The coronavirus pandemic has placed us all on high alert, as we retreat into our homes, hunker down with our families, and collectively hope that with a little social distancing, proper hand-washing, and vigilance, we’ll flatten that curve we’ve been hearing so much about. In the meantime, it seems that life as we know it has been canceled, and everything our kids were looking forward to has been wiped from the calendar. That recital your little ballerina was rehearsing for? It’s no more. That soccer tournament your star kicker couldn’t wait for? Sorry — maybe next year.
Suddenly, all those graduation ceremonies, communions, bar/bat mitzvahs, and birthdays we’d been carefully plotting in our Google calendar went poof overnight. And, just as quickly as they’d vanished, they were replaced by a sinking feeling of disappointment for many children (and maybe even a few tantrums).
“Telling your child, ‘I know how disappointed you are’ or ‘You must feel frustrated about the cancellation’ goes a long way in validating their feelings and helping them develop a vocabulary for their emotions,” said psychologist Jon Lasser.
At the same time, it’s important to try to keep things as “normal” as possible at home — and, above all, maintain a positive vibe despite self-quarantining from the world. Read on for some ideas on how to make the best out of a situation most of us never expected.
'Vacation' in the backyard
Family vacations involve a ton of planning and some serious budget maneuvering, so it’s understandable that a last-minute cancellation of something you’ve been looking forward to all year is sad for everyone. But when it comes to your health and safety right now, staying home is a must — so why not make the most of it?
Instead of leaving town, pitch a tent in the backyard and camp under the stars! You can roast marshmallows over a fire pit or even the grill, and tell spooky stories before bedtime from your sleeping bags. Sure, it’s not Disney World or Hawaii, but for now, you’re together and that’s what matters. If you don’t have a yard to camp out in, you can pitch a tent or make a fort right in the living room.
Throw a virtual birthday party
Explaining to kids that their birthday party can no longer happen is heartbreaking. But when letting them down gently, remember that you don’t have to cancel all birthday festivities. In addition to celebrating at home with your immediate family, you can also throw a virtual birthday party via Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Hangouts.
Sync up with their friends’ parents, and see who can still make it. (Chances are, almost everyone’s free now.) Your child may not be able to open gifts from friends on the big day, but they can chat with their friends remotely, blow out candles while others sing “Happy Birthday,” and still feel connected — even though they aren’t in the same room.
Watch a livestream of adorable animals
The amount of times you’re about to hear “I’m bored” in the next few weeks (or even months) might be enough to drive you insane. Do yourself a favor now, and put a few tricks up your sleeve for that inevitable afternoon hour when your kid grows tired of every single toy that they own.
There are lots of wildlife websites that livestream scenes of animals just being … well, adorable. Explore.org lets you drop in on birds, rescue kittens, and even virtually hang out with penguins, as they socialize, take naps, and go about their day. Not only will it give your kiddo something to do when they’re bored, but there’s also something kind of zen about it.
Recital got canceled? Schedule daily dance parties!
Sometimes, you just gotta break out into song and let the music take you where it wants you to go. Yes, even if the world feels like it’s imploding, your kids are driving you nuts, and the house is in absolute shambles.
Call the kids into the kitchen, ask Alexa to turn up your favorite song, and lead them all in an impromptu kitchen dance party.
And if your kiddo is missing their dance recital this year, thanks to COVID-19, you can even pull out one of their old costumes and have them perform their dance routine right in the kitchen, before their adoring fans. Don’t forget to get it on video to share!
Tune in to a virtual story hour
Virtual story hours, which are popping up over all over social media this week, are a great way for kids to stay engaged and hear new books from people other than yourself.
The best one out there right now (in our opinion, anyway) is the one being hosted nightly by actor Josh Gad on Twitter. For roughly 10 minutes each night since March 13, the beloved voice of Olaf from Frozen and Frozen II reads picture books aloud in a calming tone. Honestly, it’s fun for kids and adults.
Go on a nature walk and breathe fresh air
While the federal government is urging Americans to stay home right now and cease any unnecessary gatherings, taking a walk outside or even a family hike in the woods is still OK, so long as you maintain a distance of six feet or more from others.
If you have access to a nature trail, a large open park, or even if you’re able to walk around your neighborhood away from crowds, you can make it fun. Tell your kids that you’re going “exploring” and have them pick out a walking stick, or play iSpy as you go. It will help make you all feel less cooped up, and be good for the mind, body, and soul.
No playdates? Bring back some old-school fun.
Not being able to go to the movies, have playdates with friends, or even go to summer camp is a real bummer for any kid — especially when they have no idea how long the “break” will last.
But, sometimes, bringing back a little of the “old” can feel brand-new.
Reach back into your memory bank for some of the things you loved doing as a kid. (You know, before we had the internet.) We’re talking puzzles, coloring, board games, Jenga, and more. Still got that old ouija board or Mall Madness game hidden in a closet somewhere? Now is their time to shine!
Throw a family tournament in the backyard
Whether your kid was MVP of the basketball team or was looking forward to their upcoming soccer scrimmage, no longer being able to do one of the things they love is hard. And not being able to do it with their friends can be even harder.
Why not host a mini tournament in the backyard, or a game of hoops in the driveway? You can even DIY mini trophies for them (when they inevitably kick your butt on the field) or make chocolate chip cookies to celebrate a job well done. It’ll get you outside for an hour or two, but also make sure your kid still incorporates their favorite activity into the week.
FaceTime during dinner with the entire fam
Gathering around the dinner table or meeting to eat at a restaurant is how most families get together these days — whether or not they’re celebrating anything special. But now that eating in public spaces is strongly prohibited (as is gathering in groups of 10 or more), family dinners sure look different these days.
Try to maintain some sense of normalcy, if you can. Text grandma and grandpa, as well as aunts and uncles, and see if they’d like to simulcast dinnertime. All you’d need to do is prop up your phone or iPad on the dinner table so that everyone’s visible, and prep your dinners to be ready to go at the same time. Then, using FaceTime, Zoom, or another video-conferencing service, you can all sit down to eat “together,” and chat to pass the time.
Remember, everyday things can be fun (and educational), too
Yes, that color-coded homeschooling chart may have sounded like an awesome idea when your self-isolation began. But if kids prove anything to be true, it’s that rules are made to be broken.
Calm yourself with this thought: Not everything will go perfectly according to plan, and yes, some days you’ll find yourself letting your kids have way too much iPad time and even look the other way as they jump on the couch. But that’s OK.
“Try to give kids a balance of structured activity and free play, with the chance to make some choices,” Lasser said. “For example, you may say, ‘We’re going to make dinner together, and I’d like you to help me decide if we should make a stir fry, lasagna, or tacos.'”
Because yes, that counts as a learning activity.
“Experienced homeschoolers will tell you that cooking requires the use of math and reading,” Lasser said, “so let go of any preconceived notions that learning must involve a textbook and worksheets.”
In the meantime, don’t forget to breathe. This, too, shall pass.
