The coronavirus pandemic has hit all of us pretty hard. Around the world, people are dying, falling ill and really suffering with the disease in a physical manner. But even those of us who haven’t been physically impacted are generally struggling in some way or another. Whether that’s financially (in that many of us have lost work or are receiving reduced pay right now), socially (as social distancing measures are severely limiting our contact with others we don’t live with), or simply in terms of loneliness, boredom, or anything else. But while the bulk of responsibility and difficulty generally falls on adults’ shoulders, it’s important to remember that our little ones are being impacted too! Most kids aren’t at school right now, which means the routine that gives them a sense of stability and safety has gone out of the window. They’re also likely missing their friends, their extracurricular activities and other facets of day to day life they’d grown used to. But don’t worry. There are a few steadfast ways to boost your childrens’ mood during these hard times.
Request Flexibility with Your Work
If you’re working yourself from home, it may be a good idea to reach out to your employer and request some sort of flexibility that helps work better fit around your children while they’re at home. Working nine to five doesn’t gel too well with trying to educate and look after your kids during their main waking hours too. Most employers will be lenient and may allow you to complete work early in the morning or in the evenings when your kids have gone to bed.
Help With Their Studies
It’s important to remember that all kids are in the same situation right now, so your little ones aren’t necessarily falling behind with their school work more than anyone else. When they return to school, they’ll have to pick up where they left off. But it’s still a good idea to give them some studies during the day to keep their minds engaged and to keep them occupied for a while. Try to make this school work as fun as possible. What will best suit your kids will depend largely on their age. But there are a number of free resources online that can help you no matter what stage they’re at in their education.
Get Them a Treat
Of course, you want your kids to have a balanced diet. But this allows for some treats every so often. Get them a tasty treat to look forward to like delicious snacks from a soft pretzel company, their favourite chocolate bar or pack of sweets, or some crisps they particularly like. This will help to bring a smile to their faces!
Help Them to Keep in Touch With Others
We find it easy keeping in touch with people. We have smartphones, tablets, laptops… the list goes on. But kids may require some help with this. Help them to set up video calls with their friends, family members, or anyone else they may be missing right now.
Now’s a difficult time for everyone. But it’s up to you to make sure that you help your kids through this while maintaining good health, happiness and positivity!
