“Can our kids go back to school yet?” This is the question that has crept into the mind of every parent during the stay-at-home order. It\u2019s uncharted territory, it\u2019s normal to feel a little sea-sick. Here are eight ways to keep your sanity while being at home with your kids 24\/7.<\/p>\n
Divide and conquer Create a loose schedule<\/strong> Rewards system<\/strong> Fireside chat Make time Be thankful Embrace the love What other tips do you have for spending extra time at home with kids? Let us know in the comments below!<\/p>\n xx, The FabFitFun Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":"\"Can our kids go back to school yet?\" This is the question that has crept ...","author":6876071,"featured_media":152886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[260],"tags":[586],"thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/05084937\/kids.jpg","thumbnail_url_middle_card":"https:\/\/static.fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/05084937\/kids-386x200.jpg","formated_date":"May 5, 2020","category_name":"Life","category_icon":"https:\/\/d3vodd1ws13xud.cloudfront.net\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/10113832\/entertainment.svg","author_name":"Molly Congdon","trending":false,"sponsored":false,"random_color":"#d64df2","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152874"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6876071"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=152874"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/152874\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/152886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=152874"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=152874"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fabfitfun.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=152874"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\n<\/strong>This will be your saving grace, trust us! Label areas of your home as \u201cquiet,\u201d \u201cnoisy,\u201d or \u201cschool.\u201d Separating these areas will bring structure and order; without it, chaos will ensue.<\/p>\n
\nYes, that means for both day and night. Don\u2019t increase your stress by putting pressure on yourself to stick to a strict schedule; instead, try to follow a general plan each day. Just remember, sometimes throwing the schedule out the window and just having fun with your kids is exactly what you need.<\/p>\n
\nYou have to figure out the consequences of both positive and negative behavior while home. Kids are out of whack from the daily grind and providing this structured discipline will help them succeed during this time.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Have a family meeting to brainstorm new ideas and to create a schedule and rewards systems mentioned above. Be sure to shake on it at the end of the meeting. When your kids feel like they were part of the process, it will make them feel more connected and eager to achieve the goals laid before them.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>It’s essential to schedule some time, even if it\u2019s 20 to 30 minutes here and there, for each of your children. They will feel special and loved, and you will make memories that will last a lifetime.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Practicing gratitude as a family will be mentally and emotionally beneficial. Gather together at the table every morning or evening and have each person think about what they are grateful for and then write down the top three. Then read your responses out loud.<\/p>\n
\n<\/b>This time, even though it\u2019s hard to realize it now, is a gift. Rediscover the joy of being a parent and value this period of isolation that you are able to share with them. Be goofy, play games, find joy in the little things, and make sure there is no shortage of hugs and kisses.<\/p>\n