Admin
April 1, 2020

During this lockdown period, parents need to be able to interact constructively with their kids. So, to help you out, here are some tips that cover on planning one-on-one time, staying positive, creating a daily routine, avoiding bad behavior managing stress and talking about COVID-19.

First, you can use this time to be able to spend more time with your kids and ask them what they want to do. By allowing them to choose, you are able to help them build up their self-confidence. You can spend at least 20 minutes with them or longer and choose to do it the same time everyday so that your children have something to look forward to.

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Second, practice positivity inside the home. Sometimes it can be a struggle to be positive when your kids drive you crazy, but it’s more likely that they will do what you ask them to do if you speak in a calm voice and use postive words like “please.” Of course, this also means praising them when they are able to behave well. Not only will this reassure them that you notice and care, but it’s likely that they will do that good thing again.

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Third, keep things under wraps by creating a daily routine. Make a schedule for yourself and your kids that has time for structured activities and free time. You can even ask your kids to help you out – they’ll follow the routine better since they helped make it. You can also include teaching your kids about keeping safe distances and proper hygiene.

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Fourth,  it’s normal for children to misbehave. The best thing to do is to catch bad behaviour early and redirect their attention from bad to good behaviour. It’s also important to take time to breath and calm yourself when things start to get out of control, as this will help you respond in a calmer way. 

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Fifth, keep calm and don’t stress. The problem we’re facing is causing a lot of fear, not just for you but for millions of others as well. Take time off social media that makes you feel panicked and talk to someone about how you’re feeling. Your kids might also have something to say about how they’re feeling, so be open and listen to them as they look to you for support and reassurance. And of course, don’t forget to take a break from time to time. It’s perfectly okay for you to do something fun and relaxing – something YOU like to do.

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And last, talk. Be willing to talk about COVID-19 because for sure you’re kids have already heard something about it. They might be scared or confused, so allow them to talk freely and be open to answer any questions they might have about it. It’s okay if you don’t have all the answers. You can say “We don’t know, but we think ” and use it as an opportunity to learn with your kids. And most importantly, explain that COVID-19 has nothing to do with how someone looks, where they are from or what language they speak. Teach them to be compassionate to those who are sick as well as those who are caring for them.