Many single parents struggle to maintain positive relationships with their children during COVID-19 while trying to keep them entertained and mentally stimulated with limited resources.
While all parents faced the challenge of adapting to a “new normal” due to the coronavirus, many single parents had to get used to working from home without a spouse in order to share responsibility, not have enough space, to be overwhelmed feel and teach their children at home. and adopting new hygiene habits if there is insufficient support.
For example, Angela, 44, a single parent for four years and raising two teenagers while working full-time, said, “I get up at 6am to make breakfast, prepare for the day, and feel guilty that I can am no longer at home. I’m leaving at 7:30 am to do my job in an assisted living facility. When I get home at 4:30 pm my kids are grumpy, usually play video games and complain about wanting to have dinner soon. “
To be honest, there are many ways you can build positive relationships with your children by inviting them to participate in activities that interest them and exposing them to some of your hobbies. For example, inviting your kids to share your love of hiking or biking over the weekend can help you bond deeper and provide everyone with much-needed exercise and fresh air.
5 things single parents can do with their children during COVID-19
1. Find new places to explore outdoors
Try hiking trails or nature trails, bird sanctuaries, beaches, bike paths or zoos. Kids and teens usually love the outdoors and when you team up it can be a great time to visit and enjoy new outdoor adventures – even on a cool or cold day!
2. Experiment with new recipes or ways of preparing food
Make meal preparation a family tradition and give your kids something special to look forward to. Even a new pizza or pasta recipe (that combines different vegetables and sauces) can add variety to your menu and spice up your dining table. My personal favorite is Thai chicken pizza with leftover chicken and peanut sauce, combined and spread on a pizza crust, then baked with mozzarella and baked at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.
3. Start a weekly game night and pull the plug out of the socket
Buy some inexpensive games and / or cards and set aside one night a week to have sandwiches or pizza and let the fun begin. Children of all ages usually enjoy simple games like Checkers, Connect Four, or UNO. Some children even make a living from playing more complicated games like chess or monopoly. and teens often appreciate word games like Scattergories of Scrabble. If your kids refuse to unplug their phones or iPads at first, then you should be persistent and likely get used to it.
4. Develop relationships with your children through hobbies and interests
Sharing interests from sports to the arts can only help you build a stronger bond. Be persistent if he or she opposes an activity like painting or putting together a puzzle. Remember, you are the adult and need to be the mature. Say something like, “I’d love to go for a hike, why not give it a try?”
5. Understand your child’s point of view
First, your children are likely to have a relationship with your ex-spouse and will try not to take it personally if they prefer to engage in activities with him or her. Divorced families are complex, and even if your kids aren’t ready to try something new like a game night, it pays to be persistent.
Parents around the world face unprecedented and unimaginable concerns about their children’s health, emotional well-being, and education with distance learning. We have also experienced the stress associated with reduced resources in schools and communities, which is a burden especially for single parents.
Many single parents are looking for new ways to entertain their children during COVID-19. Even with limited resources, it is possible to create new traditions like a game night and bi-weekly hike or brisk walk that can help you connect with your children and keep everyone mentally stimulated and physically fit while we on the Look future and the brighter days!
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