Who would have thought we would be in a situation where our safety and the safety of our loved ones was in jeopardy due to a world pandemic? News stories, updated Facebook newsfeeds, Podcasts, Radio Discussions, etc. Things are changing so quickly. How do we engage with our young ones about everything that’s going on? Here are a few resources to help get you started.
Create Calm
If you’re feeling anxious, it’s likely your kids are too.
Try Creating family rhythms
Not everyone is in favor of routines because they can feel too structured and inflexible. That’s why I like rhythms as a way to punctuate our day. Rhythms can still provide a form of organization and structure but can be a bit more fluid and flexible.
For example, the morning rhythm could be…
- Wake up
- Eat breakfast
- Get dressed
- Brush teeth
- Brush hair
- Pack bag
- Play (if there’s time)
The Bedtime Rhythm could be…
- Bath or shower
- Get into pajamas
- Brush teeth
- Read
- Sing songs
- Sleep
Life with a baby, toddler or preschooler:
- Go out in the morning (activity, to the park, walk, wagon or stroller ride)
- Home for lunch
- Rest or sleep
- Play at home
- Pack up
- Dinner
- Bath
- Storytime then sleep
Family rhythms can make life simpler because we don’t need to think about what has to be done in the morning, after school or before bed because there’s already an established pattern.
And with rhythms, your kids have a feeling of safety and security because they have a general sense of what’s next. They also know that they can play in the morning once they’re ready for school or they can get a snack after they’ve put away their toys or you’d love to read a story with them once they’ve brushed their teeth.
Look to your kids’ favorite characters
PBS Kids offers tips and episodes focused on handwashing, germs, and taking care of yourself when you’re sick. Check out:
- “How to talk to your kids about coronavirus”
- “How you and your kids can de-stress during coronavirus”
Draw together with Mo Willems
Mo Willems, author of Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, the Elephant & Piggie series, and more, is offering Lunch Doodles each weekday!
Through videos posted each day at noon, Willems invites kids into his studio to draw with him. He takes kids behind the scenes of his books like Waiting Is Not Easy!, gives creative drawing lessons, answers kids’ letters and email, and talks about his own emotions, including feeling nervous. Willems says: “You might be isolated, but you’re not alone. You are an art maker. Let’s make some together.”
Manage your own anxiety
For anyone raising children, it’s a truism that you must take care of yourself first. Here are some resources for mindfulness, exercise, and managing anxiety during these uncertain times:
Meditation app Ten Percent Happier is offering free meditations, podcasts, and more to “help you build resilience and find some calm amidst the chaos.” Check out their free Coronavirus Sanity Guide for practical, actionable ways of coping with stress, fear, and anxiety. And don’t miss their new podcast episode Parenting in a Pandemic.
And through a free digital library called Hoopla, they offer streaming workout videos including 10- and 20- minute Jillian Michaels workouts and yoga with Rodney Yee. There’s also calming and fun music, already sorted in multiple categories! Just this week, they doubled Hoopla checkout limits. Now, you can enjoy 20 items a month!
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