Getting Through Lockdown

Motherhood is certainly challenging as it is – and being in a country that’s locked down doesn’t help either! It’s a period filled with worry and uncertainty for everyone, but most especially for our children who might not fully understand everything that’s happening. Being stuck at home under such strict rules might be daunting for many mamas, especially as you might have more tasks to juggle than ever. At Haakaa, we want to tell you that you’re not alone during this time and that our community of mothers and women will always be here to support you. Here are some of our tips to help you keep your little ones calm and content for the rest of this time of unpredictability. Hopefully this will make things just a little bit easier to cope with as we get through things together. ????

How do I keep my children happy during the lockdown? 

Now that your regular schedules have been completely turned upside down, it might be a good idea to set up new routines for your children to keep to. This lets them know what to expect during a period where everything else seems to uncertain, creating a sense of calm and stability at home. It’ll also allow you to organise your days so that you have time to keep your little ones company, as well as your own personal time – whether that’s for work, home duties or self-care.

What can I do with my kids while self-isolating? 

Being forced to stay at home might feel restricting, but it can be turned into a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the newfound time you and your children now share. There are so many ideas in terms of activities you can do together! Here are some of our favourites:

1. Be creative. Children have some of the most amazing imaginations, so you might as well nurture their creativity! Not only do creative activities make for fantastic bonding experiences between you and your child, but it also helps to build their cognitive skills. One thing you could try is drawing or painting, which can be fun for both children adults alike. Maybe you and your little one can create a new masterpiece together to brighten up your home? Another option might be to write a story together. Think of some ideas, lay out your setting, create your characters and let the events unfold. When you’ve finished, you can add illustrations, a title, a cover and print it out. Put it on the bookshelf and encourage your little one to read it to you, or share it with your family and friends to keep them entertained while they're in their own homes too.
    

   

2. Enjoy some music together. You could play some rhythm games with your child, or find a sing-along video online. You might even have a pyjama dance party in your living room! Whatever it is, there are so many ways to have fun and bond while listening to music with your little one.
    
3. Let your children join you in the kitchen as you’re cooking or baking. Kids love having a hands-on involvement in things! Get them to help you out with measuring or preparing ingredients, and let them just enjoy being in the kitchen. You can even use this as an opportunity to teach them about healthy eating and creating nutritional food! Just make sure they are kept safe away from anything dangerous and always supervise them.
    

   

4. Just because there’s no school anymore doesn’t mean that your kids have to stop learning! There are so many fun things you can do at home with your kids to help them discover more about the world around them. There are educational videos that you can watch together on YouTube, nature and wildlife documentaries you can stream online, or you could find some exciting science experiments to do – such as making an erupting model volcano!
    
5. If your kids can’t keep still, you might think about taking them outside for some exercise. Remember to stick to your local area, and not to stray too far out from your home. A walk can be a great idea as it not only helps our bodies to stay active, but it benefits our mental health too. It’s also great fun for the kids to find at all the teddy bears displayed around your neighbourhood!

The lockdown has been a difficult time for all of us, but we’ll get through it together. Be kind, show empathy. This sudden change in day-to-day life can be a scary time for many children who have never experienced anything like this before. You don’t have to be the perfect parent – as long as you are there for your children, to reassure and comfort them, that is enough!