Ten Tips for Staying Active and Positive in Isolation from COVID-19
Depending on the age of your children, the isolation caused by COVID-19 can cause feelings that are both positive and negative. It can be hard to watch kids who usually are very active sit still in front of screens for many hours of the day. With access to gyms closed and access to parks limited, families need to get creative to fend off feelings of solitude and confinement. But if you think about it, we just need to get back to the simpler times. Here are ten ideas to help get you there.
Ten Tips for Staying Active and Positive in Isolation
- Get outside. If you are healthy, get your kiddos out. The 1918 Influenza Pandemic taught many lessons about containing the spread of the flu. While COVID-19 is a virus, it still highlights the importance of fresh air and sunlight in health and wellness. Research shows that outdoor air is a natural disinfectant and can kill harmful germs and that sunlight is germicidal. Both are also very important for elevating mood.
- Play games. It is vital to slow down and take time for one another. Family games provide an excellent opportunity to connect with your kids, laugh, and have some fun.
- Plan scavenger hunts. You can get very creative with planning scavenger hunts for the indoors and outdoors. Adults can even join in on the quest. Search for things that begin with a specific letter or are a particular color. Go on nature hunts. Your imagination only limits the possibilities. Here’s a great article with some tips for planning hunts for your kids.
- Write letters. It may seem “old school” to write letters, but they can lift the spirits of others. Writing helps kids improve their reading, writing, and penmanship skills. The recipient will feel very special and loved in a time when people are isolated.
- Get a penpal. Penpals are great for teens who want to connect with people who are not nearby. Have them begin writing to that person and send a letter a week. Distant friends can reconnect and share in a way that was deeply appreciated when we were kids. Remember that exciting feeling you got when you realized you got a letter from someone you loved? Help your kids experience this too.
- Talk. Often we are so busy with our lives that we don’t have the opportunity to talk with our kids as much as we’d like. COVID-19 has forced many of us to slow down. Use this precious time to reconnect with your kids and spouse/partner.
- Invent games. A hit in our house is a game where we combine animal breeds and invent new names for these mixed breeds. Who can top an Italian Greyhound and a Labrador Retriever mixed to create an Italian Grab? We get lots of laughs out of this one and challenge you to try it and see what kind of response your family gets from it.
- Cook and bake together. Create a menu of delicious and healthy homemade meals and desserts and start cooking. Get the whole family in on it. Cooking allows you to teach or reinforce essential skills like measuring how much flour goes into the cake. It also creates a safe environment where you can talk with one another, which is especially crucial for teens.
- Support remote schooling. Many kids and teens are thinking of this time of isolation as a very long spring break. They must continue to learn throughout this time. Parents can support their learning by creating a realistic schedule for them to complete lessons either assigned by their school or that apply to their grade. Be sure to build in time for breaks, socialization, and exercise to reduce burn out and frustration.
- Stay positive. It can be challenging not to be stressed and anxious when we are bombarded with new information about COVID-19. Kids will feed off of the energy you release. If you are anxious, they will feel it and emulate it. The same thing goes with happiness. Have fun and smile, and recognize good behavior and deeds. Practice mindfulness and yoga together to celebrate a calm mind and a healthy body.
We are here for you and your family. If you have questions or concerns about COVID-19 and your child(ren), call our office. Stay healthy, stay active and stay positive, and we will come out of this better and stronger than we were before.