With parents having to suddenly take on many roles in the home Environment, including home-schooling their children, stress levels are on the increase.
There is an overload of responsibilities for parents, who are trying to take on the role of a teacher, nanny, house keeper and still continue with business/work from home. You might not feel in control of your parenting skills right now, but you need to understand that you are doing the best you can with the resources available to you.
First things first, ditch the guilt you may feel for not being a good enough parent during this time because, honestly speaking, there is no parent out there that is perfect at everything. We all experience an overwhelming tide of emotions when under pressure and the side effects are impatience, anger and frustration – unfortunately our children are impacted the most by our frame of mind.
Here are some tips for parents on how to cope better with their children during lockdown:
• Get more organised and create structure – draw up a schedule for yourself and a timetable for the day for your children the night before.
Having a good routine in place helps to foster their inner security and safety; children thrive when they know what you expect next.
• Plan activities and create a balance – yes, you are not a teacher, so include fun activities and games alongside their school work. Breathe and take their work in your stride.
• Have incentives to get cooperation – the ‘first work then play’ rule always works. Have a treat or reward in mind as motivation to complete all tasks for the day.
• Get creative – your home is not a school, so you can teach them concepts in creative ways and get them to use their imagination. You can also use recycled items around the home for art and craft activities
• Involve them in some of your chores – teach them responsibility and life skills, like gardening, washing the car, packing their clothes and items away and helping you in the kitchen with some baking or by letting them garnish the dishes you have cooked.
• Spend time outdoors – staying cooped up indoors can drive everyone crazy. Do physical exercises with them in the garden to burn off some of that extra energy. Schedule a picnic once all work is complete.
• Make time for story time – read daily to your children before bedtime – it aids with their development and helps you spend quality time unwinding with them.
• Reassure and comfort your children – remind them that they are safe and are going to be fine and that the world is a safe place. Help them to understand that lockdown is a temporary phase and they will return to school and play with their friends soon.
• Use this time to teach good values – show them that kindness and respect starts at home with their siblings and household. Be the role model of patience and compassion through being more mindful of your own behaviour and language.
• Teach them to practise gratitude – help them remain positive by making them aware of how fortunate they are to have a safe and comfortable home and to be in good health, compared to the poor and sickly.
Start up a daily gratitude list with them to practice gratitude and not take what they have for granted.
So, dear parents, use this time productively with your children to do things with them that you never get time to do.
You can have a positive impact on your children during this time by empowering yourself with tools that will help you cultivate a positive mind-set.
Your attitude will have a ripple effect on your children. Create memories with your children that will last a lifetime, connect and bond with them as you will never get these years back!
By Farah Manjoo, Female & Kids Empowerment Coach: www.baraaqahealinganctuary.co.za.