(Atlantic) The Ann Wickman Child Development Center in Atlantic is providing tips for parents that find themselves at home taking care of their young children. Director Dianna Williams acknowledges this is a unique time for children and adults.
“There are different ways we can keep our little ones active and still maintain a calm atmosphere in our home. There’s no right way or wrong way, everyone is kind of winging it right now.” Williams says to try and help kids adapt to their new normal. ” You want to try and develop some kind of new, fun habits.”
For example she says you can make a game out of washing your hands and brushing your teeth or see who can put their socks on the fastest. It’s important to keep a routine as normal as possible and communicate about any changes.
Being able to video chat with friends and family is nice, but sometimes all that screen time can be too much. “It’s amazing that we live in such a technological age with FaceTime, Skype, and phone calls, but we want to remember that we can still write letters back and forth to everyone. The kids would love getting a letter in the mail from their grandparents or from someone they haven’t heard from in a while. Grandparents would love that too, to be able to get something from their grandkids.”
Thankfully we are still able to go outside and enjoy some fresh air. Physical activity is especially helpful for young children that have had their normalcy thrown off without school or daycare. Scavenger hunts are one suggestion for an outdoor activity.
Williams says kids can show several signs (over-active, clingy, saying their tummy hurts) when they are anxious and often times a simple hug can go a long ways. “Give lots and lots of hugs for reassurance at this time. They need to know that you are there for them, that you are the staple.”
It can be especially challenging when there are fewer places where you can go, but do your best to keep your children busy in a time when their normal routines have been altered. Creating a daily calendar with a chart to checkoff items as you complete them can help.
Williams advises that caregivers can’t neglect their own needs, otherwise they won’t be at their best to provide for kids. Don’t be afraid to steal activity ideas from others you might see on social media. Williams says the more we can help each other and share ideas the better off we’ll be.
