Okay so, new normal, yada yada yada. I don’t need to tell you what’s going on. You’re living it. But let’s get right down to brass tacks. Since we’re all living in this unprecedented (is there another word we can use) time, a few tools would be nice, especially if you’ve got tweens and teens at home. These quarantine tools can benefit everyone in your household.
Here’s the reality…you’ve got teens and tweens at home. You may or may not be on spring break. You may or may not be doing school. Everything is topsy-turvy and uncertainty is the word of the day. So, what do you do?
It doesn’t take much for everyone to get adjusted to living this new life. If you do these four things you’ll be on the right path for living in close quarters and being productive as a family, even during this crazy, interesting time.
Routine
Get into a routine as quickly as possible. If you are on spring break or it’s in the near future, take it and then get right back on track with your schedule.
Encourage your teens and tweens to get up at the same time every day of the “work” week. A recent study showed that people who get up at the same time every day are 13% more satisfied with their lives than those who don’t. Studies have also shown that people who get up at the same time each day have increased productivity, more emotional stability, and stronger immune systems. Who can’t use one of those?
If you are going to try to set up a school or school-like schedule don’t worry so much about times, as about flow. By this I mean, get something done each day. Whether it’s reading, math worksheets, watching science videos, or baking. Create a routine by which your student can do something and then feel the satisfaction of completing that action.
Never underestimate the power of feeling the satisfaction of a job well done. Kids get this every day in school. Let them feel it at home too.
I use a simple schedule to organize our day as a homeschool mom. Throw complicated out the window. Keep it as simple as you can for maximum success.
You can see an example of what I use and then use the template (in the tabs at the bottom) to print your own. Remember, you don’t have to do everything, every day. Make a schedule that works for your kid and then stick to it. Everyone will be happier and healthier if you do.
Prayer
These are challenging times for everyone, even tweens, and teens. They are separated from their friends, restricted from going out and socializing, and probably a little scared about the future. It’s new for all of us and some kids pick up on the non-verbal cues more than others.
Praying as a family and as individuals is an important part of getting through a tough time like this. It’s been proven that prayer has health benefits, from reducing stress to regulating the heart, prayer has a direct impact on our physical well-being. But it does so much more. It increases confidence, brings peace of mind, and gives hope.
There isn’t a kid or parent around who couldn’t use a little hope right now. To help tweens and teens begin a daily habit of prayer I’ve put together some prayer prompts they can print and use. These are quick, easy prayers they can say during this time and even after.
Each one has 45 prompts and is a great jumping-off point for beginning a daily habit of prayer. I’ve also created a packet for parents and all of them have space to add personal prayers and requests.
A little prayer goes a long way. Remember to document the answers too. God has big things in store for all of us during this time. It will be amazing to look back and see how He answered us. Kids need to see this first hand and they can when they begin a habit of daily prayer.
Open Communication
A lot of things are bubbling right under the surface for tweens and teens during normal times. Think of everything going on under there right now. It’s probably at a virtual boil. Add to that confined spaces and it’s like living in a house with a couple of Old Faithfuls in human form. Oooo, fun.
This is new to all of us and kids will naturally have questions. Especially the ones with devices. They are seeing the same press conferences, social media posts, and memes that we are. They are bound to want answers and to even share their opinions.
Make sure you keep the lines of communication open during this time. Be available for questions. Be ready for opinions and insights. Parenting through a crisis like this is very different with teens than it is with littles. Prepare yourself and be honest.
You know what your kid can handle. Dole out the information accordingly. Be sure you have a safe space to talk about what’s going on in the world. And work together to foster honesty, love, and hope in these tight quarters.
Move your body
I’ve been doing this stay-at-home thing for over fourteen years now. I can tell you unequivocally that lying around in your pjs binge-watching TV and foregoing exercise is cool for about five days, max. After that, you just feel like a lump of play-doh. Trust me. You’ve got to move your body. And so do your kids.
I know, practice, heck, the whole season, has been called off and your gym is closed. Friend, there’s no excuse in today’s world for your whole family not to be moving your bodies. Of course, I can recommend some excellent ways to move. You’ve got your no-brainers like walking or going for a jog. I fully support those.
But I also recommend strength training and gettin’ your sweat on.
If you’ve got teenage boys and your husband is working from home, going a little stir-crazy, my number one recommendation for guys is Max Capacity Training. It’s free, fast, and they can use their phones for the whole program. Seriously, I’ve done multiple rounds of this program and it works. Plus, it’s all bodyweight so no equipment is needed.
That being said, it isn’t exactly geared toward women, but if you’d like to give it a try, I do have some modifications for us girls.
If group exercise is more your style, I can’t recommend Get Healthy U TV enough. There are hundreds of videos you can stream on your phone, tablet, desktop, and smart TV. Right now you can get a killer deal for the year. Use code CHRISGOLD20 to get the Gold package for $20.
I’ve been using this service since last year and it’s amazing. There is so much variety for all ages and fitness levels. Your whole family can use it! It’s a great option for teens and tweens too. There are monthly workout calendars and plenty of choices for using equipment or not.
Whatever you choose, just move your body. It will thank you when this is over and so will your pants. Plus, kids need to get their ya ya’s out, even big kids. Staying active at home will help everyone’s mood, well-being, and waistlines.
None of us chose this new reality but we’re all in it together, I mean like, everyone in the world. So, while we’re here, we may as well make the most of it. Use these tools to help you get through as a family. We can do this, together. These few quarantine tools will make a big difference in the long run. Give ’em a try and be sure to let me know how you’re doing.
How’s your quarantine time going?
Photo by Sandie Clarke on Unsplash
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash
