During this spring 2020 Corona Virus crisis, many children who are usually at school are home all day with their families. Experts all agree, one of the best ways to keep a sense of normalcy is to create and follow routines. But what does this actually mean? Here are some action steps that will support you in getting started:
Maintain Sleep Schedules
Now, I’m definitely not saying that you need to get up at exactly the same time as when attending school. Everyone can enjoy a little more shut-eye, but it is important to try to not get too far off track. Keep up the routine of getting up in the morning, getting dressed, having breakfast and starting the day. If you are not intentional about this, you will find that your nights are getting later and later. Typically this will lead to more screen time, after hours snacking, and cranky kids! Sticking to a reasonable sleep schedule can help keep things on track.
*Of course, your mileage may vary! Maybe you have a family of committed night owls who can function and be productive just fine with an alternate sleeping schedule.
Boring Can be Better
I suggest having children eat the same thing for breakfast every day during the week. If your breakfast has a routine, you will have less decisions to make and less ‘negotiations’, and your morning can run like a finely-oiled machine. Maybe you can have eggs and toast each day during the week, and save the waffles and bacon for the weekend!
If you do create this routine, it is a great opportunity for children to start building independence. Children as young as 5 can learn how to make toast and scramble an egg. And of course the entire family should be involved in cleaning up after breakfast.
What other tasks can you routinize?
Mandatory Quiet Time
Believe me, this is for you the parent more than it is for the children! You need and deserve a little bit of time to have your own thoughts and your own space. I began the routine of Quiet Time at my house when my oldest gave up his nap times at age 2. I needed a break from him, so I insisted that he spend an hour in his bed while I had my rest time. He learned to entertain himself with books, songs, and quiet toys.
Very young children can be taught to respect your need for space and with practice they get very good at keeping themselves quiet for an hour.
But What Will We Do??!!
If you are new to establishing a routine for children, here is a sample schedule:
- 7:00 Breakfast, clean up, get dressed, make beds
- 8:00 Physical Activity (go for a walk, ride bike, do yoga)
- 9:00 Reading time
- 10:00 Screen time
- 11:00 Lunch
- 12:00 Household chores
- 1:00 Quiet time
- 2:00 Outside time
- 3:00 Art, board games, projects
- 4:00 Free time
- 5:00 Screen time
Of course this will vary depending on the number of kids in the house, their ages and stages, their interests and their levels of independence. There is plenty of free time embedded in this schedule, as most activities do not take the full hour. It is simply a framework to keep things on track!
Take Care of You
Listen, if your kids are loved and cared for, they are going to be okay. Today’s society has such pressure on parents to be perfect and to provide the most enriching environment possible. Hear me when I say, this is not necessary! Just doing ‘okay’ is alright. Setting routines can be part of taking care of everyone’s mental health. Be kind to yourself and do not feel bad if you need to insist on more than one quiet time a day!
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