Schedules, Routines, and Normalcy

We all have likely heard the importance of keeping up typical routines, creating a predictable schedule, and maintaining a sense of normalcy during times of stress and rapid change. Taking care of the basics, like waking and eating at our regular times are the first steps to ensuring our mental and physical energy stores are available for ourselves and for the task of supporting our kids. (Shout out to my husband who was interviewed on Vermont Edition about managing stress and anxiety during COVID!)

Many of us have routines that we can use as a foundation and build on during these times, but many of us are establishing new routines or changing existing ones. So how do we jump in?

First, some great thoughts from PBS Kids for Parents.

Second, it’s taken our family a couple of weeks to settle into a bit of a schedule. I think it’s incredibly important to remember that every family will have different needs, priorities, and constraints and so there is definitely no “one size fits all” approach available here. This is why it’s important to take these ideas as considerations and possibilities to adapt to your own circumstances. And then remind yourself constantly to be flexible because no two days will likely be the same. And just in time for this post, Common Sense Media started Wide Open School that has great suggestions for schedules and structuring of the day (as well as activities for learning, self-care, movement, etc. to put into those slots) that I encourage you to check out.

So, right now, this is what is working for us:
8-9: Get ready for school (clothes, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, morning chores)
9-10: Outdoor/movement/mediation time (whatever you need for your body to be ready to learn)
10-11:30: Adult supported learning time (our school has provided menus of options for each subject area and we're trying to check off 2/subject by the end of the week)
11:30-12:30: Lunchtime (prepare, eat, and clean up) and then play time
12:30-1:15: Quiet reading time (works well with our pre-nap routine)
Afternoon Flex Time: We've created our own menu (thanks Jo for the idea!) with suggested times for the boys to structure their time, and allow me to get my work done! Some ideas:

• Independent time (no one can interact with anyone else)
• Free choice (technology allowed)
• Movement/outdoor time
• Household help (regular chores, but now there is more to be done so involve them in it! Heck, organize your house!)
• Collaborative learning/explore time (board games; cards; puzzles; video chats/interviews; creating art, scripts, media; learn another language…)
• Music time (practice, listen, dance, hear a friend play their instrument...)

That all sounds grand, right? Okay, here are the outtakes:

• The weather is amazing! Scrap the schedule and get outside for as long as possible!
• Dance parties sound really fun, and then someone gets a bloody lip!
• That livestream of a workout I want to do isn’t at the right time. Adjust schedule!
• That livestream of Mo Willems or story time isn’t at the right time. Adjust schedule!
• Friend is available to FaceTime-adjust schedule again!
• I’m exhausted. Free choice just got extended!
• That writing prompt went way faster than I expected (or was a complete bust). Who wants to play a game on pbskids.org?

And here are some of the pleasant surprises:

• Devoting time to being present with my kids, especially in different combinations (when I can), has been very positive for all of us. And I already have a much better sense of what they are interested in, which allows me to get them learning in ways that they want to (no more pulling teeth!).
• My kids have rarely asked that dreaded question, “What can I do?”
• Somehow the siblings are actually getting along. This one is still a conundrum to me (but perhaps has to do with that devoting time thing…), but I’m going to ride it for as long as it lasts.