“Staying at home” creates a whole new set of issues for families. In theory, kids should be doing their school work on line and adults that are able to work from home should be taking care of their work responsibilities. Sounds simple, but….
Juggling jobs, schoolwork, parental duties and feeding everyone can be overwhelming, but with a little planning and some creativity, the whole family can thrive during this period of self-quarantine and social distancing.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that maintaining and providing structure for the day and keeping a routine will keep the chaos at bay.
Routines need to incorporate time for fun as well as educational and physical activities. It’s so easy to spend your day in pajamas but having time frames for personal hygiene, meals, cleanup and rest can reduce stress and anxiety for both children and adults.
Here is an example of a sample schedule that can be adapted for your family based on ages of children and parental job responsibilities.
❖ Physical activities will depend on the ages and physical capabilities of family members. Try to enjoy activities that get the whole family moving.
- Go for a bike ride (wear a helmet) or walk in the neighborhood
- Play games such as hide-and-seek, follow-the-leader, capture the flag, red rover, duck, duck goose, tag, badminton, catch, soccer kicks, kickball
- Stream family friendly workouts –aerobics, yoga, dance routines
- Take a hike in a local park
- Roller-skate or roller-blade, scooters (be sure to wear a helmet)
- Go on a scavenger hunt (inside or out)
- Play freeze dance to everyone’s favorite music
- Have a “Just Dance” competition
- Keep the house tidy with the cleanup game; set a timer and assign everyone a room to speed clean
❖ Educational activities do not have to be school based. Take this opportunity to learn something new as a family. Children love being the “teacher!”
- Take a virtual field trip to regional and international zoos, museums and aquariums (many zoos are giving virtual lessons about animals)
- Visit famous landmarks and interesting regions around the world through books and websites
- Learn about healthy eating and test out new recipes
- Bake together (learning to measure and adjust recipes are important life skills)
- Make laundry day a family event
- Put together age-appropriate puzzles
- Solve word games such as Sudoku, word search and crossword puzzles
- Hold a series of family game nights
- Create a family tree with photos
- Read a book series as a family
- Conduct simple scientific experiments like making homemade slime or determining which objects sink or float in water
❖ Creative activities can help you learn a new skill and build up your imagination.
- Create a physical family tree with photos
- Make shapes and structures with modeling clay or Play-Doh
- Build with blocks and magnetic tiles
- Create a family fort with pillows, sheets and boxes
- Knit, crochet or sew
- Paint pictures
- Play games that require acting like charades or improvisation
- Learn to play or practice a musical instrument (if possible)
❖ Islamic Activities can help you use this time to feed your soul spiritually.
- Learn a new Surah.
- Pray together as a family in Jamaat
- Teach each another new Hadiths.
- Learn a new Dua (eating, sleeping, waking, after Adhan dua)
- Read Quran with translation/tafseer.
- Improve your Tajweed.
- Listen to Islamic lectures.
- Have a different family member give the “Khutbah” on Fridays
The keys to not only surviving but thriving during the quarantine are to be flexible and adapt. Figure out what works for your family and make adjustments as needed to come up with and sustain a daily routine that strikes a balance between work and play, structure and flexibility.
Don’t forget to connect with family and friends virtually. This is more about physically distancing but staying socially and emotionally engaged with loved ones.
Most importantly remember to stay home and wash your hands.
Simee Malik MD
Director of Pediatrics, Salaam Clinic
