How to spend time with kids during covid [Top 10 Tips]
Covid 19 has changed the way we lived. Kids are stuck at home. Parents are busy with their Work-from-home with indefinite working hours. Kids are having on-line classes. The classes are more of a stress than learning, as opined by many. No way to avoid stress by opting for a vacation also.
But how to deal with the challenging situation?
There is no point in complaining about the situation. Because complaining will not help us deal with the situation. In fact, complaining will increase the irritation & thereby stress within us.
10 Tips which you can try out :
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Spend some quality time with Kids
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Be empathetic
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Practice concentration
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Inculcate personal hygiene habits
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Cultivate the talent in Kids
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Play indoor games with Kids
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Exercise & play outdoor games
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Spend less time on TV/mobile
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Let the kids play with toys
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Read & narrate good stories
1. Spend some quality time with Kids
While it is a fact that the parents spend the entire day either in completing office formalities or on household chores. But taking out 1 hour or 2 hours time might not be impossible. By time, I mean, quality time. During that period, only the kid and the parent will spend time. No TV or mobile will come in between. The following time schedules can be tried and tested :
(a) Bedtime
(b) Lunchtime/Dinnertime
(c) Evening time
(d) If the daily time schedule is difficult, take out 3 days a week when you can spend quality time with your kid
2. Be empathetic
We are grown-up adults. What may seem very easy for us, maybe difficult for Kids. We may see the issues through the following angles :
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We, adults, have gone through the learning curve for 35 yrs or 40 yrs and then the things look simple to us. But it was not that simple even to us on day 1. So, let us be on their shoes…
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At the age of 30yrs or 35 yrs or 40 yrs+, suppose a parent is being told to take up a new assignment in the office or at home. An assignment that has never been done before. Now think, will that be very easy? Will that be very convenient?
Now think about your Kids. They are being introduced to a New World. A new world of numbers, words, sentences…
Be empathetic towards them…
3. Practice concentration
The term “Concentration” is an easy term to say, but difficult to execute.
We, parents, are habituated to telling our kids to concentrate. But, in the name of multi-tasking, we switch on the TV, browse our mobiles, open the laptop, and do what not.
So, in the process, what do we demonstrate?
Do we practice “concentration” or “distraction” ?
Kids growing up seeing their parents’ practice distraction can never execute concentration.
Here, would like to share a quote from Swami Vivekananda :
“This is the difference between man and the animals — the man has the greater power of Concentration. The difference in their power of Concentration also constitutes the difference between man and man. Compare the lowest with the highest man. The difference is in the degree of Concentration.”
Then how to practice concentration? Here are a few suggestions :
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As parents, we should first display concentration. Example: No multi-tasking. We may do gardening, read storybooks, etc but one at a time. That would send the message to the Kids everything about concentration.
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There are several exercises which help increase concentration
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There are several indoor games which help in increasing concentration
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Any activity in general like drawing, playing games, reading stories increase concentration
4. Inculcate personal hygiene habits
This is the best time to inculcate good personal hygiene in your kids. Covid 19 has made everyone sensitive to personal hygiene. You may spend time with your kids and nurture the below-mentioned habits :
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Brush teeth after every meal
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Bath with soap & apply shampoo every day or alternate day
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Cover face while sneezing
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Wash hands, feet, and face with soap after coming back home from outside.
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Wear clean clothes, shoes, and socks
5. Cultivate the talent in Kids
Every Kid is a gift from God & everyone is blessed with some unique qualities.
The parents need to observe and see on which activities the Kid is passionate about.
Your Kids may have talent in drawing whereas his friends may have an interest in recitation or singing.
The biggest mistake that the parents do here is, they compare amongst kids.
If Kid A is good at singing, why not my Kid?
Now, Kid A’s parents may be thinking, if Kid B is good at drawing, why not my kid?
We fail to understand that, this is not a field to compare. Rather, the parents should identify the talent field. Then try to further create interest in that field so that the Kids get the impetus to develop further.
Covid 19 has done severe damage to the economy. But, at the same time, it has given an opportunity to stay back home with the kids. Now, the parents have more time to observe the kids and make small modifications in lifestyle.
You never know, these small modifications might make an immense impact in the future.
6.Play indoor games with Kids
How to spend time with kids during covid and make the most of it?
The obvious answer would be to play indoor games. Yes, opting for indoor games is :
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simple
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very interesting
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Time effective
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Helps develop concentration too
Some simple indoor games include ludo, chess, carrom, Chinese checker, Brainvita, etc
7. Exercise & play outdoor games
Early morning freehand simple exercises are good for the kids as well as their parents.
If getting up early in the morning is an issue, 30 mins freehand exercise is equally good.
It helps rejuvenate both the body and mind.
If space permits, try playing cricket or football in a controlled manner at home. It really excites the kids.
Hitting a ball for a six!
Or pushing the ball in the goal!
Kids will be engaged 100% & the energy will get channelized in a positive direction.
Try this out as an activity to spend time with your kids during covid and share your comments in the comment box below.
8. Spend less time on TV/mobile
Kids spend a good part of the entire day in front of mobiles or computers. This is the NEW NORMAL. Since this is a mandate, hence this cannot be changed.
What is recommended is, the kids should not spend more extra hours in front of mobiles, computers, and TV.
Spending too much time in front of electronic gadgets leads to :
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Eye problems
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Sleeplessness
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Distracted mind and many other issues
Hence, it is recommended to spend lesser time on electronic gadgets. You may read in more details here
9. Let the kids play with toys
Let the kids enjoy their own company sometimes. Playing with their own toys and being in their own imaginary World could be wonderful.
Kids enjoy making an imaginary world of their own and play with their toys. Be it a boy or a girl, both enjoy playing with their toys in their own world.
This is a great talent and should be encouraged.
The toys may range from remote control toy cars to dolls. From brainvita to ludo. From pull back toy bus to board games like magnetic puzzles.
Encourage the kids to play, let them enjoy playing with toys, and enjoy the company of the best person – their own self.
Read & narrate good stories
Did you make a plan to spend time productively with your kids during Covid ?
If the reply is no, would suggest you the best one !
Read short stories, moral stories and narrate them to your kids.
In this blog, I have shared several stories suited to different age groups.
Some stories are short, some humorous. Most of the stories having a moral.
Do spend some time going through the blod and do share your valuable comments
Photo credit :
Stunning story there. What happened after?
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