How can family life be normal at the moment?

Psychologist Laverne Antrobus explains that maintaining normal routines such as meals around the table and spending time together can help maintain normality. How can we help maintain a sense of normality for our children at home, despite all the changes brought by the pandemic?

Consultant child and educational psychologist Laverne Antrobus says: ‘Creating an environment at home that helps children feel safe has never been more important. The pandemic has highlighted that family routines, particularly mealtimes, provide a space for children and parents to come together to talk about Covid-19 and what changes it’s brought for them as a family.

‘New research commissioned by McCain as part of its Nation’s Conversations report, which focuses on the importance of maintaining quality family time at the dinner table, reveals 80 per cent of children look forward to talking to their parents over a meal at the dinner table, and 95 per cent feel talking is important and makes mealtimes together enjoyable.

‘Sharing thoughts and feelings with family at mealtimes is a helpful way of knowing how everyone’s coping. Children in particular are helped to regulate their own emotions by hearing the thoughts of their parents. Being honest and open about how you and they might be feeling will be especially helpful.

‘As challenging as the last six months have been, creating time to check in with children will continue to be important as we navigate the challenges that Covid-19 presents.

‘Use this time to do other activities you enjoy together, like going out for walks or creating the shopping list for a family meal that can be cooked together.

‘The everyday parts of family life that can be relied upon will help children feel there’s something steady as they move with you through the next stage of this pandemic.’