How to Continue Adapting to COVID as a Family

 

The COVID-19 pandemic turned the world upside down at the beginning of the year and hasn’t slowed down. You probably needed time to adjust your family’s routine and lifestyle as everything shut down. Even if it began to work, you can always reflect on your daily life and make the necessary changes to enjoy a happier home.

This guide will teach you how to continue adapting to COVID as a family. Even when new hotspots appear and local health regulations change, your family will stay happy while you ride out the storm together.

1. Find New Masks

 Young kids might not understand the importance of masks. They only know that something’s on their face and it’s less comfortable than breathing without it. When you hand them the same mask they’ve connected with discomfort, they could give you a harder time about wearing it.

 Look around online for new masks from small businesses. You’ll support people in need and get your children new masks that feature their favorite characters or colors. Getting something new is always fun for kids and makes this vital health precaution easier for them to accept.

2. Review Handwashing Guidelines

When COVID-19 began to spread, everyone became hyper-vigilant about washing their hands correctly. Now, frequent washing is normal and probably something you don’t think much about while you do it.

Families must review proper handwashing guidelines and double-check that everyone’s doing it properly. Skipping steps or avoiding it altogether will make everyone less safe while the virus continues to spread.

3. Invent Virtual Activities

Everyone misses seeing their friends in person. When your kids push to visit their friends, introduce new virtual games for them to play during video calls. Inventing something they haven’t tried before makes it easier for them to accept another day of virtual playdates.

4. Schedule Family Video Chats

Feeling isolated has been one of the most challenging aspects of the pandemic. Social distancing will have to continue for some time, so adapt to the continuation of COVID by scheduling family video chats regularly.

Encourage your kids to talk with their grandparents every Sunday night or chat with their cousins over Zoom on Wednesdays. Everyone will tolerate the current conditions better if they don’t feel stuck and alone.

5. Readjust Your Summer Plans

2021 will be a year of adjustments, so it’s difficult to make concrete plans for the summer. While you wait on news of a vaccine and reduced travel restrictions, see if your child’s normal yearly activities have changed with the times.

If they always go to summer camp, review updated camp programs and guidelines so they can still have some fun experiences. Even though they might not be able to bunk with their friends for a week, many spring and summer activities have had time to create fun opportunities that don’t compromise anyone’s health or safety.

6. Try New Foods

Grocery suppliers learned from what happened at the start of the pandemic. They’ve created solutions to avoid stores running out of essential goods, but many people are still nervous about shelves going empty again.

Bringing this up with your family might increase their fear or panic. Instead, introduce new foods as something fun. Every week, get one new canned or boxed food for everyone to try. If they approve, you can secretly stock up on a few without it seeming abnormal. Your pantry will remain full of options, even if the stores start limiting certain purchases.

7. Check In With Everyone

Kids and teens often don’t have the vocabulary to express their emotional needs. Instead, they vent through various reactions like throwing temper tantrums or shutting down into silence.

It’s up to parents to check in with everyone. Speak with your kids during dinner or when you get alone time with each of them. Ask how they’re doing and if anything’s currently weighing on their heart. Once you open the door to talking about how they’re processing everything, they can confront underlying emotions and work through them in healthier ways.

Even if you only speak with them for a minute, doing this regularly sets them up for success with their mental health. They’ll learn how to reflect and deal with their feelings instead of engaging in self-destructive habits. When they’re on their own as adults, they’ll need those skills to continue their self-growth.

8. Teach Self-Care Habits

Another way to check in with yourself is to engage in self-care habits. They’re healthy actions that lower your stress and give you peace in troubled times. Parents can teach their kids about self care by demonstrating new family activities or routines.

Bake cookies together or take nightly walks. Give each child alone time to learn what they enjoy, like maybe taking a bath or reading a book.

Talk About Positive News

These are great ways to continue adapting to COVID as a family but don’t forget to block out the negativity. After catching up on the news, don’t leave it on in the background. Rising death counts and people ignoring health measures only stresses everyone out and fills your home with negativity.

While you explore these new habits and ideas, talk about positive news in addition to the latest bad news. Everyone should have a reason to look forward to a brighter future. Once positivity has a place in your home, it will be easier for everyone to handle the difficult pandemic that isn’t over yet.