5 Ways to Have a Healthy Relationship with Your Kids During the Pandemic
Being a parent is never an easy proposition, though often a rewarding one. For parents living through the pandemic, though, this is a challenging time. Many of them have concerns about their children falling behind academically when the new school year starts.
It is uncertain just what will happen as it relates to the new school year in the fall. It might differ depending on what part of the country you inhabit. While some regions have handled the mask-wearing and social distancing well, others resisted, and are now dealing with even worse outbreaks.
In the meantime, though, parents need to find ways to maintain good relationships with their children during this time. Here are ideas that should help.
Arrange Outdoor Activities
Stress-free living is hard to come by if you and your kids spend most of your time indoors. That’s precisely what many have been dealing with the past few months. That’s because:
Even simple birthday parties or backyard BBQs can cause concern because of the coronavirus.
A way to combat this is by setting up events for you and your kids outside the house. If it seems that the walls are closing in, get out in nature.
You can drive the kids to the park. You could head to a national park and go on a nature hike if there’s one not too far from you. You can observe some animals and plants in their natural habitats.
Bring inside all day this summer has to be boring for your kids, and limiting their computer or TV time is critical. Outdoor events are a way for you to bond with them.
You Can Arrange Socially Distant Get-Togethers
Your kids probably miss their friends, either from school or around the neighborhood. You want to keep them safe, but at the same time, you don’t want them resenting you because you won’t let them play.
Experts agree that you can have socially distant gatherings if you exercise some care. You might:
Experts say that the coronavirus is more dangerous in enclosed spaces. If your kids and their friends wear masks and stay apart, it’s probably safe for them to get together and play.
You need to be sure and talk to your kids beforehand about crucial safety measures before you allow this sort of get-together. They’re probably sick of hearing about it by now, but you need to do all you can to keep them safe, especially if they have underlying conditions like asthma.
Try to Schedule Educational Activities
There is a universal fear that parents have right now about their children falling behind in their studies. It is a legitimate concern, but these are unprecedented times, and keeping your kids safe is more vital than having them miss out on a few lessons.
You can take an active role in helping your children learn. If there are any museums open where you are, then you can take them there. These facilities will undoubtedly require masks, but this a way that your kids can educate themselves while still having fun.
Kids usually enjoy natural history museums that have animals or dinosaur exhibits. You might go to the zoo. Again, with these activities, you can bond with your kids, and they’re also learning instead of watching TV or playing some video games.
You Can Do Face-to-Face Relative Calls
These days there are ways of making face-to-face calls with relatives. You can use FaceTime, Zoom, or similar services. If you have young children and your relations don’t live in the same city as you, then your kids and relatives probably miss each other.
It’s hard to explain to a four-your-old why they can’t visit their favorite grandma across the country. You can arrange weekly calls so that they can talk and see one another.
It’s a great thing to do for your kids, but also your relatives. It’s hard feeling isolated and apart from each other. It cheers everyone up when you can reconnect in this way.
Don’t Put Too Much on Them
It’s also tempting to assign your kids chores during this time. You might think that it’s not too much to ask for them to keep their rooms clean during a pandemic since they’re seldom leaving the house.
Remember, though, that this is a time when everyone is dealing with great strain. You probably feel it, with monthly rent due and many people unemployed or underemployed.
Don’t put too much on your kids. It’s fine to assign them chores, but remember that while you feel stress, they do too. These are extraordinary times through which they are living, and you should try very hard to be understanding of them.
This is a time when you need to try and communicate very clearly with your children. Make sure they know what’s happening in this country, but also only let them know as much as is appropriate for someone of their age.
It’s easy to explain to a teenager what’s happening. You might have to use simplified language to tell younger children why things are so different now.
It’s times like these that families can draw together or pull apart. It seems likely there will be a vaccine before long, and things will eventually return to some semblance of normality.
In the meantime, though, try and be there for your kids in whatever ways seem appropriate. Listen to their concerns, and try to assuage them. This is a tough time for parents, but you should be able to find the strength to move forward as a family.
