Coronavirus: How to create a low stress schedule for kids during self-isolation

Australia’s response to the Coronavirus pandemic is changing by the day. As families begin to physically distance and self-isolate themselves to protect their health and flatten the curve, many of the parents and caregivers we work with are wondering how to structure their kids’ day without feeling overwhelmed.

Self-isolation is a game changer for families, and moving forward, life as we know it will look anything but usual. For young kids, especially, we need to help them through what could be months of physical distancing from friends, regular learning and their school community. We will need to consider how this new way of living looks and feels to them and us.

In many ways, children crave structure. They like the predictability of knowing what is happening now and in the near future. It builds safety and security, and helps to minimise difficulties with transition periods. If they don’t have some kind of structure, they will find unhelpful ways through their behaviour to communicate that they are struggling.

So how can parents create a daily structure that helps kids but doesn’t drive us to exhaustion?

Firstly, let go of high expectations – for yourself and your kids! We know, it’s easier said than done. Secondly, you don’t need to get to the level of a primary school teacher, it’s perfectly okay to keep it simple.

We’re seeing many parents get stressed about learning and academic outcomes, but what is more important is seeing this as an opportunity to slow things down a bit and focus on connection as a family.

Our stressed out environment comes with constant pressure and juggling as it is. But remember, children have basic needs – security, stability and connection. They learn and develop through play, nature, relationships, free time to imagine and create, and lots of moments of connection.

For the time being, as we go into the Easter holidays and the likelihood of an extended period of children being at home, academia can take a back seat. That’s not to say forget about it but if parents, let alone children, are going to come through this relatively unscathed, we all need to reboot or reprogram to prioritise what matters.

So in creating a daily schedule, I purposely did not set times. Everyone will operate on different time frames and every child’s needs are different. By following this guide, parents will have a structure that follows the same patterns and rhythms in the day, but it’s completely up to the families to be flexible with what activities to do and how long for.

How to start you daily schedule for kids

Get a large poster (around A3 size) or a whiteboard and write your schedule on there. During a ‘school week’, get up at the same time or a bit later and keep a reasonable bedtime that’s consistent. Make it look like a normal morning. After their usual breakfast, gather around their poster to see what’s happening for the day.

Your poster could set an order of when they will read, when they will do maths, when they will have free time, snacks and physical activity/time outside. We encourage families to be realistic and build in breaks, as sitting and learning for extended periods of time can be difficult for anyone. While many kids will need to use their computers to complete online work, try to limit their screen exposure where feasible (and yes, this could be a battle).

For toddlers, they thrive on regular rhythms that follow the same pattern every day. The rhythm should follow your child’s energy and interests.

In terms of how to structure the day for kinder and school aged children, here are some considerations:

• Include mini breaks. Young children can typically hold attention for direct instructional learning for seven minutes before needing a movement break.
• See moments of care as moments of connection. Getting dressed and going outside can be those moments of connection. Find ways to guide the child and ways to work with them rather than threatening or using bribery.
• Try not to be a bossy parent and let them make mistakes and be messy during their activities or learning. It’s a new environment and structure they’re getting used to.
• Limit TV screens during the day unless it has an educational purpose.

Advice for parents working from home

If you are a two parent household navigating remote work while schools and day-care facilities are closed, try to discuss ahead of time what your scheduling needs are for the next day. Block out times for meetings or other tasks that require your undivided attention, or alternate days so each of you can get in a chunk of uninterrupted work time or self care.

For single parents of young children, this will be challenging and it will mean having to find moments in the day (for example, when the kids are having free time) or in the evening when you can have dedicated periods for work. But I hear you, it will be hard and tiring. Be gentle on yourself. You’re doing the best you can.

General kids schedule guide for isolation

Ideas for learning and making it fun

Learning doesn’t need to be all work and no play. Quite the opposite actually! Let your children teach you about a new fact or skill they’ve been working on. Games and hands-on activities are a great way to break up online learning or worksheets. Other creative ways to help them learn is by getting them to write a story about what they did during the day or find writing prompts online to encourage their natural imagination. For maths skills, they could create a store in the kitchen or learn about fractions with cooking activities. Netflix, Stan, Amazon Prime or your streaming service of choice will have a plethora of educational documentaries if you need a time out.

A final thing to consider is yours and your child’s mental state. While many of us are focused on the physical aspect of social distancing, we can’t underestimate the mental impact it will have on families. We understand it won’t be easy and you can only do your best.

While it might be stressful for parents, a clear routine will help to avoid power struggles or difficulties while isolating. However, we want you to know that we are here if you need us. You can contact us via our contact page or phone 0426 826 627.

Play Therapy Hub will continue to see existing and current clients as well as offering counselling, parent education and support via telephone and video.