Self-Isolation: Tips and Tricks from a Medical Mom living in the trenches!

Staying at home to chill and relax always sounds dreamy, but what is it like in reality? We get a call pretty early on in the fall to let us know when the first case of the flu hits the region. This lets us know it is time to start hibernating. In truth, I am not as strict as some, since my other children still go out to school and program and let’s face it, those are cesspools of germs. We try to make sure they use proper hand-washing techniques and stay away from their little brother when not feeling well. But now that people are facing having their children at home for three weeks, many are already feeling like they are going stir crazy. Here are some hints from someone who has done it for months at a time.

Fresh Air: Self-Isolation does not mean you can't get out into nature. In the winter, fresh air is what I miss most in the house. Thankfully we are entering into spring so now is the perfect time to go for a nice walk around your neighbourhood, get outside and start prepping the yard for a garden. If going out doesn't work, just open the windows to let some fresh air in!

Technology: Use it for good, not evil! We have to put restrictions on how long someone can watch Youtube, Netflix and/or Disney+ here because, given the chance, they will spend ALL day on them. But does that mean we take away the devices completely? Not necessarily. We try to find educational programs for them to use. Virtual gallery tours, documentaries that are learning based, audiobooks, scholastics has just put out a ton of learning resources on their webpage, PBS kids. A little legwork can give you alternatives to the mindless show watching.

Timers: When my kids don’t want to do things, such as clean up your room - timers are invaluable. 20 minutes seems possible and then a 10 minute break and so on. Let's be honest this helps when I don't want to do my work either!

Crafts: Now is the time to put all those supplies to good use. Open a garbage bag up and tape it down, or an old sheet, or old shower curtain, let them go to town. We love Pinterest for slime recipes, different types of homemade stamps, etc. The kids turn cereal boxes into barbie doll closets.

Baking: Let your kids help in the kitchen. It takes more time but hey that’s what you have tons of now and it teaches them life long skills.

Letter Writing and Drawing: I heard a great idea to have kids write letters and draw pictures for senior citizens and health care workers. I had some concern as to whether or not these are sanitary, but listening to one doctor talking to a postal worker today, they informed them the virus does not last long on paper. But if you are worried why not take pictures and email them to the retirement homes and hospitals. They can choose to print them off if they would like.

Puzzles: Dust one off from the back of the cupboard and do one as a family. Or divide the pieces up for each member to work on in their own time. Don't have a puzzle? Try to make your own puzzles - have kids glue paper onto cardboard - or if they want colour right on the cardboard and then they can draw or decorate in whatever way they want. If you want to get fancy and have the materials you can take white glue with water or mod podge to seal it all before cutting, but if you and your kids aren’t picky, why not just take it like that and cut out a pattern to make it a puzzle for them to put together. If you want to really extend the activity, have them number the back of the pieces and then do a scavenger hunt for the pieces. You can do this with secret messages too.

Activity Jars: I loved this idea when we made it and have to get back into using it. Taking a mason jar and popsicle sticks, or even just folded up paper. On one side you write out a chore and on the other side something to do as a reward. Have the kids help with deciding these. What would going to the park be worth chore wise? How about an extra half hour t.v.? Put them all in the mason jar, shake them up and start pulling. If you really want to make it a non-cheating version, you can also have them paint or decorate the outside of the jar so they can’t see what’s inside.

Exercise: My kids like cosmic kids yoga, walking a dog or a neighbours dog, exercise videos, dance parties in the kitchen, anything to get up and moving.

Meal Planning: My kids love looking at cookbooks to pick out recipes and making a meal plan for the week. Then they see what ingredients we need, compare them to what we have and make a list for ordering online. They earn $1 for putting together the on-line order for grocery pickup. They don’t place the order so I can still put a stop to the leaving out milk in order to buy extra ice cream, but it gives them a sense of responsibility, an understanding of money and a sense of achievement. This is also helpful in a time like now where we want to avoid going into the stores. Some supermarkets have even started waving the fee for picking up your online orders. Win-win. (Simple idea too is to check in with a neighbour or friend by phone who has trouble going out and see if they need anything you can drop on their doorstep. This happened to me today and made my week!)

Fort Making: Words barely describe the life changing aspects of a well built fort and how many hours this can occupy your child.

There are so many other ideas and I have a feeling we are going to have the time to try a whole lot of them, so share your favourites and we will add them to our list!!