Lately, we’re feeling all the feelings. There’s nothing like a global pandemic to bring out all kinds of emotions—the anxiety of not knowing what’s coming, the sadness of missing our loved ones, the irritability that comes from staying home with our families all the time—and emotions are tricky, complicated things. Add in our kiddos, and it feels more like a constant struggle.
Parents and caregivers: We see you. This is a tough time to say the least, and we’re all struggling to figure out the best ways to handle our emotions—especially around the children in our lives.
We’ll admit it: Sometimes being a grownup can be really boring. When we’re kids, our whole lives revolve around imagination and trying new things—days are about a lot more than Zoom meetings and taking out the trash.
But, we’re also here to tell you: Play is everywhere, and even the most boring grownup stuff has the potential to turn into a powerful play moment!
In these times of added stress and uncertainty, one of the most important tricks in the Parenting Playbook is the timeout.
No, no, no. Not that kind of timeout.
We’re talking about a mental timeout to recharge your personal batteries and tend to yourself. Plus, who wouldn’t mind a little extra quiet time in this all family, all day era?
Read the weekly Timeout, a new feature of Chicago Children’s Museum’s Parenting Playbook, for the best in self-improvement and escapism from across the internet.
