How to keep your kids busy (and retain your sanity) during a pandemic

With COVID-19 bringing an early end to the school year, many parents are looking for ways to keep their children busy now more than ever. (Image via Shutterstock)

By Alexis Dill MS PLMFT, adill@stph.org

Usually at this time of year, parents in our community are just starting to feel the hit of having their children home with them 24/7 over summer break.

This year, however, with schools closing two months early thanks to COVID-19, many might be asking themselves, “How is summer just NOW beginning?”

Making things even more difficult is the fact that COVID restrictions have limited options for potential family outings, leaving parents looking for at-home activities to do with their children now more than ever.

With that in mind, here are some tips from the experts at St. Tammany Health System’s Parenting Center, which works to build confidence in parents and positive self-esteem in their children – and which reopens to its members on Monday (June 8) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with all government-ordered guidelines in place.  

Spend some time outdoors. Have a “water day” full of blow-up pools, water balloons, sprinklers and – if you want to be really creative – some homemade ice pops for a cool treat!

Practice writing skills. Have young children draw pictures and older children write letters to our essential workers. Also, buy each child a journal to document their experiences during this time. It can be something that they can look back on when they are older to remember what “life during quarantine” was like.

Get cookin’. Cooking provides a sense of confidence and independence in children. Allow them to help you with simple recipes.

Have a family spa day. We could all use one right about now. Make your own face masks, do manicures and pedicures, find a yoga video on YouTube and, to make your experience even more authentic, try out different recipes of “sassy water” – aka fruit-infused water – and vote on your favorite!

We hope this gives you some ideas for ways to keep your kids busy during this time. Staying at home with children can be hard, but we hope this makes things just a little easier!

*****

Below, find a list of upcoming Parenting Center classes for new parents and new siblings. For a full schedule of events, visit STPH.org/ParentingCenter.

• On Saturday, June 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, the Parenting Center will host a Boot Camp for New Dads. The class is open to the public and costs $15. It will be facilitated by veteran fathers and will teach rookie dads the realities of fatherhood. Topics include caring for mom and baby. For details visit STPH.org/Parenting Center, email adill@stph.org or call (985)898-4435

• On Saturday (June 20), from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the Parenting Center will host Baby Chat for Siblings. The cost of the class will be $10 per family. Open to the public, it will be facilitated by Juli Chastaine CCLS MS and will teach big brother and/or big sister everything they need to know about becoming a big sibling. Topics include proper handling of newborns and coping skills. For details visit STPH.org/Parenting Center, email adill@stph.org or call (985)898-4435.

• On Monday, June 22, and Tuesday, June 23, the Parenting Center will host a Safe Sitter course from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The cost of the class is $95 per student. It will teach children CPR, choking rescue, child safety and safety in an online world, child care, life and business skills, behavior management and much more. Class fee is nonrefundable. Bring a bag lunch, snacks included. For details visit STPH.org/Parenting Center, email adill@stph.org or call (985)898-4435.