Parenting Hacks: How to Keep Your Kids Healthy Amidst Covid-19 virus
In these uncertain times, parents need to make sure that they are not only keeping kids safe and educated but also are taking care of their physical and mental wellness. As a parent, it is our responsibility to assist and prepare them to come back stronger than ever. And in order to do so, it is of the utmost importance to keep kids active and healthy during these stressful and confined circumstances.
Here are some quarantine tips to stay your kids active:
Be empathetic towards them
These are emotionally trying times and parents are being cautious in expressing their concern thinking how it may affect their kid. Trust us, it is the best way to deal with the situation. This means trying to make a connection to the emotions - what your kids are feeling. If you are a parent, think of a challenging time where you have felt a similar emotion. Share those difficult moments with your kid.
Keep them moving
When kids remain indoors most of the times, a sedentary lifestyle becomes a problem. Introduce them to indoor activities that will help them relax. Or just 30 minutes/day of any type of movement can help mitigate the effects of sitting most of the day. That could mean 10 minutes of Yogasana in the morning, playing in the yard, even some deep cleaning of the basement, attic, or garage.
Help them work on mental skills
Between games and studies, it’s normally rare for kids to have the chance to focus on mental skills. Try to teach them meditation practices. Coronavirus quarantine is a great chance to work on that mental strategy.
Find some online resources for your kids
As a matter of concern, most of the schools have made available thousands of free videos for studies, yoga, mobility, strength, and even sport-specific skill building that can be done at home with minimal equipment.
Limit COVID-19 screen time for them
It’s important to limit how much screen time kids have as it relates to COVID-19. They spend hours and hours reading social media and news coverage about it, there is a chance that it can increase anxiety. Kids can stay informed but shouldn’t be spending the entire day online.
Establish or maintain routines
These days, when most of us are indoors, the worst thing that can happen to a kid is to let days slide by. Parents who are working from home leave their kids with phones and without goals to work on. For them, bedtime may not seem as important when there’s no school to wake up for in the morning, but continuing with a routine will be better for your kid’s health. Maintain a routine or set a schedule every day for them. Kids thrive under these conditions.
Keep boredom snacking at bay
Quarantine has given everyone lots of free time and not all of us are aware of what needs to be done. So, we are tempted to fill the void with food, even when we aren’t hungry or the food isn’t healthy. To prevent boredom snacking ask them if they would eat less desirable food. If the answer is no, then they are clearly making demands out of boredom. You can also limit the amount of junk food in the house to reduce mindless eating.
Catch up on sleep
A chronic lack of sleep for kids is associated with physical and mental health consequences, including increased risk of depression and obesity and negative effects on mood, attention, and academic performance.
While this is a time of uncertainty and tough circumstances, we still need to take advantage of these less structured times.
Let’s stay safe, indoors and pro-active!
#stayhome and #staysafe