TOP TIPS FOR KEEPING IT TOGETHER AT HOME
CAIRNS PATHways: peace at home, peace at heart founder Beck Altaffer is among many families already moving into selfisolation. She plans to post regular updates to her Facebook page to help families during the crisis and says there are plenty of strategies to help keep the peace at home. Here are her top tips.
STICK TO A ROUTINE: Simply a parameter to help all members of the family manage the unknown. Within structure there is freedom.
SELF CARE: For all, but especially the adult who is home. This is vital and I believe must be number one. In my house, this is meditation time and downtime between parents.
ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION: Focused attention with each child and parent if possible fills up the emotional bank account of the relationship between parent and child. It is the first port of call in redirecting power struggles.
KEEP IT SIMPLE AND LET IT GO: It is so much more important to ‘connect and delight in’, than to ‘correct and shame’ our children and ourselves.
FAMILY MEETINGS: With all children included can help immensely. When all members of the family can help plan the days ahead, they will feel ownership and purpose.
LIMIT SCREEN TIME: Have a family agreement about it and make sure all members have their say.
FOLLOW FAMILY MEMBERS’ INTERESTS: For example a child’s love of dinosaurs can lead to reading books about dinosaurs, watching YouTube clips and finding where they were found in an Atlas.