Spring Break in a time of quarantine

So, how do we create a space that feels like spring break when we’ve been home for two weeks, and will be home for at least four more weeks afterward? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself as we started our spring break today.

My husband initially thought we should just keep pushing through with “distance learning,” but I quickly shot down that idea. They have finished all the the work that was sent home from school (we were really good about completing those daily assignments over the past two weeks), and I didn’t really want to create more work for them. Also, they need a break from the craziness that is distance learning as much as I do. Things will really ramp up when they go back, with daily zoom meetings and more work assigned by teachers, so I think having this week “off” is important. After I explained my reasoning, my husband easily agreed.

So how do we make this week feel a little special when we’ve already been home and we’ll stay home when it’s over… Letting them play as much Switch as they want would make everyone insane, and I still think things like getting outside are important (we’ve done a REALLY good job of getting the kids outside – we’ve been out for at least an hour every day since quarantine started). I also think my kids thrive on routines, if not schedules, so we wanted something in place that kept us all sane.

{Also, while I happen to have the same spring break as my kids (for the first time ever!) my husband has no spring break at all, so I’ll be with them for the bulk of each day while my husband is working downstairs. This also makes a routine important to me.}

We sat down with the kids today and talked to them about how we wanted them to have a fun spring break, but that we also wanted to make sure everyone was happy and healthy (we talk a lot about how video games make us happy in the moment, but sometimes make us angry or frustrated later in the day). Then we asked them what they wanted out of our spring break.

After some negotiation, we came up with a routine that we think will work for everyone. It involves copious (in my opinion) amounts of screen time, but it also involves taking care of ourselves, each other, and our surroundings. My sticking point, besides basic self-care (you’ll notice I had to write down the three meals of the day, because my kids hate eating), was going outside every day. We’re also trying to get them to do more for themselves around the house, and we’re giving them some new chores.

{I’m embarrassed to report that they’ve basically never had chores before, besides the bare minimum of picking up their own room. But now that we have the time to teach them how to do things, and we are home enough that they have many times to practice doing them, we’re going to start. I’m hoping that, if we really stick to the chores this week, they will be easier to keep up in April when we’re also doing distance learning.}

So that is what we’re doing for our spring break. My husband laughed at me for writing out yet another schedule on the big white board, but I think it helps to see the routine. It keeps my grounded and it helps manage the kids’ expectations; they won’t be getting three hours of Switch/Kindle/iPad time if they aren’t taking care of themselves, each other, or their surroundings! I hope my white board helps them remember that.