Handling Quarantine with Children
Social distancing with kiddos and quarantine for however long means no playdates, no park visits, no visiting indoor play places, or any other activity where other people are gathered. All in an effort for our society to collectively slow the spread of Covid19. It’s going to be a trying time for many. Especially for those of you that have children that are of school age, or are used to weekly playdates, and daily outings. Don’t worry though, handling quarantine with children is possible!
To help you out, I am sharing my favorite resources to keep your young charges entertained and busy. And to help keep your sanity.
To begin with, I would highly recommend setting up an hourly schedule. Children thrive on routine. And with the normal routine having to be thrown out the window, creating a new one ASAP, will make days go much more smoothly. And it will create a sense of safety and familiarity with your child.
Below is a sample daily schedule that can easily be adapted to suit your current needs.
Sample Daily Schedule (substitute activities based on your child’s age)
7-9 am
Wake up
Get Dressed
Breakfast
Dishes
Independent Play
9-11 am
Read book
At home school assignments
Arts/Crafts
Laundry
11- 1 pm
Lunch
Educational Screen Time
If in a situation where people can be avoided, get outdoors
1–3 pm
Nap/ Rest Time
3-5 pm
Independent play
Dishes
Dance Party/ Exercise activity
5-7 pm
Dinner
Kitchen Clean up
Bath Time
Read Books
8 pm
Total House Tidy-Up
Bedtime
Indoor Activities (Toddler)
High Energy Toddler Activities
50 Toddler Crafts You Haven’t Tried Yet
Indoor Activities (School Age)
Math Challenge, Paper Chain Contest
While setting up organized, special activities are a great idea, including kids in the normal day to day activities can be a great boredom buster too!
Baking– Try a new cake or bread recipe. Depending on the age of the child, you can include them in most of the process. Let them pour the ingredients in a mixer or even measure out the ingredients. Make it a learning activity.
House work– Assign them household chores that have to be completed every day. Make a chart with stickers for younger children. Set a timer, and whoever finishes their chore before the timer goes off, gets extra screen time.
Yard work– Do you have leaves that need raking? A flower bed that needs weeding? Or a porch to be swept off? Let your children burn off energy in the sun by helping with those chores. Or another idea is to digitally connect with neighbors, and ask if you can bring the kids over to complete yard work for them if they are unable to at this time. Just make sure the neighbor stays indoors!
At home exercise routine– Since you aren’t going to the gym, workout at home with YouTube. And get your kids to workout right along with you. Teach them how to do push-ups, and burpees. Let them have a jumping jack competition. See who can stretch the most in Yoga. The possibilities are endless!
Get creative! This is a challenging and stressful time for all of us and kids sense it. But we can make the best of handling quarantine with children.
Make memories and strive to create an atmosphere of peace and calm.
Ease their fears and worries. Make this a time of fun for your child. And you too!
Also, don’t be afraid if you just need a day or two where you do nothing but sit in front of a screen. Let go of high expectations, and just be.
And drink an extra cup of coffee. Or two. You will probably need it.
Wash your hands, and stay safe friends!
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