- MAKE YOUR BED ~Heidi Endicott
This creates a simple, daily discipline that impacts your whole day positively–for both you and your kids. “If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.” US Navy Admiral, William H. McRaven
- GET DRESSED IN PANTS THAT BUTTON ~Heidi Endicott
You view yourself, your day, and the world differently when you have pants that button vs. pajama pants or leggings. Kimberly says, if you do wear leggings, then wear shoes with a heel. 😉 Whatever you do, dress for work and school!
- CREATE A NEW SCHEDULE. ~KJK
Now is not the time to cling to the past. “The only people who should be stuck in the past are historians.” (Author Unknown) We are not historians we are history-makers. Acceptance is key! Run with the new normal and create a structure that works for your day, your kids, your family. Share ideas with other Mompreneurs but don’t fall into the compare/compete trap. Families are as unique as fingerprints, and although all families need some structure, it isn’t supposed to be identical. Ask yourself what that needs to look like for your family to remain productive, happy, and for you to stay sane. This may involve working less or at different times of the day, but rest assured, you and your kids need a schedule.
Teachers know that the more routines the class has, the fewer discipline problems they will have to deal with. Kids feel safer, calmer and are more focused, and as a result there is more time spent on learning and less time spent dealing with problems.
Do yourself a favor during these trying times. Establish and maintain routines for the home. Set time schedules regarding getting up, dressing, eating, learning time, snack time, TV and screen time, chores, fun, play, and exercise. And, of course, bedtime. Be sure to include age-appropriate breaks from online learning and plenty of family relaxing. These are tough times.
You’ll be surprised. Your kids can handle this. They will thrive on it. Many parents discover that they tend to expect much less of kids than what they can really handle.
–Excerpt from Dr. Charles Fay of the Love and Logic® Institute
- USE A TRACKER ~KJK
It’s hard to remember everything your kids are supposed to do each day (especially if you work from home) and then hold them accountable. Trackers help you do both! They also serve to remind the kids so that you don’t have to. Track their daily exercise, homework, chores, wake-up, meal, and bed times. Trackers I have created for my kids are:
–Daily Tracker which includes wake-up time, and bedroom times (I have teens) along with daily schoolwork, chores, and exercise.
–Quarantine Project Tracker which includes a list I made of bigger household cleaning/organizing projects I’d like accomplished. They got to select their jobs and then created their own deadlines with my approval.
–Creative Project Tracker this is simply a place they can jot down ideas for things they can do that are fun, who they will do them with, and the date they did them. My girls are creative and need to look forward to creative outlets. Examples are photoshoot, do mom’s makeup and hair, make care packages of cookies to be given to family and friends.
–Exercise Goals Tracker which can be customized to each child. My son’s includes daily push-ups, sit-ups and cardio since he can’t work out that the school gym right now.
Customize a tracker for your objectives, too!
- ESTABLISH A MORNING ROUTINE ~KJK
Just because none of you are leaving doesn’t mean you shouldn’t schedule routine wake up times and breakfast. What works for you and your family? What doesn’t? Do you need to get up an hour before the kids to “get your Jesus on” before the day begins? Then make it your routine. Whatever you do, start the day strong and intentionally because it impacts everyone’s productivity.
- CREATE-A-SPACE ~KJK
Create a space for your work, for their work, and their play. Assign these
spaces so that everyone knows where they need to be during “work
time.” And where they need to go for play/break time. Stock work areas with needed supplies within arms’ length. Leave phones/unnecessary electronics in another place while focused work is required. Suggested spaces: Creative space, reading space, play space, school space, workspace.
- USE A TIMER ~KJK
Make tasks for you and your kids less daunting by setting a timer for 20-25 minutes of focused work. Adjust for age and tasks. Take short breaks in between these short bursts of focused learning/working.
-OR-
Create a block schedule for you and your kids with scheduled breaks in between that is more age or task appropriate. Invite your kids to contribute to decision making! Giving them some control over their schedule increases the odds that they will cooperate!
- TAKE BREAKS! ~KJK
Everyone in your home will need both physical and mental breaks. Stand, stretch, walk, run, do push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks. Turn on worship music or turn everything off for a quiet time break. Exercise mid-day instead of morning to clear your head for afternoon tasks. Make a personal (fun) phone call in between bursts of focused work. Let your kids have a virtual playdate. Allow for fun/play breaks (recess) in the fresh air for your young ones and encourage your older kids to go for a walk, run, or bike ride.
- TEACH LIFE SKILLS~KJK
Use this time to teach chores and life skills! Studies show the factor that influences future success more than any other isn’t HOMEWORK. It isn’t SPORTS. It’s CHORES! Yes, chores are the factor that contributes most to their future success as adults. Google “age-appropriate chore list,” allow them to choose 2-3 daily jobs and post them on the fridge or add them to your tracker. Are you thinking, “Sounds great, but what if they won’t do them?” Visit loveandlogic.com to sign up for their FREE Parenting the L&L Way Classes in the month of April and learn appropriate consequences for kids who won’t do their chores.
Get them helping while you build their character and their confidence. Doing chores and having life skills reduced kids’ anxiety when they are out on their own. They can learn: all varieties of household cleaning, cooking, laundry, yard work, auto maintenance, meal planning, grocery shopping, and balancing a checkbook to name a few.
When the leader gets better, everyone gets better! ~Craig Groeschel, Global Leadership Champion
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