How to Spend Time with Your Children in the Coronavirus Crisis

How do you spend time with your children in the coronavirus crisis? We're here to help!

Many countries have issued emergency protocols due to the coronavirus crisis. Most governments are taking drastic measures to try to spread the COVID-19 virus. These vary across the globe, but in most countries in Europe, and in the USA, schools are closed and people are being asked to stay at home for at least the next 15 days. Inevitably, the same question arises in all parents: how do I organize time with my children in the coronavirus crisis?

This is a period in which family routines are going to change completely. Children and young people won’t be going to school at all. Some parents will have to go to work, others will carry out teleworking, but others are obliged to stay at home without working.

In addition to all the logistical problems that this entails, we have to add the fact that after-school activities and even trips to the park are also being canceled.

This is undoubtedly a complicated situation on many levels. However, here are some recommendations to help you get through this stage as a family in the best possible way.

Spending time at home with children in the coronavirus crisis

Organization

The main thing is to try to establish a good routine, appropriate to the particular situation of each family. To do this, you can remember how you manage things during the holiday periods and use ideas that may work in this context too.

Determine the number of hours your children will spend without you or your partner. If both parents have to work, then, according to their age and maturity, decide whether your children can stay at home alone. If not, then you’ll need to make alternative arrangements for someone to look after them during these times.

Routine

It’s important that your children understand that this isn’t a vacation. The routine must continue, even though there will be many changes. Therefore, try to maintain the child’s schedule in terms of bedtime, getting up, having meals, etc. Try to make their day-to-day lives similar to what they were before.

Routines provide stability and help us to be more productive. This is very necessary, because school is continuing with the help of technological and computer resources. In addition to this, you’ll need to find a point of balance so that children don’t suffer too much from the prevailing chaos.

Study time

Because of the above, it’s important that children devote part of their time every day to studying and doing homework. Many educational centers are guiding this work by sending exercises and assignments to children, which they then have to complete and return via the Internet.

This is happening especially at the secondary and high school levels. However, in some cases, primary school children may not have the same guidance, and it may be necessary for parents to help them organize a study routine. A good option is to spend the mornings on homework and the afternoons doing leisure activities.

Children in the coronavirus crisis: time for leisure

Leisure is one of the aspects that is most limited by the impossibility, in many cases, of being able to leave your house. However, it’s an excellent time to enjoy all the toys and games that you don’t normally find time to use. And, above all, use this opportunity to spend quality time with your family.

Watch movies together, play board games, chat, paint or carry out other artistic activities. All these options are good ones, because, for children, the presence and attention of their parents is one of the best gifts you can give them.

Also, involve the children in the housework. Turn it into something fun that the whole family takes part in. Mopping the floor or cooking together can become fun activities.

Also, try, as much as possible, that your children get some sun and fresh air. If you have a yard or garden, that will be perfect. If not, then reading a book by the balcony or window may be enough.

Last but not least, you have to keep in mind that your children will go many days without seeing their friends. But, fortunately, technology will allow them to stay in touch through video calls or maybe online multiplayer games.

Above all, remember that this is a temporary situation and try to remain calm and optimistic. After all, we rarely get the chance to spend so much time with our loved ones. Let’s appreciate it.