Surviving Quarantine: The Kids-at-Home Survival Guide & Screen Safety Plan

By Media Savvy Moms PodcastOn April 8, 2020October 21, 2020

Surviving Quarantine: The Kids-at-Home Survival Guide & Screen Safety Plan

We’re still buried in the COVID-19 crisis. (Can you believe it?!) Working from home, schooling from home, social distancing, sheltering-in-place. Going stir crazy. How’s everyone doing? Want a tool to help?

All of life’s challenges are now packed into a tiny box (our homes) full of emotions, work, school, and whatever else your family happens to have in the mix.

On Day 1, everyone and their dog had a plan, with pretty lists all in a row. But by week’s end all those plans were in the dust-bin, and we were huddled in a corner watching Netflix and binging on chocolate ice cream. But now we’re in for the long haul. So we should probably find a plan that fits somewhere in between. Right?

Tune in for a chat about what’s REALLY going on and some tips on how to support our families through these challenging times.

Getting in the groove

So, have you figured it out yet? Is everything running smoothly? If you’re like us, there’s probably an ebb and flow. You have some good days and bad days. And that’s ok! We’re all learning what works and what doesn’t.

Like our friends at nextTalk said on a recent podcast, it’s kind of like we’ve all been thrown into a cold pool. It takes time to adjust. (Although sometimes it might feel more like a pressure cooker.) The point is … as we start swimming and moving around in this new space, it will eventually feel more comfortable. We just need to give it time.

Did you catch Melody and Marilyn on Facebook Live during the first week of the crisis? Click the video below to view the broadcast: Parenting and COVID-19: The Struggle is Real!

One way to get everyone on the same page is to have a Family Power Meeting. Gather the troops and talk about the issues: schedules, chores, entertainment, and screen time. All of these things are going to look and feel different during quarantine. Download our Kids-at-Home Survival Guide & Safety Plan below to help you break it down one piece at a time.

When you are putting together your family schedule, remember:

There is no cookie-cutter schedule that will work for every family
It’s ok to color outside the lines and be flexible
Schedule life in a way that works for YOU!
Bad days are allowed—every day is a new day
Follow up, re-evaluate, and adjust as needed

Crisis schooling is not the same as homeschooling

Poor kids. And poor us! We didn’t plan to have school stuck in the house all day. And by the way, even homeschooling families didn’t plan to be this isolated for home education. With libraries, parks, museums, and other public facilities off limits, this is a whole new kind of schooling-at-home.

We appreciate what blogger Heather Anne has to say: Being home all day is NOT normal. Children are grieving. They are used to having time with friends, a routine, and a predictable schedule. And so are you! So give yourself a break! We are allowed to feel a little frustrated right now.

When you’re feeling down (or confused) about new educational arrangements, here are a few things to remember:

Lower your expectations. It’s ok not to be amazing. No need to aim for the homeschooler-of-the-year award. We’re just figuring this out as we go.
You do not have to put in a 6-hour school day. School work can get done faster at home because you are working one-on-one with your child, rather than getting 30 kids up to speed. Don’t create soul-sucking busy work to fill in the gaps.
Think outside the box. There are so many educational things we can do with our kids at home that don’t involve a pencil and paper (or computer). Listen to hear how Marilyn turned making pizza into a chemistry lesson and how playing Monopoly helped sharpen Math skills with Melody’s son.
Teach life skills. This is a GREAT time to focus on learning things we don’t normally “get to do” when our time is more structured. Have your kids help you plant a garden, paint a room, build a treehouse, learn to cook, or fix a bike. The sky’s the limit.

Tune in to hear more fun ideas Melody and Marilyn are using to keep their families from going crazy!

Making screen safety a priority

Everyone is going to be spending more time on screens during the quarantine. It’s unavoidable. We’re using screens for school, work, and keeping in touch with other human beings we’re used to seeing in person! It’s wise to keep in mind:

All screen time is not created equal.
It’s easy to get sucked in 24/7.

These are stressful times. It can be tempting for all of us to turn to screens as a coping mechanism. Help kids create a healthy balance of screen versus non-screen activities during their days at home. Review online dangers including the harms of pornography. We can help with—you guessed it—our Kids-at-Home Survival Guide & Screen Safety Plan. Are you sensing a theme here? LOL

Now’s definitely not the time to slip into a false sense of security. Hazard zones for porn are concentrated in quarantine. Teach kids what to watch out for and how to stay safe. Review the basics. Avoid screens in bedrooms. Turn off video games at a reasonable hour. Ask outright, what do you do if you see pornography?

Episode challenge

Want help keeping everyone organized, happy and balanced during this stressful time? Download our Kids-at-Home Survival Guide & Screen Safety Plan to help lead you through the steps for having a Family Power Meeting and designing a custom schedule that works for you.

Thanks for listening! If you enjoyed the show, please leave a positive review or tell a friend!

Links:

Homeschooling is NOT the Same as Crisis Schooling: advice during coronavirus COVID -19 shut downs (HeatherAnneWorld.com)

Parenting In a Pandemic: Week 3 (nextTalk)

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Media Savvy Moms Podcast

Who knew honest conversations about parenting and pornography could be so approachable? Join Marilyn for a series of contemplations, chats, and interviews as she helps fellow parents tackle this challenging topic with their kids.

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