Keeping Routines and Celebrating Holidays While Stuck at Home

We’re currently living in an unprecedented time. Many retail stores and restaurants are closed, large gatherings and events have been canceled, and school is being taught at home and online. All of this is happening as we’re finally seeing some of the first signs of spring.

While we are adjusting to new circumstances and staying home for a good reason, it can definitely lead to some restlessness. This is especially true if you have kids. Young kids especially might not fully understand why they can no longer go to school, have playdates with their friends, or in some cases, why their birthday party was canceled.

That’s why it’s imperative, while you’re stuck in your home for the foreseeable future, to maintain routines and celebrate whatever holidays come along. Try following some of these tips about routines and celebrations during this most unusual time.

ROUTINE: BEDTIME

Sleep is not only essential, it’s perhaps the most essential routine we have. As we sleep, our bodies are recharging so we can effectively tackle the next day. The amount we get is also critical for our immune systems. Getting too little sleep puts your immune system at risk and makes you more susceptible to illness, which is something we definitely don’t want during a time like this.

While stuck at home, you want to make sure that your entire family is sticking to their individual sleep schedules and that they’re all getting enough sleep to keep them healthy. Remove or distance distractions, like televisions, gaming systems, and phones, to make it easier for everyone to fall asleep.

One potential hurdle to getting a good night’s sleep comes from an unexpected source. Believe it or not, your mattress can actually be keeping you from a full and restorative night’s rest. This is especially important for your kids who are still in the developmental stages. If your children aren’t able to sleep through the night, are tossing and turning, or waking up with aches and pains, then it’s time for a new mattress. Since there are so few stores open now, you can order online and even have your kids’ twin mattress delivered in a box, right to your home. Being stuck at home shouldn’t be uncomfortable!

CELEBRATE: BIRTHDAYS

No one likes to celebrate their birthday alone. It makes matters even worse when you physically aren’t allowed to be with other people or to go pretty much anywhere. Despite being basically confined to our homes, birthdays are a special occasion and should be celebrated. Whether it’s you, your child, an outside family member or a good friend who has a birthday during this odd time in our lives, make sure it’s a day they’ll remember.

If it’s the birthday of someone in your home, you have a little more control over the festivities than you otherwise would. From start to finish, make that day all about them. We’re all in unique circumstances, so you want to make sure the honoree feels special. Make some of their favorite foods for mealtimes and, if you have some room in your budget, consider ordering takeout from their favorite local restaurant for dinner. This way, they’re getting something they love, and you’re helping your local community during a trying time. Don’t forget, you can always order gifts online, like a cute pair of ear cuffs or a cool money clip!

For someone outside your home, you can still celebrate their special day with them. Set up a virtual birthday party where they can video chat with as many people as they want so they don’t feel alone on their day. If everyone has Netflix, you can even use the new Google Chrome extension to have a virtual Netflix watch party where the birthday person picks the movie. Some local places have delivery options, so you can surprise them with a meal or a sweet treat.

ROUTINE: SCHOOL

Getting up and going to school can already be hard enough for kids. When temporary homeschooling becomes logging onto a computer to attend class from home, the struggle becomes even more significant. Help keep your kids’ heads in the game when it comes to their virtual schoolwork by maintaining structure around their weekdays.

A lot of this will depend on your individual kids and their school. There might be requirements about videoing in for lessons with individual work given afterward. Once you have that information, you’ll be better able to set up a home-school schedule for your children to maintain. Try your best to keep their lunch at about the same time and length it would be if they were in school. This way, their eating schedule won’t be disrupted in addition to the rest of their daily routine.

This may mean you need to get creative, especially when it comes to your kids’ cultural enrichment activities. The arts are an important part of your children’s education, and you want to make sure they’re continuing to be exposed to this critical subject. Art is also an excellent form of expression and a release for kids during this stressful time where it may be hard for them to understand what’s going on. You can try mixing things up day to day for their arts education. One day they might be hands-on and create some form of art. You could virtually explore the wonders of the world or tour a museum, even one in another country, as many are offering these virtual experiences during closures. You can also have them watch a documentary or musical and write about the art behind it. There are plenty of options available, just make sure you have a plan in place.

CELEBRATE: EASTER

Holidays are a big deal, and they should continue to be so despite being stuck at home. With Easter being the next big upcoming holiday, you want to make sure your family isn’t missing out on the occasion. While things are likely going to have to change a bit from years prior, this year’s Easter can still be an all-out celebration.

Since we are more than likely still going to be stuck in our homes by the time Easter arrives, start your planning now. With an early plan in place, you’ll be able to either order the supplies online now or get what you need on your (at most) once a week grocery outing. For your family’s Easter dinner, consider making the holiday staples for your family so there’s some sense of normalcy. As the main course, make a baked ham with brown sugar pineapple glaze. To accompany this, you can get festive by making poppy seed dinner roll bunnies for your table.

Extend the day by organizing an elaborate Easter egg hunt at your house. You can fill plastic eggs with candy and hide them throughout your home and yard. This will provide your kids with an Easter classic to keep them occupied for part of the day. You can also spend part of the day dying eggs with your kids, letting them get creative.

CELEBRATE: SMALL ACHIEVEMENTS

When your world has essentially been turned upside down, it’s important to give ample notice to the little things. Recognizing and celebrating the small things that come up during this time will give you moments of joy during an odd time. Whether your kids achieved something in their new schooling situation or you reached a goal you set for yourself, those are all things you should be proud of and celebrate.

You don’t need to go all out in celebrating, as long as you acknowledge the accomplishment and are showing support. Something small you can do is order certificates of achievement you can fill out for each individual person and their achievements. You can then display these certificates in a prominent part of your home.

Another thing you can do is allow the person who had the achievement to choose an activity or meal for the night. Make their favorite dish for dinner one night or have a family movie night where you watch their favorite film. Whatever you choose, just make sure that person feels special and knows how important their achievement is.

ROUTINE: GOING OUTSIDE

Being stuck at home doesn’t mean you’re confined to staying within your four walls. It’s both beneficial and encouraged for you to spend some time outside, so long as you aren’t out in large groups or with people who don’t live with you. We’re used to being able to spend time outside, so make sure you aren’t depriving yourself or your family of this.

While some kids dread gym class, others look forward to it. No matter which category your kids fall into, make sure that going outside for home gym class is a part of their routine. You can and should even join in to make it more of an activity for them while also providing you with a healthy activity. As the weather continues to improve, you’ll be even happier and more inclined to go outside with your kids for their gym class, as well as a daily walk. This approved activity will help keep your entire family healthy, get you out of your house and expose you to some much needed fresh air.

Taking some time every day to venture outside and get some fresh air is not only good for you physically, but also mentally. This mental break and physical distance from your home every day has definite benefits. Getting outside will clear your head and help with feelings of stir-craziness that come with being stuck at home for extended periods of time.

BEING STUCK AT HOME DOESN’T HAVE TO BE BORING

One of the most frustrating parts of our current situation is that we don’t know how long it will last. While we prepare for the worst, we also want to make sure that our families are seeing as little disruption as possible while we’re all stuck at home. Just because we can’t be in large groups, doesn’t mean we have to cut ourselves off from other people altogether.

Have video chat check-ins with family and friends a few times a week so you’re still able to see one another. Extend this to include as many people as possible on special days like birthdays and holidays, so you’re still able to have that time with extended family, even if it is a little odd. Get outside when you can to refresh and breathe deeply; that exposure is better for you than you realize. Lastly, keep safe and calm.

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Tootles,