None of us has seen this ever before in the life…the times we are into are some of the most challenging, unprecedented and difficult times. I personally feel the situation has made us more realistic, sensible and sensitive and has given us time to realign our priorities in life. We got a forced pause in life, a moment to reflect on what matters the most, and I can say without any doubt, that for all of us we put our family and especially kids high on the list of priorities.
No amount of preparation can help such situations in life, however, we need to ensure continuity and progress, both professionally and personally. Current times have posed a much bigger challenge for the moms, as the expectation is high and the demands are stringent. Work, kids, household chores and lot more…these are difficult to balance at times, and it is all the more tricky for parents with special needs kids.
We as counsellors and trained teachers empathize and want all parents and caregivers to know that we are here to help you. We engage with special kids on daily basis, for extended hours and have acquired the patience and the skills to manage it well. We hope our experience can help you in making the most out of this lockdown, especially with the special once. Please remember, the situation is equally challenging for the little once, but they can’t say and express….
So, what should we do…of course, stay positive and focus on the moments of love and laughter; this is the best recipe for surviving this pandemic.
As I mentioned, the lockdown and stay at home with the family has made us realise that united we are a formidable force, and if we channelize that energy into a goal, collectively, we come out stronger with minimum damage.
I thought of sharing some tips that can help the parents and children to enjoy life during these times:
1.Update your kid on COVID 19 situation
- talk to your child and give them enough information on the same
- be supportive and explain in simple terms
- share the importance of health and hygiene
- teach them what is social distancing and why it is important
- teach them 20-sec hand-washing rule…sing Happy Birthday while doing it
2.Plan your day
- make a list of the activities to be done throughout the day
- structure your day with a balance of activities
- keep time for reading, playing, creativity, TV and good interaction
- stay active and exercise every day
- eat healthily & remain flexible
3.Think positive
- do some simple meditation activities with your child
- laugh with your child
- count your blessings, feel blessed that you are safe at home
- connect with your family n friends over phone calls and video calls
- avoid bad behaviour as kids learn from us.
- Stay committed to kids, spend some quality time with your child
- read out a book with them or play some game with them
- make some drawings with them or do some colouring
- talk about the things of their interest
- listen to your kids and be a kid to them
- cook as per their linking
5.Handling stress
- you are not alone (we are not in the same boat but in the same storm)
- do something your child enjoys every day
- keep your sense of humour
- keep your calm, take a deep breath
- listen to some soothing music, walk, read a book
The times are tough, but it will pass.
As the Chinese proverb says, “Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come”.
“We believe that during tough times, you don’t cut - you invest”. Let’s invest this precious time on our kids and watch them get better and better with every passing day.
