6 Simple Tools to Teach Your Child to Be Resiliant
Whether you are stay-at-home mom, or dad, a working parent, or a business owner, this Coronavirus time has changed the way you parent your children. As we face this new reality, I am sure you have constant questions, like many parents. New routines, screen time, balancing work and home, homeschooling, new hygiene procedures, and virtual socializing are just a few of the themes you, and maybe your partner, are revisiting.
But before I give you a few tools to deal with the ups and downs, I ask you to take a moment and pause. Ask yourself how do you want your children to remember this time? What do you want them to remember when they will be older and look back? Do you want them to remember an anxious, worried and stressed parent? Or would you prepare that they will remember you as a role model who taught them how to be resilient?
Teaching your child how to be resilient is one of the most valuable skills you can give your child, a gift for a lifetime. It will help them to manage their feelings, not only during quarantine but in any situation as adults. You can make this time meaningful!
6 Ways to Teach Your Child How to Be Resilient:
• Physical. Beyond just washing hands and putting a
mask every time you go out, establish a healthy daily routine. From waking up in the morning to bedtime. Enjoy eating together with family dinners around the table (not in front of the TV) and even cooking balanced meals. Incorporate fun physical activities like dancing or walking in the neighborhood. Keep your family active and healthy in every way.
• Cognitively. Learn something new together. By constantly talking about the ‘catastrophe’, you are emphasizing on the worry. Stimulate your child’s brain to new horizons. You can learn a new language, like baby sign language, develop a new hobby, like cooking or sewing, or anything which involves thinking and problem-solving with joy.
• Cognitively. Learn something new together. By constantly talking about the ‘catastrophe’, you are emphasizing on the worry. Stimulate your child’s brain to new horizons. You can learn a new language, like baby sign language, develop a new hobby, like cooking or sewing, or anything which involves thinking and problem-solving with joy.
• Socially. Although this time of quarantine requires physical isolation, we can still stay connected socially. Facetime family members, like grandfathers or uncles and aunties, encourage face to face meetings with their friends. More and more families report to me that they are in touch with the people they love more than usual. Talk, tell funny stories, and share the love. This will enhance the high morale and spirit at home.
• Spiritually. Meditate (there are many free children’s mediations on youtube), take walks and smell the flowers, or say a little gratitude together. What a wonderful time to be connected to power that is greater than ourselves.
• Service. One of my favorite dimensions of being resilient is being in service to others. It doesn’t matter how hard you have it, always remember, there are people out there who need you! Prepare cards for family members, say a prayer to the sick people in hospitals with coronavirus who fighting for their lives, or pray for the unfortunate. Every day I say a little pray for those children who are less fortunate and are forced to be in homes which they might be emotionally or physically abused. We always receive by sharing with others.
• Life Skill. What a perfect time to learn new life skills! There are many life skills you can teach your children, one of them is time management. While there is nowhere to rush, take the opportunity to teach your children how to manage their time. Encourage them to prepare or follow family routines, to create schedules, to practice waiting, to work on time block and such. This is only one of many life skills you can teach your child at this time. Can you think of another?
Learning to be resilient is not only important to your child, but to yourself as well. Take this time and make it meaningful and positive for you and for your child. One day, when you will look into the past, you will have good memories to remember.
In light of our new world, I want to bring some joy to your daily lives by making this time meaningful.
Join me in my webinar:
The Secret to Parenting during Quarantine.