There’s actually someone in our house who’s loving this shelter-in-place directive: our cat, Sebastian. Not only does he get more lap time, but we were able to nip a flea issue in the bud and finally put together that self-cleaning litter box that was a Christmas present.
Chores aside — and a lot has been accomplished in our household since my husband’s furlough — we’ve come to see the positives from this new routine. And for us, I think getting into a new rhythm has been of paramount importance for our sanity.
When you’re a family that’s cooped up in one of our tight Key West spaces, especially during a scary pandemic, it might seem next to impossible to remain productive and thriving. It seems even more daunting if some of those people are kids. In my last piece, I talked about some strategies for dealing with the stress of current events. Let’s now look at some ways to foster healthy development in our current settings.
Start out by looking at the opportunities! One or both of you may have a little more time on your hands if you’re not working. If you’re working from home, perhaps you see the advantages of not having to navigate the commute and having some flexibility as to your schedule. And you’ve got true “face time” with your kids — time that doesn’t involve a screen. Perhaps now is a good time to get into some new routines.
Sticking to routines, in fact, is important — and not only as a stress reducer as we’ve discussed. Routines keep everyone more productive. So stick to that wake-up time, mealtimes (unless everyone’s pre-COVID meal schedule was so disjointed that you can come up with a better one now) and bedtime. If there’s a particular discipline regimen you’ve used when needed that’s both fair and effective, now is not the time to let go of it. (Talk to your child’s provider for advice if current events are bringing new challenges in that department.) Not every minute has to be put into a schedule, of course, but have a rough idea of when, depending on age, it’s active time, quiet time, chore time — and school time.
Speaking of school, we’re all getting used to the concept of universal online learning. Try and find a distraction-free place for those school sessions and homework. By all means, turn off the news. It’s too much of a distraction. And if your younger child isn’t in school and you’ve been meaning to read to her more often, now is a great time to start.
What about screen time? Admittedly, it’s tough to restrict it now that it constitutes most of our contact with the outside world. Nevertheless, do enforce some limits. And when you do approve it, try to steer your child to learning-friendly sites. A couple that seem good are PBS Kids and Common Sense Media.
Finally, let’s talk about getting outdoors. Exercise and fresh air are considered “essential” enough that decrees everywhere are allowing for outdoor time. It’s true, beaches and parks are closed, but neighborhoods are not, and a socially distant walk or bike ride as a family will be a welcome distraction for everyone. What about having your school-age child take a walking video? Not only will he have this era documented for years to come; having something in his hand will make him less likely to touch other surfaces.
If we’re lucky, we’ll see some good stuff coming out of these shelter-in-place directives. As different as life is now, let’s enjoy the positive aspects. Sebastian certainly is.
