COVID-19 WHY STRUCTURE IS IMPORTANT

Get structured 

COVID-19 has taken away our daily work, home and school routines. This is hard for children, teenagers and for you. Making new routines can help.

Create a flexible but consistent daily routine

• Make a schedule for you and your children that has time for structured activities as well as free time. This can help children feel more secure and better behaved.
• Children or teenagers can help plan the routine for the day – like making a school timetable. Children will follow this better if they help to make it.
• Include exercise in each day – this helps with stress and kids with lots of energy at home.

Teach your child about keeping safe distances

• Get children outside.
• You can also write letters and draw pictures to share with people. Put them up outside your home for others to see!
• You can reassure your child by talking about how you are keeping safe.
• Listen to their suggestions and take them seriously.

Make hand-washing and hygiene fun

• Make a 20-second song for washing hands. Add actions! 
• Give children points and praise for regular hand-washing.
• Make a game to see how few times we can touch our faces with a reward for the least number of touches (you can count for each other).

You are a model for your child’s behavior

• If you practice keeping safe distances and hygiene yourself, and treat others with compassion, especially those who are sick or vulnerable – your children and teenagers will learn from you.
• At the end of each day, take a minute to think about the day. Tell your child about one positive or fun thing they did. Praise yourself for what you did well today. You are a star!

(Adopted from UNICEF)