It doesn’t look like COVID-19 is going away anytime soon, which means that, for the foreseeable future, parents have to continue finding ways to keep their kids happy at home with the help of different activities and forms of entertainment.
This could be why when Jessica McHale, a photographer and a mom of three, shared her family’s quarantine schedule on her Facebook page, it became a huge hit. Her schedule has been lauded for showing how parents can fill their kids’ days with great activities during the quarantine.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW“Made this schedule to keep myself and my family sane through the unprecedented weeks ahead,” she wrote. “Funny how everything works — it’s been picked up by behavior groups, doctors, teachers, and has been shared more than 10k times that I know of.”
McHale added that she shared the schedule to help some of her family clients. “I made it based off of my kids’ ages and our family, use as-is or as a jumping off point for your own. Whatever we can do to help each other through whatever is coming!”
McHale’s schedule outlines the different activities their family will do every day and also provides brief explanations for each activity. For instance, “Wake up” time also includes having breakfast and making your bed, “Creative time” can involve drawing, playing music, and making crafts, while “Chore time” can include wiping tables, door handles, or bathrooms.
Her schedule also includes slots for outdoor activities, like taking a family walk in the mornings and getting some fresh air in the afternoon.
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowIn creating this schedule, one thing that McHale focused on was the importance of routines for kids. In an interview with The New York Post, McHale explained, “I knew in order to keep them mentally engaged and happy for however many weeks we’re home, they’ll have to have something to look forward to. It reduces anxiety in kids that are anxious because they have that structure to look to.”
She adds that she thinks other people love her schedule “because routines provide comfort, and right now, there is so much chaos that everyone is just looking for comfort and safety wherever they can find it.”
In a previous SmartParenting.com.ph article, developmental pediatrician Dr. Victoria Ang-Nolasco says children feel safe and comforted when they have a routine. She adds that routines foster a child’s independence and encourage her to be flexible and creative. Having a routine can also help lessen tantrums.
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWWould you ever try this schedule with your family? Tell us how it works for you in the comments!
Click here for other teacher-approved quarantine schedules you can try following at home.
For the latest COVID-19 cases, check out our reportr COVID-19 case tracker. For the latest news and updates on COVID-19, check out reportr.world.
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