Pandemic Summers: Routine or Free-for-All?

Just when you think you’ve got this homeschooling thing under control, summer arrives! With overnight camps being canceled, and day camps up in the air, parents continue to live under a cloud of uncertainty as we juggle work-from-home and childcare.

Going solo or getting help

Before we talk about routine, one consideration for summer is whether you need some help. We could fill this post with Pinterest-worthy activities to do with the kids, but that takes major planning and coordination by parents. If you aren’t working, maybe this is your jam. But if you’re still trying to work from home throughout the summer, a post with a million activity ideas might be overwhelming (although if you’re keen on activity lists, keep reading for a few ideas below, and stay tuned for our Summer Pandemic Bucket List post!)

One option depending on the situation in your own province would be to get some help with childcare. At this point it’s possible that day camps in Ottawa will go ahead, although they will look very different from past summer camps. Some facilities may take things outdoors, where there’s a better chance for kids to practice physical distancing. However, children will still need shelter during thunderstorms, to cool off in heat waves or to use the bathroom.

If a day camp isn’t something you want to risk, hiring a teenager may be the next best option. Having one person coming into your home, instead of having your children encounter multiple different people every day, may be preferable for you. A few things to consider would be:

• Where do the parents or siblings of the teenager work (outside of home? Front line?)

• Is the teenager fully aware of the risks, and willing to communicate openly about their own exposures (e.g. a boyfriend/girlfriend, other friends they are coming into contact with)

• How will babysitting work if you’re working from home? Will the babysitter be expected to take your children outside? Will you consider allowing them to go to museums or libraries if they are open?

Alternatively, some parents will rely on grandparents or an aunt/uncle to help out. Of course there are risks associated with that option as well, but that’s a personal decision you can make together as a family. It may also be easier to manage the number of people your family members come into contact with in your “bubble.”

New businesses are being launched as we speak, such as online babysitting and Rent-a-Counsellor, where you can hire a camp counsellor to come to your home and do activities with your kids (at a distance of course!) These are really cool alternatives, and we’d love to hear from you if you’re aware of these services being offered here in Ottawa.

Routine vs. Free Time

Whether you’re going it alone or asking for outside help, you will need to consider how to approach this unique summer situation. As a parent, you know your kids best. Some children thrive with a lot of structure, while others will balk at the idea of keeping a “schedule” over the summer months. The choice of how to pass these looong 10 weeks will depend on what works best for your family.

The case for routine

Many parents find that routine provides structure and sanity. Kids know what to expect, and screen time can be scheduled. Routines can include an educational component (but shhhhh, we won’t tell your kids they’re learning) - but they don’t have to. Check out the links for some fun ideas below. The first is from the blog A Little Bit of Momsense, and is a free printable for weekly themed “mom and dad” camp. The second is our Pinterest board for daily schedules, which we’ll be adding to as the weeks go by:

Weekly “themes”

Daily schedules

Some kids will push back against schedules, as it can feel too much like school or camp. TOO strict of a schedule and you risk stifling some of your child’s creativity. Try to include your children in writing up the schedule so that they have a say in what they’d like to focus on. Adjusting the schedule as you go may be helpful and necessary.

The case for Free Time

You may choose to do away with schedules and routines and just let your children roam. OR perhaps you do a bit of both!

Many children thrive when given the opportunity to focus on what they want. A surprising amount of learning takes place even when you think your child isn’t doing anything “productive,” and summer is the ideal time to reframe learning as fun. Also, mounting evidence shows that letting kids be bored leads to some awesome brain growth and creativity!

Of course, the downside is that they choose to do something that you don’t want them doing - like video games or other screen activities. It’s good to head into the summer with a realistic idea of how much screen time you’re willing to let your kids have - are you fine with unlimited time? One or two hours? None? It’s a personal choice and depends on your family situation. If you’re still working from home without any help, screen time will probably be essential for your sanity.

Another potential issue with free time is that kids will want to explore the neighbourhood, and will inevitably come into contact with friends. Maybe your street is already teeming with kids! Depending on how the situation unfolds, it may be possible to “bubble” with one other family that you’re close with so that your kids can play together. Or, maybe your kids are old enough that they will respect social distancing rules while still spending time with friends. Most research is showing that small group outdoor activities carry a low risk of the virus spreading (based on what we know so far) - check out this handy article for a risk assessment of common summer activities.

Regardless of how you approach this summer, remember to be gentle with yourself. Parenting in a pandemic is not regular parenting, and we’re in this for the long haul. Taking things one day at a time is our only way through.