Schedules and routines are always important for kids, but they are especially vital during these uncertain times.
If kids have consistent schedules, they will have a clear picture of what the future holds, and they will take comfort in always knowing what is coming next. Reducing uncertainty can really help reduce anxiety and increase a sense of normalcy.
Creating schedules for children is helpful for parents too. Parents can use daily schedules and calendars to organize families, carve out time for themselves, and re-enforce rules and expectations.
For my family, the first couple of weeks dealing with COVID-19 social distancing were tough. I spent all day (every day) juggling kids who were eating at different times, spending too much time in front of screens, and struggling to figure out how to cope in this “new normal.”
I invested some time putting together a schedule for each of my boys, and it has honestly saved my sanity. I’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t work, and today I’m sharing some of my best tips and tricks for creating an effective family schedule.
Our new schedules include: time for snacks and meals, time for interacting online with friends, time for school work, time for reading, time for being active (inside and/or outside), time for non-electronic free play (e.g. board games, puzzles, LEGO, writing, drawing, crafting, etc…), time for helping around the house, time for electronics/video games, and time to do something together as a family.
One of the most important things about my boys’ schedules (and why they work for us) is that their individual schedules work together. My boys snack at the same times and eat meals at the same times. This helps them socialize with each other, and it prevents me from operating a 24-hour kitchen. The synchronized schedules also ensure my boys are working and playing at the same times.
It is also important to build flexibility into schedules. Schedules should be used as guides. They should not be set in stone. If the weather is fantastic and my kids are enjoying playing outside together, I won’t call them in to do schoolwork. Or if the kids have extra schoolwork on a particular day, I might let them skip some of their daily chores. I have also found it helpful to allow extra “down time” on days when my kids are struggling mentally. Sometimes a special treat or activity is exactly what everyone needs. We all have good days and bad days, so it’s OK to make adjustments to daily routines when necessary.
Scheduling open-ended activities is also fantastic. Each day my boys have an hour and half scheduled for “non-electronic play.” They can do whatever they want during this time as long as they aren’t sitting in front of a screen. It’s important for us all to have some structure to our days, but I’m not afraid to let my kids be bored either. Boredom breeds creativity, and I want my boys to learn to entertain themselves.
Each of my boys’ schedules are hanging on the fridge where we all can see them, and they map out our days each week. It’s not a perfect system but having schedules has been a sanity saver for all of us. We stay on track and the boys get their schoolwork done, but there is lots of time for childhood freedom too.
Remember, schedules should help alleviate stress during this difficult time, not increase it. Do what works for you, and when it stops working, try something else. You got this!
Gina Bell writes East Coast Mommy column. Follow her blog at www.EastCoastMommy.com or contact her at [email protected]
