Tips for Parents as We Transition Our Families Back Into the World After the Covid-19 Pandemic
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Hmmmmm….
While hoping we could flip a switch back to normal life after Covid-19, the reality may look more like the slow journey of the last drop of honey out of Pooh’s honey jar.
So while we wait for people to get vaccines, or for herd immunity, or for the curve to flatten, how can we prepare to TRANSITION to the other side?
What will the other side look like?
New normal? What is that?
Here is some food for thought, some glances into the future, and some ideas and tips on how you can navigate this transitional period as the leaders of your families. It likely will require grounding ourselves in an abundance of patience, a little preparation, and the need to spread kindness like it’s hand sanitizer!
Exiting The Time Warp
Before Covid-19, calendars were packed with practices, plays, carpools, meetings, parties, and doctor appointments.
Then BAM!
The Covid-19 time warp began and we were forced to jump in!
There were no breaks.
No date nights.
One day rolled into the next. What day is it? What month? How many days has it been since I showered?
As we began to gradually emerge for limited masked activities, life was still weird as we made reservations for everything from zoo visits to shopping pick-ups.
Holidays have come and gone.
Restrictions lifted and imposed again, and then lifted once more.
What day is it? What is happening?
Being conscious and purposeful may be the key to our own sanity as we think ahead of ways to help the family get back to living in public. Here are a few ideas…
Talk with your teens about getting back to the household shower schedules, morning alarms, and routines that may have been left behind in early 2020.
Go back to preparing the diaper bag, or adding extra time to help a preschooler get themselves dressed in the morning.
Have you potty trained during the pandemic? Always know where the nearest bathrooms are as you head out into public!
Give the family a week to practice new wake-up times and routines.
Revisit your coat rack and backpack drop off areas. Do they need a little re-organization to keep things running efficiently as we head back out into the world? Is there a spot for masks or hand sanitizer if needed?
Is extra time needed to check-in for appointments, schools, and activities as protocols continue?
Traffic is already starting to get back to some normal levels. Plan for extra travel times!
Will, there come a time when the 40-minute wait will build up again at our favorite pancake restaurant, or the kids will have to squeeze their way through a crowd to see the poison dart frogs at the zoo? We have not dealt with crowds over the past year. We all may need to remember how to take turns. Packing a few snacks and having a few activities in mind for these moments will help. Memory games or I spy are always good in a pinch!
Talk, Listen, Talk!
Listen to kids. That will be one of the best tools for gauging how they are doing.
Ask questions like, what was the best/worst things about school, or your play-date, or the school dance. Avoid asking yes/no questions.
Share with the kids new developments such as mom will be going back to her office to work, or dad will be working from home all the time. They like to be kept in the loop!
Be prepared for some behavior changes as kids adjust to social situations. Little ones may not be able to verbalize their emotions, and that can look like frustrations or tantrums. Some kids may be overly talkative, while others are quieter. Be there and check-in as needed.
Give kids a heads up about how activities will look before you go. Will they need to stick close to you? Will they get their temperature checked? Can they play freely at the playground? Can they take off their mask?
Some kids may need “warm-up” time before they are ready for all the relatives to come at them with bear hugs and kisses. Allow them to take their time.
Give reminders on social norms, manners, and for younger kids, sharing as we get back to socializing with others. Practice or role-play to help kids get back into their groove.
Talk with your pediatrician as needed about struggles your kids may be having or ask about references for counseling or mental health if needed.
The Comfort of the Basics
In general, people do not like change.
Transitioning back into public will likely be an ebb and flow of old, and new protocols as constraints are lifted.
Some people will embrace it, while others will be cautious.
Find your family’s sweet spot and roll forward in your own comfort zone, while respecting the comfort zones of others.
Stabilize this environment for the family by keeping the basics and routines in place at home. This gives the kids a sense of security and comfort in this changing environment. It helps us as parents as well to deal with our own struggles during this time.
Eat healthy foods. Follow the 80% healthy and 20% treat rule! We all deserve a few treats during this!
Exercise and get fresh air! It wears out the kids so the parents can rest! It keeps us physically strong and can help balance emotions.
Sleep! Turn off the stream of re-runs! Get the kids to bed on time. Give yourself 30 minutes of screen-free time before bed.
Incorporate some quiet times for the family! It could be a quiet time for reading, drawing, meditating, praying.
Pay attention to the vibe of the house. Add music, scented candles, open windows. Bring down the mood with a tranquil vibe if needed, or fire it up with some loud music and a dance party.
Maintain routines. Bedtimes, homework routines, chores, etc. Kids may not love these tasks, but subconsciously they like the predictability of routines.
Pay attention to your feelings, emotions, and tone. It trickles down to the very youngest. If you need a break…take one! Order take-out for dinner. Put on a movie for the kids and give yourself time to re-groups if needed.
Make Plans As Needed
What might you need to plan for? Here are some thoughts…
Have a plan for when someone gets sick. What is the protocol for school or work in this post-covid era? Know the system. Make sure phone numbers are handy. Who will work? Who will do sick kid duty?
Put important events on your calendar now, because as the world opens up, it’s likely that your calendar will be overflowing with get-togethers and events! Leave some downtime on your calendar to catch your breath!
Start kids off with one friend and work your way up to a few. They may need to practice their social interactions, and get their comfort level back, before joining large playgroups, classes, or activities.
Create some fun plans as milestones as you work your way through transition! As protocols lift, what can you start doing again?
Meet with friends?
Go on a date while the kids have fun with their favorite sitter they missed?
Spend the weekend in a cabin with grandparents?
Excited to host large gatherings again? Have some fun planning what it will look like! Who will you invite? What will you cook? Celebrations and parties will be filling our calendars I bet! Get out your party clothes and dust off your dancing shoes!
I hope you and your family have a smooth transition back into social life out in public!
If you found some helpful tips, share this article with other parents you know!
Here are some other parenting posts to check out…
Tips For Talking With Kids When Bad Things Happen in the News
Learning From Home: A List of FUN Educational Activities for the Whole Family
