Editor’s note: For the Love of Parenting is a local parenting advice column coordinated by Krystal Arnot, director of the Little Learners Center in Eureka. When parents have questions, she’ll share strategies here.
Q: In the midst of the COVID-19 virus, I’m looking for ways to stay calm as a parent and also how to keep my two kids busy as they’re home from school! Help!
A: “There’s no doubt that we’re all stressed out. To avoid going totally crazy, I’ve tried to get outdoors as much as possible. We’re turning our days into mini outdoor school lessons — talking more in depth about the plants we see and how they’re starting to blossom as spring is arriving; watching the birds and visiting farm animals down the street. Getting out of the house makes us feel less confined, boosts our endorphins, and clears our minds of all the negativity in the world.
“Now, when we’re stuck indoors, things can get a little crazy. I try to remember that they’re only little once and they have energy to release. We’ve done timed races around the house (counting how many laps they can get in under a minute), made science experiments, and have spent a fair amount of time cooking together. My 4-year-old has started picking a theme for each day, which has been fun. We’re all in this together, take it day by day.”
—Shauna
A: “My kids are both small — preschool and kindergarten so I don’t have good ideas for the older kids that are out of school! But for the younger ones — create a schedule as best you can! Even if it is a vague one. Include lots of breaks for free play and snacks, put little things on there like getting dressed and drawing pictures for grandma. Don’t expect too much of yourselves! We are trying to have a goal for each week, nothing too crazy, but something nice to work on. Our goals this week include being able to silently ‘read’ for half an hour every day. This is more for my sanity so I can get some reading done! And also to calm the kids down a bit. Another goal we have to teach my daughter to ride her two wheel bike, which gets us outside and active. Let them help you come up with your goals! Some goals I have in mind for the future might involve baking, learning to read a book, teaching my daughter to skip, getting veggie seeds to sprout … small, doable things with an enjoyable outcome to work towards!
“I stocked up on art supplies to have new activities most days, we have been doing stamping, stickers, play doh, water color and big painting on the easel. We don’t have work from my son’s school yet but should be getting a packet in next week, so that will be added to the schedule as well. I don’t like doing screen time but with all this time at home it does happen. We have really been enjoying the cosmic yoga station on YouTube, and of course the normal kids shows from Netflix. I notice the more I put it on, the more they ask for it, so I try to limit it as much as possible. Whenever I see them start to get bored I try to kick them outside, since the weather has been nice. Even if they don’t want to. I’ll set them a timer and ask them to spend 20 minutes out in the sandbox, and usually they end up being out there for closer to an hour! Or if the weather is bad I’ll pick something from their room that they haven’t used in a while and have them play with it. There are so many toys that are just forgotten about! They need an invitation to play sometimes and forcing them to get out, or get those older toys out, is the kick they need to rediscover this fun.
“The most important thing is to give yourself a break now and then! I made a rule in my house that if I’m drinking coffee it’s my time — no one else is allowed on the couch! They know this by now and do a good job entertaining themselves until I’m done and ready do go, which is a nice way to get ready for the day!
“Other ways to entertain small kiddos — walks/bikes around the neighborhood, gardening, dance parties, extra baths, writing letters or postcards, reading, writing stories and illustrating them, tattoos, Skyping friends and family, tea parties … and so much more fun.”
—Bekha
A: “Staying calm and keeping busy is important, but your sanity more so. Stock up plenty of coloring books, crafts, games and story books. Take walks and have them make cards for their friends and teachers to give them when see them. But don’t be afraid to let them entertain themselves, their imaginations will get to work. Start planning a garden. Have them draw what they want it to look like and help pick seeds for which flower/plant they want in it. And last don’t be afraid to turn on the TV for them in the living room and have a cup of coffee in the kitchen.”
—Roxane
Have a parenting question? Send it to letters@times-standard.com with “Parenting” in the subject line.
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