Confined at home with the family, life together changes dramatically… No more professional life for some, school, nursery or nanny for others… We all meet together “all day long!” apart from the little health walk, and quick shopping, hugging the walls. To survive confinement as a family, here are some ideas from Catherine Dumonteil-Kremer *, author and trainer in non-violent education.
- On a daily basis, try to create spaces where you will be alone: take turns going for a walk alone, take time to breathe without your children if you have the possibility.
- School side: do not add unnecessary worries. Always try to be happy with the time spent working together, regardless of the outcome. If possible, lower your expectations. Even 5 minutes of work is great!
- Discussions, activities together, free games, board games also have many benefits for schooling.
- When you can’t take it anymore, go cry into a pillow, it deadens the sound and does a lot of good, if the tears come up let them flow. It’s a very calming way of doing things.
- Pay attention to what arouses your anger, and try to find common ground with your childhood story.
- Singing, dancing as often as possible, it gives a boost to everyday life.
- Keep a creative journal of this amazing period, everyone can have their own in the family, take the time to take the time to glue, draw, write, indulge yourself!
To parents on the verge of cracking / farting lead, Catherine Dumonteil-Kremer reminds emergency numbers:
SOS Parentalité, the call is free and anonymous (Monday to Saturday from 14 p.m. to 17 p.m.): 0 974 763 963
There is also the toll free number Allo Parents Baby (for all those who have a tiny baby who cries constantly), the issue of Childhood and Sharing. Early childhood professionals are at your service from 10 a.m. to 13 p.m. and from 14 p.m. to 18 p.m. 0 800 00 3456.
The World Health Organization has just published recommendations for the “preservation of the mental health” of confined people. Psychiatrist Astrid Chevance translated the document for France. One of the tips is to listen to children. To our colleagues at LCI, Astrid Chevance explains that when they are stressed, children can be more “clingy” because they are looking for affection. They ask parents more, without succeeding in verbalizing their stress. To children’s questions about the coronavirus, she advises “not to sweep away their anxiety, but on the contrary to speak about it in simple words”. She also advises parents to regularly call the family, the grandparents, to maintain ties and not suffer from isolation.
Forza to all parents, we’re all in the same boat!
* She is notably the creator of the Day of Educational Non-Violence and author of numerous books on educational benevolence. More info on https://parentalitecreative.com/.