5 Wellness Tips for Parents and Children during the Coronavirus Lockdown
‘Is it the end of the world’, asked my 9-year-old daughter with tears and confusion in her eyes, unable to comprehend what was happening around her.
A wee bit worried myself, I answered — ‘Of course not, it’s just a temporary crisis which we have to responsibly and carefully live through!’
Many of us may have socially distanced ourselves during some phase in our lives. For me, it was during my separation with my ex-wife. I blamed everyone around me for the situation, and stopped meeting people for some time. Soon spirituality kicked in, followed by acceptance, and a better handling of the situation.
But, these are complex times, when the imposition of social distancing is external… The pandemic of novel coronavirus or COVID-19 almost seems like a movie script! While some of us adults may still be able to deal with it, our children may not, with all their extra energy and limited comprehension.
For children, normal life is about school, recreation, play dates and more. To witness a global event like COVID-19 can be a challenging time for them — Their minds must be racing with uncertainties, insecurities, even boredom and loneliness.
Thus, it becomes more crucial, at such times, to create a discipline for them, channel their energies, and ensure they don’t idle away their time, thinking all sorts of things. The lockdown may be indefinite, and hence as parents we have to try to be creative every day, and find new ways to keep children occupied.
Here are my thoughts on how to keep ourselves and our children occupied, creative and calm during COVID-19…
1. Take charge of yourself and your child’s inner well-being
We may pretend to be brave in these times, but everyone is getting affected in some way emotionally, physically, mentally and even financially. To gain greater clarity of thought, here’s what you can do:
Don’t keep taking about Covid-19
The environment we create at home must be as normal as possible without making it seem like it’s the end of the world. It’s important that both parent and child don’t get too obsessed or anxious about the situation. Because, only when we take charge of our inner well-being, like our emotions and thoughts, will we be able to respond to the situation in a calm manner.
This will only happen if you talk about other things too, rather than just the pandemic. You can use the time together to get to know your children better and see where they need nurturing.
Add some air, sunshine and faith to your day
Use open spaces in your home like balconies and porches to get enough air and sunshine. Ensure the child is not sitting in the room for too long, getting isolated and depressed. This could also be a great time to chant hymns together, sing songs (devotional or otherwise), or even meditate together.
I used to not get enough time to meditate while working. Or, perhaps I was just making excuses, but these days are perfect to dedicate more time to my meditation practices… It will help me get my physical and mental faculties in order, and some time off from the constant, and disturbing information coming from everywhere.
2. Bring discipline into your child’s life
There’s a tendency to lose track of time, and live in holiday mode during the lockdown…and, it’s OK over the weekends. But, during the week days, put some timelines in place, for you and your child.
Set a regular study routine
As I answer calls and work from home, I make sure my child focuses on her school work too. While most schools are conducting online classes, for those who don’t have such a facility, they can help their child in a subject of their interest, or help them catch up on a subject they are lagging behind in.
My daughter now has more free time from all her classes to learn the Hindi language from her grandmother… This activity keeps them both busy.
Create a daily exercise regimen
In the current scenario, since we can’t even go out for walks and jogs, create an exercise plan for the family. Do yoga together, or use an open space in the house to play throw ball, table tennis, badminton, skipping or spot jogging.
Encourage movement by making kids get up often, and get their own snacks or by cleaning their rooms. Physical activities will help them burn the extra energy and will keep both parent and child sane.
3. Keep your child’s mind active
An idle mind is indeed a devil’s workshop, and this theory applies to all ages, so together think of fun engaging activities to do during your time home.
Read books, play board games
I’m not much of a reader, but these are times when I too have started reading. My daughter and I try to read our books at the same time. Sometimes, we read the newspaper together, and debate over current affairs. I encourage her to express her views and raise questions or any doubts she has.
We also play a different board game every day, instead of resorting to quick entertainment fixes like watching TV. These activities keep one’s mind working intelligently.
Help them pursue a hobby
My daughter enjoys art and painting, so I tell her to do more of it, since she has time now because of the lockdown. She also keeps a diary in which she writes in every day. While I blog on my laptop, she fills up her diary with stories and thoughts. Her goal is to publish her own channel soon, and this free time will help her plan that better.
4. Make them responsible and inclusive
This is a great time to create more awareness and responsibility in your child, both in terms of their personal hygiene, like washing their hands often, as well as the health of the home.
Include them in household chores
This is a great time to teach your kids about their household responsibilities, and make them more independent while at home. My daughter is interested in cooking, so she makes her evening snack herself. She looks up children’s recipes on YouTube and tosses up something new every day.
I also encourage her to keep her room clean, and discard all the things she is not using. This way we can make space for the new!
Teach them budgeting
The tendency to buy and consume too much is at a high during times of isolation. So, I have given her a budget to decide what she wants to buy for herself like stationery or snacks. This approach helps my daughter take stock of her monies and prioritise her expenses.
I also tell her that we don’t need to stock up too much, and keep some stuff on the shop shelf for others too! This instils a sense of inclusion in children.
5. Help them develop focus
Gadgets have been one of the biggest factors contributing to the attention deficit in children. Now that you have more time with your child, it’s time to help them break away from that habit.
Keep gadgets away for a few hours
Being home, kids will get tempted to play with their gadgets or watch Netflix all the time; we adults too will keep looking at social media updates. Thus, I have assigned sometime in the day as ‘no gadget hours’, where neither of us can use the phone, laptop or TV. The time set aside is spent together, talking, reading or doing some activity.
Teach them the value of time
Make it clear to your children, that just because school is shut, they cannot idle away their time. In fact, use games, inspirational stories, or even the example of coronavirus to tell them how short life is, and hence make the most of the present moment, without wasting time. Ensure they do some schoolwork, and pursue one hobby everyday so as to keep progressing personally.
Children have lots of energy, but, if not channelled well, it can easily convert into laziness. Thus, we need to direct their free time into constructive activities… The key is to stick to a routine; this will also help them resume regular life later without much effort.
When they get too cranky, restless, irritable or bored, know then that you have to engage them in some meaningful way and set up another activity for them. Make them feel like you are paying attention to them, or else they will feel neglected, distanced and alone.
It’s also an opportune time to remind children about how much they mean to us, not just through affection, but by patiently listening to them and their feelings. Use this time to become their best friend, especially when they have no play dates or playgrounds to meet kids their age.
Include them in your adult conversations on how to change the world, because they are the future, and we should hear out their ideas. We should also inspire them to be strong at such times, when life throws situations our way that are beyond our control.
I often end the day by reading out a short story to my daughter, without giving out the ending. She then imagines the end, helping her create a future of her own.
In times of Covid-19, don’t let your children’s imagination die… Instead, encourage them to live out this phase with acceptance, and hope for a bright future without disease and distance.
I tell my daughter Mother Nature is taking a break for maintenance, because we humans have not given her a break, thanks to our greed and ambition.
Moreover, remind your children of the service and sacrifice of those on the frontlines, like nurses, doctors, and the police who are doing their best to save others… Teach them to be grateful to them; perhaps, you can say a prayer together, and include everyone in your prayers!
This is a great time not just for children, but for all of us to reflect and introspect on our actions, inactions, and what we need to do to course correct. Finally, it’s a time for all of us to recharge, reconnect and spend together as a family — peacefully and joyfully!
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