What's the best way for families to get through lockdown?

Children face a lot of frustration in the coming days and weeks. Although spring breaks out outside, they are no longer allowed to play with the neighborhood children or meet up with friends. They are not allowed to go to the zoo, to the cinema or to see their grandparents. The older ones, which are used to being challenged intellectually in school, are boring. And the energy that would otherwise have been discharged on the playground or sports field can no longer get out.

Parents who now work from home are permanently present but often have less time than usual. Also because they first have to come to terms with the new situation. Also, the parents are often the bearers of bad news and enforce the restrictions, especially with younger children. However, they are very likely insecure and tense themselves and have less patience and strength to endure their offspring's frustration.

Talk to each other honestly

our children about what She expects her in the coming weeks. From Winston Churchill's point of view, it can therefore be entirely appropriate for parents to give their children a so-called "blood, sweat, and tears speech." It will, of course, have to be different depending on the age of the children.

With older children, you can be more open about the situation. The meaning and necessity of the restrictions and how the various needs of the people who now have to live together in a small space can be dealt with well. Refuge spaces are now becoming even more important for everyone. They should be available temporarily, even in smaller apartments - remember: if necessary, there is also space in the bathroom to take a break.

On the other hand, young children should be protected from their parents' fears as much as possible. You can be told that there is a kind of cold going around that makes older people, in particular, more ill than usual. Fortunately, it is, therefore, usually not a great danger for children or their parents. But that grandparents and other older adults can get very seriously ill, which is why we all have to be careful not to get infected so that the disease does not spread any further.

Give the day some structure

A regular daily routine will help you as a family to cope better with everyday life. Continue to get up at a fixed time during the week, get dressed, and breakfast. Then plan time for work, schoolwork, and physical activity.

Think about which points are particularly important to you and where they can offer scope for negotiations. Is it more important to you now to drink coffee in peace for half an hour every morning, or do you need more calm and respect during the meals together? Establish a few simple and clear rules so that you can stick to them in everyday life with as little effort as possible because there will be a dispute about rules.

The important thing is that rules should have such fixed half-lives that they do not have to be renegotiated at any time. Nevertheless, you should plan a point in time, around noon on Sunday, when you jointly consider which rules need to be readjusted. For example, to do something nice as a family, play a game, or watch a movie.

Children want to help.

Given the challenge that lies ahead of us, it should now apply more than ever that parenting does not mean that parents permanently meet their offspring's needs. Children can also help. So trust you with new tasks. If you didn't know how to tidy your room yourself, turn on a washing machine or empty a dishwasher - you could certainly learn it in the next few weeks.

The great thing is that children are naturally programmed to be part of a community. You want to help, get involved. And of course, children want to be pampered and have fun repeatedly, maybe a little more than usual because of the effort.