How to make family life and self-care easier in trying times

Family engagement and self-care are crucial but difficult in these stressful, pandemic 2020 times.

The Vernon Coalition and the Center for Prevention & Counseling teamed up for a December Zoom meeting to share ideas on how to keep communication going between parents and children of all ages. Here are some of their suggestions:

● Toddlers: Pretend cooking or tea times, coloring and creative play with Playdoh, dance, eating dessert for dinner, initiating shows with stuffed animals and seasonal activities like indoor snowball fights and going for car rides to see Christmas light displays.

● Elementary school-age children: Indoor picnics, fort building, relay races, family input about favorite or not-so-favorite parts of the day, learning to care for family pets.

● Middle schoolers: Bake and try new recipes, visit a foreign country through foods, dress up for dinner, online escape rooms.

● High schoolers: Hiking, family yoga, outdoor sports, volunteering, Jeopardy labs, and scavenger hunts.

● All ages: Sidewalk art, theme nights, lawn games, and conversation jars for family discussions.

● Parents: Parents also must not ignore their own self-care through activities that encourage their physical, emotional, social, spiritual, personal, space, financial and work health (please see sidebar).