How to better live confinement with your children: 7 tips

For many families, the health and economic consequences of the pandemic generated by the coronavirus is only part of the problem that they must know how to deal with on a day-to-day basis.

Having to spend many days in a row in a situation where young children can barely get out into the The outdoors is also hard on parents who are already very stressed during these days.

that's why here We will see some useful tips to know how to live in the best possible way with your sons and daughters during the confinement produced by the outbreak of COVID-19.

• Related article: "Child psychology: a practical guide for fathers and mothers"

Living better with your children during confinement: what to do?

Follow these guidelines to improve coexistence with your children at home.

1. Establish schedules

It is very important to contribute to the daily life of the little ones being structured. The fact of practically not leaving the house makes it easier to lose track of time, and feeds the predisposition to spend a lot of time looking at a screen, for example, while other important aspects of life are neglected.

So, agree with your children what the structure of the schedule they will follow should be; do not limit yourself to imposing it unilaterally, try to get them involved in its creation so that it is something more significant for them. Once "designed", hang it in a place in the house that is highly visible to the little ones.

2. Create a space for the free expression of emotions

The family context cannot be a pressure cooker in which it is necessary to repress what we feel so as not to disturb others. Therefore, on a regular basis, create situations in which the little ones can express their worries, doubts, concerns, etc. Of course, in case they have nothing to say, do not insist; this should not resemble an interrogation.

Try to be as spontaneous as possible when talking with the little ones. AND If at any time someone is especially embarrassed, anxious, and emotionally vulnerable in general, don't brush it off.; Give it the attention it deserves and try to help at the moment. Pretending that nothing is happening to try not to panic would be a mistake.

• You may be interested in: "How to Raise Defiant and Rebellious Children: 8 Parenting Tips"

3. Make sure the rules of coexistence are clear

Avoid at all costs trying to implement very complex rules of coexistence and with several exceptions: it should not cost anything to memorize them. Think that for your sons or daughters the coronavirus crisis is already stressful enough so that you also pretend that they are always alert in case they are breaking rules without knowing it.

4. If you have several children, encourage leadership roles

Fathers and mothers have a very important role when it comes to giving affection, providing sustenance and making it possible for the little ones to learn; however, there is something that adults can hardly reach: being their true benchmarks for behavior in regards to "what's cool" and what's not.

That is why, if possible, we must take advantage of the possibility that older siblings help raise and educate younger siblings: if they do not take many years of difference, they have more experience and maturational development than the youngest in the house, but not enough so that their ways of seeing life are totally disconnected. A boy or girl will almost always try to look like other young people who are a little older than him.

So that, In times of confinement, it doesn't hurt for older brothers to lend a hand: this way they will lighten your workload as a father or mother, and at the same time they will learn to take on new responsibilities.

5. Preach by example

None of the above will be of much use if in your day-to-day behavior your behavior shows that the rules of coexistence and the new habits that you intend to establish to better manage confinement do not have much value to you. Thus, shows that you take these measures seriously both when putting them into practice and when applying them to yourself to you.

6. Try Mindfulness

Mindfulness is a set of practices inspired by Vipassana meditation and that have proven be effective in keeping negative emotions linked to anxiety and low state of mind at bay cheer up. Besides, Since they are very easy to perform, even a child can learn basic Mindfulness exercises..

7. If necessary, call professionals

During the weeks of confinement at home due to the pandemic, psychologists continue to work thanks to online therapy services, via video call.

If you are looking for professional support to better manage coexistence with your children or help them manage their emotions well, you can contact us. In PsychoTools We carry out child and adolescent therapy and we are also experts in Mindfulness. To see our contact information, go to this page.

Bibliographic references:

• European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. (2020) Outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome associated with a novel coronavirus, China; First cases imported in the EU/EEA; second update. ECDC.
• McLaughlin, K.; Behar, E.; Borkovec, T. (2005). Family history of psychological problems in generalized anxiety disorder. Journal of Clinical Psychology 64(7):pp. 905 – 918.