Survival Tips from Bronwyn

Create a schedule

• Create a schedule but don’t be OCD about it

• Involve your kids in making the schedule so that they feel part of it

• Snack boxes can help with young and older kids... use your school stomach for teens

• Harder to get teens involved but if beneficial for them

Get Dressed

• Don’t forget the basics - even for adults - get dressed, make your bed, brush your teeth

Use your Inside Voice

• Children may not be used to parents working from home and it’s easy to become frustrated on a call when your children are ...being kids and making a noise

• Give some guidelines on using your inside voice and being aware of others in the house

• Remember to you will have to reinforce this regularly

• For little ones you need to make them aware of when they are allowed to be noisy and when mom or dad need some quiet time - this is a good time to give them a quiet time activity which doesn’t require too much adult input - drawing, tv, lego, play mobil, reading books to their soft toys etc

Vary your child's activities

• Vary the activities according to age as well

• Some examples - little kids - making play dough, having a tea party, reading to their dolls/fluffy toys, earbud painting, simple baking, make bath time last longer with toys, put some toys away so that you have a cycle of toys then they won’t get bored as quickly

• Medium kids - lying on a blanket outside watching clouds, making up stories - everyone gets a line to say, looking through photos, get outside sunshine on your head is important for mental health, baking, general knowledge & board games

• Teenagers - cooking supper, online exercise class together, board games

Stay in touch

• Keep in touch with your family & friends - they can offer emotional support to you and your children

• We’re in this together!

• Let grandparents read to little ones or have on online tea party

• COMMUNICATE even in your own household!

Be Kind

• Psychological studies have shown that an act of kindness towards another person boosts your own feeling of well being

• Remind children that we need to be more kind and gentle with one another - this counts for parents too!

• Remember your kids are just as anxious as you are, they have never known a time like this & their worlds have been turned upside down

• Be aware that some of your children’s friends may be in unhappy homes and it will be more difficult for them during this time.