Juggling work and home was already a delicate dance for working parents. The ongoing pandemic has only made the task much more difficult, with an increasing number of schools suspending operations for the rest of the year.
It is a treacherous path that can easily lead to frustration and hindrance in performing necessary duties. But, it is a road that must be walked as it looks like the upheaval is not going to end soon.
What we suggest is getting creative and being a little looser with restrictions. Things that worked before may not work now, and the only way to get through these unprecedented times is by maintaining a calm and level head.
With camps getting canceled, here is how to keep your children entertained during the summers:
Allow More Screen Time
Ivan Marc/shutterstock: Give your kids more supervised screentime
With classes being conducted online, there is no way that you can minimize the screen time. Instead, the focus should be on what the kids are watching. An hour of watching informational or educational content is far better than scrolling lazily through YouTube.
Digital intake can actually be helpful for children if done right. Video calling grandparents and friends or watching uplifting shows can have a positive effect on a bored brain. Quality matters, not quantity.
Let Them Lend a Helping Hand in Chores
granata68/shutterstock: Get your kids involved in house chores
Learning household chores from early stages in one’s life has dual benefits. It sets them up nicely for adulthood, and you get a helping hand around the house. Since managing a home is stressful enough, and it has become more cumbersome with everyone staying in, you can surely use the extra hands.
As kids reach an elementary level, they can do many tasks independently. It doesn’t have to be necessarily dull or heavy; a fun game can be made out of the most menial chores with appropriate rewards at the end.
Reconnect as a Family
fizkes/shutterstock: Catch up on your family time
Social distancing can be demanding as you cannot relieve yourself of stress and are housebound with the same people every day. Little things start to get on the nerves, and it is easy to lose sight of what really matters.
In normal conditions, while everyone is bustling around and trying to make something of their lives, we rarely get the opportunity to spend this much time together.
You can set aside some time of the day to gather in the living room without cell phones, or around a backyard campfire and share stories or sing together. It may be awkward in the beginning, but it is a great time to cultivate new traditions or repair relationships.
Another foolproof way is to create an easy to achieve checklist. If you feel like things are slipping away, try listing things you want to get done by your kids or along with them. Yes, these are challenging times, but it is easier to navigate as a strong unit.