Remember when we used to talk about things like “work-life balance”? Funny. Flash forward to 2020 and for many of us, work and life are living under the same roof, begging for our attention 24/7.

Kids are making cameos on Zoom calls, parents are re-training themselves on the Pythagorean Theorem for quarantine homeschool. It’s an exhausting year, but there’s beauty in the madness.

As the months march on and what was normal life marches in the other direction, many parents are beginning to wonder about lasting impacts on kids.

While we don’t have all the answers (does anyone?) we have tips to help keep things fresh and make sure your kids are getting what they need.

Innovate

It’s been interesting to watch the general public reach similar realizations since the start of lockdown. A common thought trending somewhere in late April was “keep a routine.”

As parents and kids learned to study, work, and exist together at home, we all began to notice that not showering and wearing PJs all day was not the way to go.

Pandemic or not, kids need routine, especially the youngins, in order to feel safe, secure, and confident. But now that we’re deeper into our new world order, are there ways you can switch things up or throw a fun curveball? Routines are a definite yes, but peppering in fun, unexpected activities can bring joy to the day-to-day.

  • Five-minute dance parties for taking breaks together.
  • Walking family meetings to discuss important matters in the open air.
  • The “tell me about your day” game where you share details on an imaginary day at work or school.

Empower

There’s a lot we can’t control right now, but there’s also zero we can do about it (aside from doing our part to social distance). But there are always ways to empower ourselves and our kids.

We don’t have the numbers but we’re pretty sure the rate of making sourdough bread from scratch was at an all-time high this spring. Why? Activities like baking give us a sense of control and calm. Same for rearranging the living room or gardening.

Like us, toddlers and kids need a sense of control. Empowering them through hobbies, activities, and conversation will help them feel like they have more freedom.
There’s a lot we can’t control right now, but there’s also zero we can do about it (aside from doing our part to social distance). But there are always ways to empower ourselves and our kids.

We don’t have the numbers but we’re pretty sure the rate of making sourdough bread from scratch was at an all-time high this spring. Why? Activities like baking give us a sense of control and calm. Same for rearranging the living room or gardening.

Like us, toddlers and kids need a sense of control. Empowering them through hobbies, activities, and conversation will help them feel like they have more freedom.

  • Offer real information—to what degree is up to you—about the coronavirus and let them express their thoughts on it.
  • Let them pick a silly activity for the family—making Mom or Dad do something funny is always a mood lifter.
  • Have them jot down their feelings throughout the day then share a recap. If they don’t want to share, that’s OK. Just getting thoughts down on paper—or expressing them verbally if they’re too young to write—is empowering because it allows for reflection. Which brings us to the next tip.

Reflect

Whether in normal times or lockdown, when you have young kids it can feel like every day just blends into the next. We’re preoccupied with feeding them, bathing them, playing with them, discipling them, there’s no end to that list. In times like this, stopping to reflect is critical.

Sometimes the day-to-day stresses are amplified because we’re no longer struggling to get out the door, we’re rushing around for a day indoors...with each other...again. There’s no break in thought like that morning commute or day at the office used to give.

Just as much as we need to schedule in some fun each day, we need to lock in time for introspection. If family meditation seems laughable—it is possible if you start with two minutes then work your way up—then explore some other activities.