How I’m Surviving With An Infant and A Preschooler during the Coronavirus Crisis
Just as soon as I finished writing about how I’m surviving normal, everyday life with an infant and a preschooler, the coronavirus crisis took hold of the entire country. Schools are closed, daycares are shut down, churches and other gathering places have been told not to assemble and many parents are either working from home or not working at all.
I stay at home with my children but we are feeling the virus’ effects as well. My 3 year old daughter goes to preschool two days a week and attends the children’s program at our church on Sundays. Those options are no longer available for the foreseeable future.
After recently thinking through how I would generally survive on a normal day to day basis, I wanted to think through how to survive this time where playdates aren’t an option and other public outlets are unavailable.
And I wanted to share this with those of you who are stay at home parents in a similar situation as me or working parents of small ones who will now be spending more time at home.
Getting through these next few weeks or, God forbid months, of “Stay-at-Home” looks different for families with an infant in the mix as opposed to families with only preschoolers and older children. An infant is a wildcard. They make it hard to make a firm schedule for the family because an infant needs what he/she needs when they need it. So flexibility is key.
The following are my tips and strategies for surviving this very unique situation many of us have found ourselves in. I hope they are helpful.
-One Activity Per Day Goal
Spending lots of time at home with little ones can feel overwhelming. And if you’re like me, you want to try to fill that time with meaningful activities. But that is difficult to do with an infant at home. You may feel guilty like I sometimes do to not be able to fill all of your preschooler’s time with crafts and purposeful play. Instead of feeling guilty about that, I’m choosing to change my perspective and give myself a more realistic goal. The goal is to do one meaningful activity per day with my 3 year old. If I do that, I can end the day feeling like it was a win.
Here are some activity examples:
-Painting
-Play doh
-Rice bins with scoops and bowls
-Using blocks, beads, and shapes to discuss topics like color, size (big and small), more and less, and counting
-Pretend play with dolls and dress up and lots of conversation and vocabulary
Here are some other resources that provide activity ideas:
Kiwico STEM activities for all ages
Scholastic Learn at Home
-Go Outside If You Can
I need fresh air or I go crazy. And we have been blessed to have decent weather lately. I live in a nice neighbor where we can take walks down the street. And we have a backyard for my daughter to run around in.
If you have the ability to get outside at least a couple times a week, do it. It’ll be good for your body and your mind, as well as your children’s.
Most states are advising against going to playgrounds. But if you decide to go because there’s no one else there, it’s a good idea to bring some Clorox wipes to wipe down the equipment and some hand sanitizer for your children to use after they finish playing. And of course, make sure everyone washes their hands when you get home.
One more idea you could do is spread some love through your neighborhood by writing an encouraging message on the walkway or sidewalk in front of your neighbors’ homes. Your toddler could come up with the message and you could write it. Our family had the message “You Are Love” on our walkway and it really made our morning and encouraged our hearts.
-Dance Dance Dance
Yesterday (A Sunday) felt like a long day and I was home alone with my children while my husband got some work done. My energy was low. Then a song popped in my head and I found it on Youtube and my daughter and I proceeded to have a half hour dance party.
So take some down time in the day and get up and dance. Find your child’s favorite music or find yours (preferably something kid friendly) and dance dance dance.
Wanna know the song that popped into my head? Click the link below.
-Do One Thing For You
The days can be long. Especially long if we can’t really go anywhere and do activities with others. Since we will be spending much of our energy day after day caring for the children at home, which can be drain, it’s important to find a few minutes in each day to do one thing for you.
For me, that looks like ordering something yummy for lunch and finding the 30 minutes in the afternoon where both children are asleep or having quiet time and enjoying that food. Or making a nice, hot cup of coffee and enjoying it while the baby sleeps and my daughter watches a show. Or taking a long shower once my husband gets home.
Whatever your daily “one thing” might be, make it high on your priority list to do it. Taking that time each day can help you refuel so you have something in the tank to give to your kids for the next day.
-Movie/ Show Time Is Ok
What better time for Disney+ and Amazon Prime than this?! Seriously, don’t feel pressure to do this craft and that activity and have this much physical activity and these many educational activities. Especially with an infant in the mix. You’ll get very discouraged very quickly. Allow yourself the enjoyment of watching a movie with your children. Frozen 2 will be on Disney+ soon. And there are plenty of educational shows available too. Super Why is a favorite of my daughter’s. They teach great literacy skills like letter recognition and word building. Whatever you chose to watch with your children, enjoy it. Enjoy the songs, the silly, the fun, the learning.
-Go Take A Ride In The Car
Being in the house can be stifling. But we’re not really supposed to go anywhere. And with the current situation we’re facing, I’m not going to take my children into a store or any other public area.
While it may not be safe to go to another location, who says we can’t just go. Get in the car and take a ride. Stop and get a coffee at a drive thru. Go to McDonald’s and get some french fries. Play a game of I spy with your preschooler as you travel down the road. Count it as nap time for your infant. A fifteen minute drive around the neighborhood waving to neighbors and counting cars is a small, simple way to help fight the feeling of isolation and a great way to pass some time.
This is a weird, uncertain time in our country. The other morning I was feeling really bad for my preschooler. She won’t be able to do any activities outside of our home and won’t be able to be around her friends for a while and I can’t really explain to her why and that makes me sad.
But then I feel like God told me look at this season as an opportunity. When Camille remembers this time, it could be that she remembers that her brother was just born and she spent a lot of time at home doing fun things with mom and dad. That one activity. That car ride to pick up french fries. Those walks up and down our street. Watching SuperWhy.
This doesn’t just have to be a time of isolation and separation. But rather a time of purposeful family togetherness. Surviving this time is challenging enough. Add in a preschooler and an infant and the days could get really long. I hope these tips will help you not just survive in this “Stay-at-Home” era but to enjoy this time with your babies and make fun memories together. I would love to tell my kids about this time in history and have them be shocked at what was really going on. Wouldn’t you?
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