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Curb Cabin Fever: Tips & Tricks NOT to Lose Your Mind

  • melissamccormick75
  • Mar 18, 2020
  • 5 min read

If anyone knows how to not lose their mind while quarantined in their home with family, its probably Floridians




Make A Plan for All Ages and Have Fun


This is a very scary time for everyone, not just Floridians. As of now we are told to self-quarantine for 15 days, stock up and prepare for long term quarantine as they had to do in China. That can set panic off in anyone’s mind, especially our children. So as parents we need to control the chaos and make it seem planned and not so scary. Yes, unfortunately we parents will take the brunt of keeping our kids from losing it entirely. Remember kids feed off our energy. So, make it a game, a scavenger hunt almost. While we don’t want to drag them out to the stores and expose them, we can gather the necessary supplies at the stores. A bit of a side note, there are families who cannot afford to do this so pick a few extra items up for your neighbor or friends and deliver the items to them on their doorstep. Now that you’ve done the hunting part you can play a game with the kids called stash the find.

Ok, so here is how that goes. Before you leave preferably while they are sleeping, put out post it notes in the pantry, linen closets and cabinets. Label them with items like toilet paper, paper towel, canned goods, pasta, etc. Then after you go shopping give them a bog of random groceries and have them put them away in the proper spots and whoever can finish the fastest and put the items away properly, we can’t have them throwing the pasta on a shelf, will get to choose the first in house event. Now that is the part you need me.

Most of us work full time and the kids go to school, daycare, sitter etc. So, we miss out on these fun in home activities. Then again, those of you that stay home you also need something refreshing other then normal routine. I know most of the articles out right now are all school schedule oriented and yes while they are awesome let’s be real are we that good at keeping a tight schedule and did we account for the meltdowns because mom doesn’t teach math the way Mrs. Barnes does? Plus, if we make the kids think they are having fun they are truly learning. Like the groceries, they must find, read, organize, be active, controlled actions and you can add a twist by asking how many items they each put away, there is your math.

Now games, I am sure we all have some type of games in our house. So, use those differently. Take the scrabble pieces and not use the game board but have them spell out words, then add up the numbers. You could even use a dictionary and define the words, this helps with math, reading, spelling and comprehension. Most of us have Uno and not all ages can play that, but you can have them choose 10 cards each and sort by color, put in numerical order and add them up. Monopoly have them roll the dice and move around the board and pick the color card they land on and have them try to match the letters to the name. if they properly choose, they get a hotel. No money involved for the littles, older ones you can do basic no rent to give them concept of money and math. So now y’all are saying ok this is great, but I have teenagers, yes this is my problem as well.

For us lucky parents to have teenagers or older than toddlers we need somethings more rewarding and enticing. Older children, can play the games for a chance to pick their chore or trade chore with another, such as laundry, dinner, sweep, dust etc. See the house is still going to need to get cleaned so it is going to be a family event. For them to get time in their room to do whatever for 1-2 hours they have to participate in the win it to get it game. You can set up a chore chart on a white board or chalkboard. Right now, I have my 17yo on a schedule she has to be up at 10am, she has online work to do so she isn’t entirely out of the clear with school and we set up alarms in her phone to walk her dog. Now we are going to incorporate the chore chart. Parents give your kids a couple days to absorb the change, plus it gives us time to get creative. Mine loves to cook so we will take turns being creative and using the least amount of ingredients to make a meal, we are poor, truth! This way it’s a fun challenge and not so stressful and takes away the focus of crap we only have this. We all compete in this this challenge. The winner in my house gets to pick the Friday night movie, we love movies. Also using gaming systems as a family event. We moved our gaming systems to the living room so we can all play, and they teach me. It is fun and takes away from the mundane daily let me organize the closet again thought.

Being trapped in your house with your kids doesn’t have to be so scary, I know for the older kids it is more of an I’m bored thing and the little ones its most likely a drop-down tantrum. Remember if you are in a house it is ok to go out back just don’t go around other kids or families. So, take them outside for chalk or tag, if you are in an apartment have bubble time in the bathroom, or use the tub as a pool, my granddaughter spent two hours in their one day because it was raining. I put on music gave her pool toys and boom. Let the littles help you out, put away laundry, food, make macaron, enjoy family game moments that aren’t the rule ridden games, change the rules to make it fun and then instill quiet time. If they are older build a fort for their nap in the morning and they must wait until nap time to use it. Climb in there with them and read them a book. Also, give them an hour and ask them what they want to do. We can help them by narrowing it down, draw, color, playdough, read, make pasta necklaces, etc.

We can all make it through this fi we share or ideas and thoughts on how to make being quarantined fun for all ages. Oh, and keep handwashing, don’t stray from what the CDC tells you and try not to play the news on the TV as that may scare the littles. I check my updates on my phone and I tell my kids because they are 17 and 25, with medical field knowledge, so I don’t have to worry about that too much. So, what ideas do you have to keep your family sane during this time?

 
 
 

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