Parents around the world have been adjusting to stay-at-home orders due to Covid-19 and I am hearing from parents about the struggles they are experiencing. If you're struggling at home, you aren't alone. Many of the challenges I am hearing are the same or similar: more tantrums, balancing work and overseeing schoolwork, managing remote learning, family on top of one another, no space, explaining this situation to younger children, helping older children cope with being away from friends, and more... Whether you practice Positive Discipline or not, I am going to share tips and tools to that may be helpful as you and your family navigate the current circumstances. The first is: RoutinesThere are MANY benefits to routines including: providing structure and predictability, efficiency, skill-building, developing feelings of capability, problem-solving, teamwork. Especially during times of change, routines can provide a sense of reliability, familiarity, and consistency. When virtual learning started for us, I created a daily schedule (a school-at-home routine) that DID NOT WORK. Schoolwork was not being done. We had meltdowns. The "school day" was lasting into the evening. Everyone was unhappy. Instead of holding onto the routine or getting discouraged, we made changes and adapted until we found a better fit. This is what has been working:
A few important points about routines:
Lastly, routines can help make transitions easier. When stay-at-home is over and we are returning to work and school, routines can help us make that transition smoother. Following a routine is a skill that can be adapted as circumstances necessitate change.
If you'd like to create a routine chart for your child, you can find the steps, some helpful tips, and some examples from Dr. Jane Nelsen and Mary Nelsen Tamborski on the Positive Discipline website.
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