How to Help Children Embrace the New Normal
Today, we’ll be talking about the importance of maintaining a schedule and how this one simple tool can create certainty in a time of so much uncertainty.
Children thrive off of structure, quarantine or no quarantine. This is especially true for children who already deal with anxiety. At the core of anxiety is a fear of the unknown and feeling a lack of control. It’s because of this that the implementation of a consistent schedule and structure is so impactful because it creates a sense of control and preparedness.
The need for social distancing during this time has unfortunately flipped everyone’s schedule upside down and it’s crucial to create a “new normal” by establishing a new schedule. In school, children operated from a consistent schedule and they were able to anticipate when their next class or activity would begin. Now that virtual learning has been put in place, it’s important that they can predict what is coming next and what is expected of them.
Below are some helpful starting points to creating a schedule:
Implement a consistent wake up time. Ideally one that isn’t too far off from their “in
school” schedule.
Create a block schedule. For example, from 10:00-11:30 work on reading and math and
from 12:00-1:30 work on science and social studies.
Make sure to make time for breaks.
Set aside time for lunch
Incorporate a grounding/self-care exercise after school work is complete. Examples of some exercises include going for a walk, drawing, yoga, or reading. By doing this, it will help them process and work through any feelings that school work might have brought up, such as frustration or stress.
Implement a consistent bed time and routine, again ideally one that is similar to their “in school” schedule.
