Now, more than ever, kids need structure. Why? Studies show schedules make children feel safe and secure.
With California now under an indefinite shelter-in-place order, parents now have to figure out how to keep a structured schedule for their kids. Here are some tips.
1. Create a schedule
Keeping things on schedule (like what time your kids wake up, eat lunch, and study) creates consistency, which in return makes a potentially scary situation feel more safe and predictable.
2. Teach Life Skills
Next, let's talk about life skills. How many times have you caught yourself saying, "I wish they taught me that in school"? Well, now is the time to teach your kids the classics like cooking, cleaning, and managing relationships.
One study shows that kids who start doing chores at an early age (around 3 or 4 years old) are more likely to have better relationships, academic success, and strong self-reliance.
3. Virtual Field Trips
Some parents may be afraid their children are going to get bored at home. The folks from Harvard University say boredom can lead to anxiety, loneliness, and depression.
To help our children fight boredom, ABC10's Brittany Begley found a list of virtual "field trips" to experience with your child, like The Great Wall of China, NASA Mission Room, and the San Diego Zoo.
4. Weather Series
Finally, ABC20 meteorologist Rob Carlmark has a series, Weather You Know, to teach your kids about the weather. Our meteorologists also explain the science behind some of the everyday things we encounter in our life in our Geek Lab series.
Continue the conversation with Brittany on Facebook.
More about coronavirus from ABC10:
- Male mortality rate from coronavirus twice as high as females in Italy
- Reports: 4 US senators sold stocks before coronavirus market crash
- What a 'stay-at-home' order means during the coronavirus pandemic
- Nurses at Kaiser Roseville, South Sacramento say hospitals aren't taking proper coronavirus precautions for workers
- 'We desperately need food' | Elk Grove Food Bank says it will run out of food in 15 days
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