Page 21 - The Standard Volume 4

Parenting during COVID-19
Justin Lajoie
We have all had to get used to a new normal over this last year. It seems every aspect of our lives have changed. This is both true individually and as a family. Everybody is home now, more than ever before, and for some they are having to work and go to school inside the house. Parents and children do not get the ordinary time away from each other that nobody could have ever imagined changing. The new challenge that families are having to adjust is navigating our children always being home and parenting them full-time while meeting their educational needs at the same time.
There are several ways a parent can adjust to the extended time with their children. Nothing I am going to mention is a new groundbreaking idea or requires anything expensive. The biggest and most crucial component to be mindful of is structure and routine with children. Consistency is key. When our children were in school, they were given structure. They attended school 5 days a week 8 hours a day which made planning our routines and schedules easier on the parenting side. By now some of you may have figured out what works best for your family and some of you may still be trying to figure it out. No matter where you are in the process, know that this is unprecedented times for us all.
Having a plan or routine for the day—whether it is a weekday or the weekend—is a must. It should all start and end with a predictable and consistent wake up and bedtime schedule. No matter what the age of the child is. It does not need to be precise meaning down to the minute every day, but it does need to be consistent. Always consult about what is age appropriate for your child. Other things to consider outside of bedtimes and nap times are meal/snack times. Children thrive when they know when to expect their basic needs being met. Providing meals and snack times
consistently throughout the day will noticeably decrease fussing or arguments that can take place. Nowadays there are many places to access healthy snack and meal options. My wife likes to get suggestions from Pinterest, Social Media, and word of mouth. I suggest connecting with others who meal plan weekly and/or monthly as it would be beneficial to you.
Now aside from the basic needs of your children, there is the conversation of entertainment. How do I keep my children entertained all day now that they are with me? With all the technology that is being used for school, I strongly recommend that it not be used as a way of entertainment. Having an awareness of our time spent on technology is important. To monitor if there is a healthy balance of technology in the home is to check the reactions of your children when they are asked to put their tech items away. This includes television. Are your children throwing fits or tantrums when these items are taken away? If so, it is a good indicator that they are not exercising a healthy balance of utilizing technology. Are there moments of silence or quiet time implemented in your home? How about encouraging children to create an invention that will save the world or write a book report on a new book they would enjoy reading? Although we live in Minnesota and experience some extreme weather conditions, getting outside to experience fresh air is crucial to the development of our children. I cannot stress enough the importance of children being outdoors because being inside our homes all day is isolating. Many behaviors that arise are because children do not have enough outlets to express the built-up energy within. Get away from your home. Drive around the park if the weather does not permit walking, but change your scenery. Everyone needs to occasionally see something
June 2022 | THE STANDARD 21