Plan a routine you can stick to.
O course lannin a routine is easier than
stickin to it ere are soe suestions
or akin it actually ork
Enae your chil in akin the
scheule This ill hel the uy into it For
eale y kis each chose hich suect
to start ith an ote to alternate art an
usic eery other ay Use this hany
lanner ith your aily to et starte
Post your aily scheule so eeryone
knos hat to eect an so you can
oint to it instea o anserin constant
uestions aout hen soethin is oin to
haen We oste ours on the rie an
lan to o oer it hile e eat reakast
I you all out o your scheule ont
orry aout it Just reset an try aain
Make austents i you nee to When
our yearol nishe his ath ork
early e erace his suestion o
ree reain When our yearol ho
oesnt usually na ell aslee on the
couch e rolle ith it
ee in in that hain a reictale
scheule oesnt ean you hae to lie
y a rii clock In act this can e a
oo oortunity to loosen u soe tie
liitations that hae een stressin you
out In our house e usually hae to et
our eole out o the house y :a
eery eekay ornin No ere
enoyin lettin the kis slee until their
oies are reay to ake u
oe all as you naiate your ne
routine try to cultiate atience ractice
eathy or your kis an kee a sense
o huor This can e icult in ties o
crisis ut its also ore iortant than
eer Fortunately kis ie us lots o
reasons to lauh n those unreictale
oents can e ust hat
e nee to ake our ne
routines ork
Schedule two or three times
a day to get outside.
Be hysically actie Its iortant or
stayin healthy its a reat stress relieer
it hels us ocus hen e et ack to
ork an it akes it easier to slee
at niht
Unortunately a lot o hat kis like to o
outsie is oliits riht no ecause it
inoles ettin close to other eole
like cliin on layroun euient
an layin soccer toether Instea
try oin or a aily alk or challene
each other to ski ho an u as any
ties as you can Rie ikes or scooters
Do sile eercises like uin acks
or ore cole oes like cartheels
I you cant et outsie or you lie in a
lace here you cant e at a sae istance
ro others outsie lay hysical aes
inoors like Sion Says Freee Dance or
Re iht reen iht n ho oesnt
loe to hae a ance arty in the kitchen
lso consier irtual layates ith riens
an aily Its a reat ay to check in on
each other urin this tie
Set aside some quiet time.
Nas are still iortant or youn kis
Oler kis nee soe reictale
ontie too esecially in a stressul
an uncertain tie like this ou can n
lots o reat ree inulness as an
actiities online or rea these tis on ho
to hel your aily estress n to o
lotech kee a aily ournal or ake
a aily list o three thins each o you is
rateul or Post the on the rie or ut
the in a ar so you can reisit the hen
youre eelin on or stresse
Set scheduled mealtimes
and snack times.
iin in to the ure to eat all ay lon ill
ust ake you an your kis letharic n
hain set ties ies eeryone a reak
to look orar to
Consider your needs as a
working from home.
I youre orkin ro hoe it can e
tricky ith the kis aroun Set u soe
eectations ith your chilren aout
hen youll e ale to hel an hen
you ont Buil into the scheule soe
actiities you kno theyll e ale to o
on their on an yes eucational T
shos are okay Be atient ith the
an yoursel hile youre ettin into a
rooe our kis iht strule to e
ineenent at rst esecially i theyre
ecite to hae you aroun ut theyll
raually et use to it ou roaly ont
e as rouctie as usual an thats okay
Consier your on nees an uil the
into your scheule Shoer Prioritie
slee Plan tie or each arent to hae
a e oents to theseles I take a
e inutes o leisure reain tie urin
y kis reain tie My introerte
husan tries to take soe alks y
hisel to enoy the uiet Takin care o
yoursel ill not only hel you stay healthy
ut it ill kee you centere so you can
take care o your kis
Keep loose but predictable
afternoon and evening
schedules.
I you norally o a ath eery to ays
stay in that rooe I you hae a liit on
screen tie on school ays stick to it
or i you ant to ean it o it in an
intentional ay so the kis kno the
rules n seie the oortunity
to o ne thins Maye youe
alays ante to hae aily
inners ut ork scheules
reente it This is a reat
tie to a that to your
aily routine
9
• Suzanne Bouffard is a writer, developmental psychologist, and author of The Most Important Year:
or follow her on Twitter @SuzanneBouffard.