6 Tips to Help Parents Navigate Difficult Times
The worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 has changed things for everyone. As a parent, you’re likely trying to cope while helping your children as well. Overnight, lockdowns forced schools to go online. That sudden change has led to more time online for both younger and older children.
On top of that, with no place to go, children are left with more time on their hands for social media, streaming videos, and playing games. If you’re still fortunate enough to be working, it’s likely from home where you simply must keep to task to stay employed. While working is important though, don’t let the online world substitute for your attention.
There are still ways to make this time productive, safe, and harmonious for your family though. These 6 tips should help Parenting During the Pandemic and show the way to keeping kids mentally healthy as well as safe from online dangers.
1. Monitor app and online usage
Your children will need to access certain programs, apps, and websites to complete schoolwork. Outside of those needs, you should keep tabs on what they’re using and browsing during this time. Even safe apps and websites should be limited. Your children shouldn’t be locked in front of screens all day long.
2. Bookmark educational sites and sources
Certain things like virtual tours of zoos and museums or free online library checkouts should be encouraged. These unprecedented times can be beneficial for learning in new, fun, and exciting ways. Best of all, there’s no danger to them.
3. Take time out to spend with your kids
Establish a new routine for yourself so that you aren’t confined in your home office all day and night. Create a time for a family walk or play in the yard together. It will give you all fresh air, exercise, and a chance to bond together in a positive way.
4. Set online boundaries and command offline activities
After school assignments have been submitted, get the kids busy doing hands-on activities. There are plenty of resources for safe science experiments, art projects, and even something as simple as reading to enrich their lives.
5. Keep an open dialogue
This isn’t for children to be away from their friends, teachers, and normal routines. Make sure they know they can come to you to talk whenever they need to. Don’t forget to check in with them daily too!
6. Get a helping hand from SmartDaddy
It’s easier said than done to constantly monitor your children for their smartphone activities, especially when you’re busy with work. SmartDaddy makes that simple by monitoring app usage and blocking inappropriate apps to keep your children safe. It tracks what they surf online and keeps them safe from threats.
Once things open back up again, you can also have peace of mind with SmartDaddy as it gives live location tracking so you’ll always know where your kids are. It can notify you with an SOS Emergency alert should your child run into trouble so you can get them help immediately.
There’s so much to worry about these days, and Parenting During the Pandemic has added another layer of concern. For parents, SmartDaddy helps you keep on top of parenting as more time is spent online so you can have full peace of mind.
