Things are strange, stressful, and full of uncertainty right now. We’re in this together though, which hopefully makes it a little easier. Yes, we’re all cooped up in the house, and if you have kids, you’re most likely trying to juggle home schooling with work, housework, and life in general.
I’m super behind on blog posts that I’ve been wanting to write, I’m taking on less marketing campaigns, and it’s because my focus and work load has shifted to my family. Is that a bad thing? No, I’m happy to do it! That being said, I’m not trained to be a Montessori teacher, so I’m learning how to home school and juggle all of the things I need to get done, while also trying to keep my stress level down. This all feels surreal, but my goal is to keep my family healthy, safe, and happy (aka not scare the crap out of my kids).
I’ve pulled together some things that may help you stay sane as you navigate this Corona Virus era – and everything that it entails. Keep scrolling and please comment with your own ideas so we can support each other with things that are positive and work well!
1. Celebrate! Yes, we’re stuck at home and may miss out on being with those we love for special events. That being said, we can still celebrate! It was my moms birthday in March, and we had to cancel her party. My parents had planned on visiting us for the weekend, I had made us a brunch reservation, planned our at home meals, which cake I was going to make, ordered her gifts, and picked up the decorations. They live about an hour away, which isn’t far, but we aren’t going to see them in person until this is all over. Keeping our space will keep them safe. So…we had a virtual birthday party!
Just because we can’t be in the same house, doesn’t mean we can’t sing her happy birthday and celebrate! We put up a happy birthday sign, sported hats and crowns, I baked a cake and lit candles, and we made sure my mom knew how special she is to us. Don’t stop doing the things you love – like celebrating the important things. Just do it in a safe way – using technology to bridge the gap.
2. Find things that will keep the kids busy without screen time. I’m not saying screen time is bad. What I’m saying is that kids don’t need screen time to keep busy all day. It’s helpful to use screens when other activities just aren’t cutting it and you need to get important things done (like a conference call). My ask is to not rely on screens when other activities may work just as well if not better at keeping their attention.
Legos are a big win in our house. I love them because they keep the kids happy, busy, and they are a learning tool. I always purchase Legos that are for older kids, so it is a challenge. Sofia is 4 years old, and I have been ordering Legos that are 6+ so that she can have fun, challenge herself, follow instructions, and work on her fine motor skills.
Gabe is 6 and he’s been working on Legos for 9-12 years olds. There are some amazing Legos and building kits that allow kids to program the completed figurines to do things like walk, sit, etc. It’s like building and programming a robot. It is fun and educational! You know what level would best fit your kiddo – so I would go with that!
Side note – we still use Duplos! The kids play with them for hours, making large structures, using their imaginations, and (usually) playing well together. The pieces are big, so they can create castles, houses, trucks, and other cool things that their other toys actually fit in. It’s perfect for relaxed and fun playtime, which is a big win! This is the storage bag we use for all of our Duplos. It’s been a huge help keeping them from getting everywhere, and saving my feet from stepping on them! For tiny Legos, this storage system is how we keep them contained (and easy to transport).
3. Play dress up! If you’re anything like me, you have Halloween costumes and other things laying around that will make dress up fun and easy. Kids love to play dress up, and it’s a fantastic activity that requires no additional purchases.
It is a time to be creative! You can play music for a dance party, put on a play, have the kids put on a play for you, have a formal tea party with fake or real food, and more! I’m a big fan of pulling out dress up clothes, Halloween costumes and fun playtime accessories because it’s an easy win and it’s using things we own in a fun way. You can even make masks, crowns and other crafts to use for dress up! Give it a try and have fun!
If you’re interested in Sofia’s princess dress and shoes, I’ve linked them for you. 🙂
4. Get outside! Go for walk and get some fresh air. Should you go to a busy area like a playground or basketball court to play with a bunch or people? No, that’s not a good idea. You should walk in a quiet area, staying at least 6 feet away from people. If there’s nobody around, even better! Keep your distance but definitely get some fresh air.
We’ve been taking the kids for a 1 mile walk through our neighborhood every afternoon. It’s long enough that they get some air, stretch their legs, and enjoy some family outside time. It’s also close to home and in an area without a lot of people, so we can safely walk and keep our distance from others. You can even print out one of these fun scavenger hunt sheets to make your walk even more engaging! Enjoy the outdoors, just be responsible about it.
5. Set up a space to learn. I moved the little table from Sofia’s room downstairs into our family room. She used it in her play kitchen. Now we use it for home schooling in the morning, and play time in the afternoon. It’s a perfect spot to get things done, and having it in the family room allows me to watch them while they are busy. It also means I’m close by to help them. I found a really cool table and chairs set that folds up, if you don’t want your learning space to be in our way.
