While it’s fun to spend a few days during the quarantine in pajamas watching movies, it’s important for children to get into a regular routine. This will help your children feel secure during this uncertain time. While the world may be confusing and scary outside of the house, they will feel like there is some normalcy at home.
- Get dressed for the day. Even though you may not go anywhere, this will help you feel like there is a beginning and an end to the day.
- Talk about the plans for the day. When the entire family discusses their schedules, everyone knows what to expect and this will help your child manage their day.
- Incorporate a nap time or rest time into the day. Your child will benefit from the time by himself and will be rested for the evening routine.
- Discuss changes in the schedule with your child. This will help him to be more flexible when he needs to complete a different task.
- Make time for free-play outside. Your child may be accustomed to two or three recess breaks at school and will need to have time outside to play, while home. Otherwise, you may start to experience behavioral issues during the day.
- Keep regular meal and snack schedules to help create mile markers in the day. This will give you time to adjust activities or create a different plan.
- Have a backup activity. If an activity doesn’t go the way you think, or something takes less time than planned, you’ll be able to adjust on the fly.
- Don’t schedule every minute of the day. At school, your child has free time to play and your daily schedule should include some unstructured time at home, too. This helps your child learn to fight boredom on their own and develop their creative imagination.
Your child will appreciate the structure you create at home (probably more than they know), but when you begin to feel overwhelmed, remember that tomorrow is a new day. Learn what worked well today and start again tomorrow!