Parenting In A Lockdown

I can’t imagine a more difficult time than this for a family. With the Coronavirus doing the rounds, we are locked down at home. The county I live in is witnessing one of the worst COVID-19 outbreaks in the US and the Silicon Valley has shut down for the first time (hopefully for the last). The most unfortunate fact is that no one can predict when this will end.

And just now the county has ordered a 3-week shut down for schools. For me, and most parents, that’s worse than the Silicon Valley shut down. Not that I want schools to open before all this is over.

[If I’ve aggravated your paranoia, you can binge on some COVID-19 humor. The Washington Post has collected a few.]

While we may navigate through this dismal phase, being locked down indoors is taxing for kids, especially preschoolers and kinders. They are not just bored, they’re frustrated and nearly impossible to pacify. If you have an extrovert kid like mine who hates coming home even after a 3-day trip and a 6-hour drive, you are in for the Mad Hatter’s tea party. So, I thought I’d share my ‘Plan of Action’ to sail through this time.

1. Routine: Kids tend to go off routine when they are on a ‘vacation’. We have, however, never allowed that unless we are traveling or attending a party. My daughter sleeps at 8 p.m even on weekends. I notice when kids go off their routine, they get cranky, confused, and can turn the house into chaos. It gives them the idea that they can do anything at any time. Maintaining the usual routine gives them a sense of ‘normalcy’ even though they are at home on a long break. The school routine gives parents some time off as well.
2. eLearning and online resources: We need to keep their brains busy with their usual academics. You can choose a certain time, duration, and a corner of your home for ‘school time’. Organize that corner with a pencil holder, worksheets, and some books. It creates an aura of focus and discipline – qualities of their otherwise usual routine which kids lose touch with during their time at home. I’ve friends who have resorted to eLearning for lesson plans, activities, and worksheets.  Here are some of the online platforms I’ve used and would recommend:
   1. https://www.ixl.com/
   2. https://www.abcmouse.com
   3. https://www.education.com/
3. The Creative Us: This isn’t anything out-of-the-box but you’d be surprised at the creativity that oozes out of you and your kids when you’re at it together. Here is a list of things I’ve done in the past and plan to do again:
   1. Experiments: This idea struck me when we were reading National Geographic’s Big Book of How. The book had a simple experiment of turning heavy cream into butter and we had fun doing that. I’m going to try this list from MommyPoppins.com. There are 63 ideas so there will be at least a few everyone can try.
   2. Painting: If you haven’t done it so far, do it now. Michaels has a range of canvases you can order online. I even like their wood plaques. I buy a variety of miniature wood shapes. My daughter paints them and puts them all together to create a scenario. Buy a bunch of acrylic paint bottles and a pack of assorted paintbrushes. If you need a kick start, watch this channel on YouTube: SurajFineArts. I absolutely love how the artist makes a painting look so simple.
   3. Sun-catchers and wind chimes: A bunch of crystal beads, threads, and wires keep my kindergartner busy. She loves the colorful reflection that dances across our living room walls when our sun-catchers do their work. I don’t know if boys might be up for this but it’s worth a try.
   4. Crafty cardboard boxes: I’ve resorted to online shopping which means I have a lot of cardboard boxes right now. Instead of dumping them in the recycle bin, I will train her to use her creative wand to spin up boring, brown boxes into something spectacular. Since she loves cars, I’m planning to work with her to turn one of the boxes into a car. I’ve shortlisted this video to try.
   5. Games: We have been playing Pictionary, UNO, Jenga, Candy Land, and Lego. I’ve ordered Ludo and Chutes and Ladder – 2 games my daughter hasn’t played yet. Introduce your kids to the games they haven’t played before. I think Twister and Monopoly will be fun for older kids. I’m happy that my laptop-obsessed family members join in and totally enjoy this time. A family that laughs together, stay together.
   6. Exercise: This is the time when we need to put our patios and backyards to use.  Have you tried playing hopscotch? You have to! Or just spread a blanket, have lunch, and play board games. Outdoor yoga is going to be something new I’m going to try with my ultra-hyper kid as an attempt to direct her energy positively. I’m going to try this YouTube channel – Cosmic Kids Yoga – recommended by a soul who is in a similar situation. The sunshine and the breeze can really freshen up the mind. My last resort is buying a ball pool tent that will be useful during the summer vacation playdates. 
   7. Baking: I’m not really into baking but sugar and chocolate can cheer us up! To limit the use of groceries (we are limiting our visits to the grocery stores), I’m going to resort to the Betty Crocker range. My daughter does enjoy whisking and breaking eggs. Of course, bear in mind that sugar indulgence should be during the day. You don’t want a jumpy child in the evening.

Well, these options are all I can think of to survive the Coronavirus shut down. When the environment outside the home is gray, we need to do everything to keep the environment inside positive, happy, optimistic. I know that this crisis is going to bring out the best in us as parents.

Stay safe!