How To Help Your Child Structure Their Day During Lockdown

The coronavirus pandemic and the unprecedented measures to contain its spread are affecting nearly every aspect of children's lives including their health, development, learning behavior, their families' economic security, their protection from violence and abuse and their mental health.

Younger children are at an increased risk, as high levels of stress and isolation can impede their brain development. The current circumstances have left children struggling without routines or rhythms. 

The early closure of schools has given parents a chance to make better relationships with children. It also gives us an added responsibility to keep our children productive and get more involved in their teaching and learning. For this, we need to structure their day and plan their routines which would help us regain some sense of order and normalcy in our child's lives. But that would not be an entirely successful drill unless the entire family follows schedule as all the members have to co-exist juggling between spaces and resources such as computers and other devices which are limited. Also, it is important that we parents need to walk -the-talk so that our children listen to us and follow the schedule. For this we need to create a flexible but consistent daily routine.

Some of the Do's while planning child's (7-11 year old's) routine:

1. Start their day early before 9 am. 

2. Include basic activities in the routine like bathing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, eating breakfast etc.

3. Include activities which encourage independence in tasks such as making their bed, organizing their room. Also involve them in household chores such as laying the table, watering the plants, etc.

4. Include 2 and a half hours of study time divided into 4 slots of 30 minutes followed by a minimum 5 and maximum 10 minutes break after each slot.

5. Involve 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity depending on the child's interest such as exercise, skipping rope, hopping, aerobics, yoga etc. This would help in alleviating the stress as well as right channelization of energy in children.

6. Plan a minimum of 30 minutes of family time in which all the members could play board games, do DIY activities, play dumbsharades or do a dance-off or sing together.

7. Do include afternoon break to relax.

8. Allow children to connect with their cousins ​​or friends or grandparents on video chats or use social media to stay in touch.

9. Have dinner together as a family and discuss the day.

10. Stick with normal bedtime routines as much as possible to make sure everyone gets enough sleep.

Some of the Don'ts while planning child's routine:

1. Do not plan everything down to the last detail.

2. Do not allow screen time for more than two hour a day.

3. Do not physically punish the child for not following the schedule instead discipline them by giving warning of a time-out if they do not stick to the schedule. 

Hang this schedule on the refrigerator or somewhere they can see it each day.

Do not panic during this unprecedented outbreak. Take a deep breath and know that we are all in this together. 

STAY HOME, STAY SAFE! TAKE CARE