I got Gabe a felt calendar for his room a couple of years ago. I moved it downstairs by the little table and chairs, so it’s part of the kids “learning space.” We take a few minutes in the morning to talk about the date, weather, and make the appropriate changes. It’s our version of circle time, and they really enjoy it. You can get your own felt calendar HERE or make your own using construction paper and other crafting supplies. There are a lot of fun options available online as well, so check them out!
6. Cook together! It is very common for kids to try new foods when they are involved in the cooking and preparing of the meal. You’re home, so take some time to cook together! If you don’t have a lot of time, prepare snacks together and include some new things. We make “food art” a lot, which basically means making a fun picture on your plate out of food. An example of this is to make a silly face out of food, like cherry tomatoes for the eyes, a banana for the smile, raisons for eyelashes, carrot sticks for eyebrows, etc.
You can also put foods into small bowls and let them make their own food art. Cheerios, dried cranberries, fresh blueberries, shredded carrots, carrot sticks, crackers, seeds/nuts, and other foods are great for making food art. Use a little bit of cream cheese, peanut butter, or other spread on bread so they can stick things on to create a “picture” that they can eat. It’s a fun way to get them involved, and they might even try something new! Take a look HERE for some food art inspiration.
Please note that if you have a younger child who may drop food pieces, think about what you are using. I don’t let my kids make food art with raisons and grapes because we have dogs, and I don’t want them to drop any on the floor where they’ll get eaten up (raisons and grapes are toxic for dogs).
7. Exercise! Do something you love alone or with your family. Yoga, barre classes, ballet, cardio, kickboxing, etc. There are a ton of free classes online, and if you’re looking for a more formal but affordable workout to stream (like gym classes and workout programs), check out Beachbody On Demand. I’m a huge fan of their workouts, and a 1 year membership is SUPER affordable! It will come in handy while you’re home (keeping you healthy and sane), but it’ll also continue to work well once life gets back to normal.
Having access to workouts in the home, while you travel, etc. is a huge win for most adults. There is a free trial so that you can give some classes a try, to see if it’s something you’ll enjoy or not, and to get your tush moving! Click HERE to check it out! I’m a coach, so if you have any questions, please comment on this post and I’ll be sure to reach out and help you out. 🙂
For kiddos, check out Cosmic Kids Yoga, which is free and so cute! Enjoy!
8. Take a break – even if it’s only for 5 minutes. Enjoy those who are around you, snuggle with a pet, give/get a hug from a family member, read a chapter from a book (not related to work or school), meditate for a few minutes, relax in childs pose, or do something you find relaxing.
Yes, this is a stressful time. Yes, there is a TON to get done. No, we’re not used to being home all the time and juggling this many things at once. That is more of a reason to enjoy a short moment in your day. It’ll keep you sane, forcing you to take a deep breath.
If you have any children in the house, it’ll also help them to feel the love as well. This is stressful for them too! Don’t forget about fur babies – snuggle those dogs and cats too. They have no idea whats going on and a little love will go a long way for both of you.
9. Get crafty! This might be more of a weekend thing if you’re working all day, trying to home school, etc. Look for fun crafts that you can do using things from around the house. We made these fun fossils using basic things we had in my pantry and the kids dinosaur toys. You can use this blog post for my recipe and instructions (it’s an alternative to salt dough that is actually much safer).
Other fun crafts are listed HERE – just scroll through to find something you like. There are a ton of other fun and free crafts online that you can print, create using paper, crayons, glue and scissors, and more! Get creative and have fun!
10. Get some sleep! If you’re having trouble getting real rest, you are not alone. Personally, I’m desperate for some alone time. Between the anxiety I feel from this pandemic and the stress of not getting any alone time, my brain is having a hard time shutting off at night. Falling sleep, or even getting real rest, has been a challenge. Try a guided mediation! Now is the time to try new things to help you get some real rest. Look at phone apps or online for free resources. I did a quick search and this is one site that looked helpful and interesting.
If you’re not ready for that, try keeping a pen and pad of paper by your bed and writing down all the things you think may keep you up. That might include your to do list, reminders for work the next day, things for your kids, groceries you need to order, or anything else that is buzzing around in your brain. Jot it down so you can rest better. I have been writing down things before bed for the last 6+ months and it’s a big help! This set is a great option for next to your bed, and you’ll have extras for your desk or wherever you need to stay organized.
That’s it! I hope these tips will help give you some ideas of how to get through this stressful time with a little more ease. I’ll continue to write about things that may help, but if you have your own ideas, please share! We’re in this together, and things that have helped you may help others as well! This is not forever. We will be able to see family and friends, travel, go to restaurants and other places we miss, very soon! Stay safe and healthy! Sending love and light your way! xo