Weekly Family Activities to help during COVID-19
When navigating Coronavirus as a Family, author Dara Winely, found that her discussions with her clients shifted from “talking about what brought them into therapy to how do I talk to my children about the coronavirus?” As we all have experienced, this global epidemic has brought fear and anxiety to many. In specific, to seniors, as they are the ones most at risk. While daycares and schools are closing down temporarily, families are having trouble occupying their young ones without always resorting to screen time.
Studies have discovered “that children in families with high cohesion are likely to demonstrate low anxiety symptoms compared to children in families with low cohesion (Peleg-Popko & Dar, 2001; Victor, et al., 2007).” Below, Winely suggests this weekly calendar of entertaining activities to do with the family:
Mazed Monday.
Work on a puzzle or make one
Create a scavenger hunt around the house
Create your own escape room.
Agree on a theme
Have everybody come up with 3-5 clues
Place them around the house
Make a list of rules
Set a time limit
PLAY!
Tuesday Tunes.
Create a playlist together
Each person is responsible for adding 3-5 songs
Have a karaoke night
Listen to music all-day
Wind Down Wednesday. During these times, it is okay to feel anxious and concerned about the future. It is best to just take a step back sometimes and look at what is right in front of you: your loved ones.
Start the day off with a morning exercise or stretch
Meditate or sit in silence
Listen to soothing nature sounds, ocean waves, or piano music
Thriving Thursday.
Help your kids stay on task by creating a brief “to-do list”
This may include chores, homework assignments, reading time, and playtime.
It also helps to set some guidelines as to when these tasks should be done and what the consequences or rewards maybe if done so or not to ensure goals are met.
Don’t forget to include breaks
Fancy Friday.
Have your child pick a fun, family activity
Picnics in the backyard
Backyard tent camping
Late night dance party
Dinner and a movie
Play a board game
Cook for the next day’s meals or dessert
Sit Down Saturday.
Take time to answer any questions your child may have
Ask them if you can help them with the transition from in school to at-home learning
Openly process new information with them
Have family meetings to listen to everyone’s needs
Check-in with your child
What is on your mind?
What do you care about?
What are your values?
Soul Sunday.
Take time to reflect on this past week
Winley recommends to take 15 minutes to do so by asking yourself these few questions and sharing them as you wish:
What was your favorite part of your day/week?
What has been the most challenging?
What do you hope to change this week?
Journal
Take some “me time”
Write letters to loved ones, checking in on how they are doing
By taking this time to spend with the family and by reaching out to others, it may help you feel less isolated. You may even discover something new about yourself or others. For more information on how to manage family weeks with COVID-19, please visit our website at Hilber Psychological Services or Contact Us for more information.
Written by Lily Schmitt and Tanya L. Hilber, PsyD
References
Fuhs, M. W., Nesbitt, K. T., & Jackson, H. (2018). Chronic absenteeism and preschool children's executive functioning skills development. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 23(1-2), 39-52.
Peleg-Popko, O., & Dar, R. (2001). Marital quality, family patterns, and children's fears and social anxiety. Contemporary Family Therapy, 23(4), 465-487.
Victor, A. M., Bernat, D. H., Bernstein, G. A., & Layne, A. E. (2007). Effects of parent and family characteristics on treatment outcome of anxious children. Journal of anxiety disorders, 21(6), 835-848.
Winely, Dana. “Navigating Coronavirus as a Family.” Psychology Today. 17, March 2020. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/take-care-black-women/202003/navigating-coronavirus-family