This may support parents with their children at home. This is a difficult and challenging time and children will need time to adapt to new routines.
DO |
DON’T |
Set a simple routine but take your time with the changes. | Expect your child to accept/adapt these changes immediately |
Try to teach your child – there are lots of life skills that can now be imbedded in our children. | Try to be a subject teacher! There are plenty of life lessons that parents can teach. |
Spend time together as a family | Push for more than usual, you can take your time to give the children the chance to adapt! |
Expect tantrums! | Let those tantrums get you down! Take a breath. These are scary times for everyone, even adults a struggling but we have the maturity to deal with them. |
Spend time apart! It is important you find, even a small space, for your own thoughts. | Worry if others need to do the same. Personal space is important. |
Create a set of ground rules. How you can/can’t speak to each other. The need for MUTUAL respect (in appropriate age speak!) | Expect these rules to be followed 100% straight away. It takes us all time to get used to new things. |
See the positives – what a fantastic opportunity to instil real family values into our children in a way we didn’t have the opportunity to do before. | Focus on what we can’t do. There are ways we can help others in new and unusual ways! |
Remember every child will probably respond differently to this situation | Expect every child in the same age bracket to respond the same. |
Focus on you and your family, your timetables, your way of working needs to suit the people in your house. | Compare how your family are responding to anyone else’s. We are all different and have different needs. |