make anyone irritable. Change up the scenery by planning outdoor activities that still meet the guidelines put forth by your local government. There are a number of activities your family can enjoy while keeping your distance from others. Go on a bike ride or hike, have a backyard scavenger hunt, or even go bird watching!
4. Get hands on
Use all of this extra face-to-face time with your family to your advantage! There are a ton of fun at-home projects you can do to keep busy with the kids. Find a recipe for home-made playdough, build and decorate a bird house, start some plant seeds indoors, I’ve even some mom’s putting together an ant farm! You can order a lot of at-home activities through Amazon so you don’t have to leave the house to prepare for some fun.
5. Get in the kitchen
There are so many activities moms do on their own without the kids even noticing. Use this time to get a little extra help while teaching and bonding. Even young children can get involved and have fun with you in the kitchen. Let them stir the batter, shake on the spices, and the funnest part – being the taste tester. Use this time as an opportunity to teach your kids the things they don’t normally learn at school.
6. Stop and read
Reading is a skill that takes practice. It’s important for kids to continuously build their reading skill and stimulate their growing minds. Whether you are reading to them or with them, passing the time cuddled up in a blanket exploring a story is a great way to spend quarantine. Introduce them to your favourite childhood books, I personally was a big fan of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. You can also check out the apps EPIC! And Raz-Kids for unlimited access to thousands of children’s books.
7. Write something
Start a family journal with a collection of thoughts about life and what’s happening around you. Journaling your experiences, especially during such an uncertain time, can help kids to understand their feelings. Writing and story telling is a great skill to develop while at home. Plus, the stories and journals you share will be so interesting to look back on in a few years.
8. Explore your albums
Pull out the old photo albums and take this extra time to share a piece of your own childhood with your kids. Children enjoy learning about how things were when mom and dad were their age. Share a little bit about each picture. It’s sure to be a great bonding experience whether you show them photos of your childhood home or your oh-so-trendy retro outfits.
9. Get loud
Take this time to explore your family’s musical talent. Whether you’re digging the guitar out of the closet or just throwing on some karaoke, music helps connect people together. Youtube has a ton of great resources for learning new instruments, sing along to songs, or discovering a new musical talent. No microphone needed – a hairbrush will do just the trick.
10. Keep calm
It’s important to keep our children informed about the world around them in a calm and optimistic way. Make sure they know proper hand hygiene and the importance of social distancing. Reassure them that these life-changing times are temporary and they’ll be allowed to go back to their normal activities later. Let them know this won’t be forever, it’s just for right now.
I hope these tips help keep a little order and lot more sanity in your homes as we take on the next chapter of this pandemic.
What has your family been doing to stay connected during all of this?
Have you tried any of these activities?
How did it work out?
Remember we are all in this together, just further apart.
XOXO, Leslie