Elevator At a time when COVID-19 is changing what it means to have a family day, many parents are finding themselves in a similar situation – trying to keep their children safe, educated and entertained. With schools across the country closed indefinitely and physical distancing in order, families are facing the immense challenge of redefining their typical weekday by incorporating learning lessons, fun activities and a little bit of extra family time.
Across Canada, families are taking a variety of approaches to the change. We spoke with some of Western Canada’s top Family and Lifestyle influencers to find out how the change has affected their daily lives and what they’re doing to adjust their structure and add a little bit of fun.
FIND THE ROUTINE THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU
“We all wake up between 7-8 a.m. each morning, have breakfast (and lots of coffee!) together as a family. The slower mornings allow for the kids to be more active with cooking and my oldest has even started making coffee for us!” said Jasmin Shannon of Lemons for Days, whose new routine includes a mix of fun and educational family activities with a work-friendly schedule for Mom and Dad. Like many parents, Jasmin needed to ensure her family’s weekly schedule included uninterrupted time to work. “My husband and I switch back and forth with work days. He gets Mondays and Wednesdays, I get Tuesdays and Thursdays, and we share Friday.”
Finding a routine that’s right for your family can be challenging, but shouldn’t add additional stress at an already uncertain time. “Right now is a time filled with confusion and anxiety,” explained Janette Shearer, creator of Ava to Zoe. “I’m taking it slow and focusing on learning a few more life skills together at this time and building a stronger family bond.”
GET CREATIVE WITH EDUCATION AT HOME
For families with school-aged children, impact on education has been top of mind, but it’s important to remember that learning and development can come from many different activities. “The way I see it, our kids have a really long road ahead of them with schooling, this is a rare opportunity for many to take in this time with their children and watch the way they learn and interact with their surroundings,” explained Janette. The extra time together also allows for parents to learn and grow along with their children and encourage confidence and self-sufficiency. “Once the lessons come in from the teacher, we will work on incorporating them into our day, but fresh air and life lessons will remain a daily activity!”
MAKE TIME FOR FUN AND LASTING MEMORIES
Adding some unique and memorable activities into your weekly routine can be a life lesson on its own, and can be exciting for families. Like many, Jasmin Shannon and her family have taken advantage of this time, including fun and play through the use of Theme Days. “We wrote several themes onto popsicle sticks and have the kids blindly choose one theme each night before they go to bed,” she explained. Not only does the daily activity entertain the kids, it also gives parents the chance to have a little fun as well. “When they’re sleeping, my husband and I prepare the crafts, activities, songs, dances and movies, all based on the theme they’ve chosen.”
It’s important to remember that adding creative and fun activities to your day can be beneficial for maintaining a positive attitude and taking care of your mental health during nerve-wrecking times such as these, and can also put kids at ease during the confusion. “Our kids LOVE having both parents around, they get so excited for a brand new theme each day. They both think we’re on one long vacation,” says Jasmin.
But perhaps the most important piece of advice during these difficult times is to not overthink your schedule and find what is most fitting to your family, allowing yourself to take each day as it comes.
