Beth Proudfoot recommends:
Get outside! It's totally okay to take a walk or bike ride with the family when there's a pause in the rain. Just stay at least 6 feet away from strangers, which you'd do anyway.
While you're out there, do a little gathering: pine cones, dry leaves, etc. What kind of fun art project could you create with all these natural objects and a little hot glue? If you've got an old jewelry pin or two, try this: the pin off, glue a square of cardboard to the back of the pin, then cover the cardboard with interesting objects for an entirely unique and beautiful pin for Grandma!
Sylvia Rodriguez recommends:
Something that has been helping me personally is just to acknowledge that there are scary things happening right now! I reassure myself that it is okay to feel anxious and afraid. Then I spend time doing things that are ritualistic in nature. Activities that are repetitive and simple allow my brain to move on, to focus on the activity and not stay in the anxious space. For me, this has been knitting and participating in my faith life. This is a time of "both/and" not "either/or". If our brains or bodies suppress our fears and worries, we will end up holding them in uncomfortable places, like a stiff neck or sore back. Instead, we can practice loving kindness with ourselves (and those around us) by first giving ourselves space to have our feelings, then caring for ourselves by providing healthy distractions for relief.
Routines are important for children and adults alike. Try to keep some of the routines similar to pre-social distancing -- maybe similar waking up and sleeping times, same meal times. If the parents are struggling with the anxiety of the situation (like me) try and limit news/social media to select times in the day to limit the never-ending anxiety provoking articles and posts. Also, to help with the surge of anxiety and depression from social isolation, try to reach out to friends and family. Set up times to talk via video chat or at least phone. I'm sure as we keep living with these changes, we will all come up with more ideas.
Inda Brink recommends:
This is a difficult and confusing time for grown-ups and especially children. Give this phase a name. In my own family, we're calling it "The Great Adventure.” Renaming it in a positive way gives us hope. It's a reminder that we need to model flexibility, openness, compassion and humor.
Another idea: Do your children miss their teacher? Have them make a card and mail it to their school. This gives your children an opportunity to do something special for someone. Just imagine how happy the teacher will be to get a card made just for them!
Angela Dube recommends:
Set up a bird feeder to watch birds.
Start a garden! Gardening can be a great activity to do with kids of any age. Kids tend to really love the opportunity to get a bit dirty and create something. Then, there are the lasting effects of watching it grow, caring for the garden, and getting to eat from it later on. And there are so many ways to do it ranging from a large backyard vegetable garden to small cups with a plant or two on your window sill. This website has some great ideas on gardening activities for kids: https://kidsgardening.org/news-kidsgardening-offers-easy-parent-and-kid-activities/
Draw chalk drawings on your friends’ sidewalks and driveways in the neighborhood. Or find other ways to do random acts of kindness with your kids to brighten someone else's day.
We hope some of our ideas and reassurances will help your family through this difficult time as we all “hunker down” and shelter in place at home. If you need more support and assistance, please call your CFCG therapist to schedule a phone consultation or Zoom meeting. If you are a new or prospective client, please call to ask about a new family intake meeting: (408) 351-1044 ext 3 or send an email through our website on the Contact Us page.