Kathy’s Home & Garden Tips – Tips for Children Staying at Home
Last week we gave some guidelines to all of us adults forced to work at home due to the recent pandemic. Many of you are also dealing with one or more young ones at home too. Doing their schoolwork takes up only a portion of the day. With this situation destined to last for weeks, we need to be creative to keep these children occupied while we get our work done.
As with the adults, it’s a good idea to make a schedule and stick to it. Children do better with structure when they know what will be going on each part of the day. Start with a good breakfast with protein to keep their energy going. Schoolwork is; next, one to two hours depending on age. Preschoolers can color or do simple exercises. Now is an excellent time to make reading a good habit. Children of reading age can read by themselves or read to younger siblings. Even having a preschooler looking through a picture book can keep them occupied for a time. There are so many easy activities for young children to do indoors. Check out busytoddler.com. It is an Amazon site, so all the materials are available.
Schedule the day like their school day. Have recess time and lunchtime. Schoolwork in small chunks. Playtime is important. Do try to have child-led play. Toys that have children use their imagination are best. Think blocks, kitchens, and dolls or action figures. Flatten out a large box, draw streets and buildings for active car play. Kids love to work in the kitchen. Even the youngest child can add ingredients or decorate cookies, look online for kids cooking activities.
Outside activities are a must. Children need to run off some of that pent-up energy just like in school. Family hikes are good. Stick to open areas. Best to limit contact with other children right now. Playground equipment can also be problematic, so it’s best to avoid it currently. Get out the bikes as the weather gets better, although kids are used to a little cold and rain at recess. Older kids and teenagers must be made aware of the danger of congregating in groups until the worst of this is over. Many towns’ law enforcement has had to crack down on teenagers gathering in groups. They must understand that while the virus holds a small danger to them, they could transmit it to a more vulnerable person. Unfortunately, many people think some of these rules are just suggestions and don’t apply to them. Be a good example to your children by following the quarantine guidelines. For some indoor exercise, put on some music and dance!
Despite your best intentions, there are going to be times when you simply must get some work done, and movies or screen time is necessary. Make movie time special like they’re at the theater with popcorn and drinks. Use screen time for learning games, not just video games. Do have a scheduled time block daily that they can use screens at their choosing but only for a half-hour or so.
If we all work together, we can get through this difficult moment. I read something interesting the other day. Ten years from now, when a mother and her teenager are asked about their quarantine experience, the mother would recall how scary and difficult the time was. The teenager, on the other hand, would remember how great the time was spent with their Mom at home. Take this opportunity to make memories with your children.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH AND DEAN’S TEACH CHICAGO
