How is everyone coping with lockdown? Hard isn’t it?

Back in March when we were first confined to barracks it was an absolute pleasure to see frazzled, working families out on their bikes with their children or having the time together to sit and eat and cook with their children but for some the novelty has definitely worn off.

So how are we going to get through the next weeks or even months not being able to see our parent friends, go to our clubs and classes and manage behaviour so we can all get through this difficult time?

There is an underlying simple message with managing behaviour in small children. Ignoring the negative but reinforcing the positive. Sounds easy doesn’t it? I know it isn’t but I hope the following helps.

Praise really is the key to developing positive behaviour. We need to show them what is expected and tell them well done when they conform.

All the adults in the home need to agree on what is acceptable and what isn’t. Boundaries make children feel safe. Stick with it. They will push!

Distraction can change a behaviour really quickly. Make it up! “Goodness did you hear that bird in the garden?” can stop a long whinge in its tracks.

Tantrums happen – make sure the child is safe but walk away until they are done. You cannot negotiate a child out of a meltdown. As soon as they are finish it – forget it. Find an opportunity to praise the next positive actions they take.

Play gives the opportunity to display positive behaviour and to survive you need to treat it as a job. Set aside time to play and demonstrate a happy face, being cooperative and listening. Turn taking and sharing. “Wow thank you for sharing that with your brother” will have so much more impact than dragging something back that has been snatched.

Using time out or a naughty step can escalate behaviour. You get a lot of attention being picked up and taken to somewhere whilst your Mummy or Daddy explains why you shouldn’t have hit the cat/your sister. A firm NO and turning away is really powerful.

I am realistic though. I was the mum who shut her very active, full on pre-schooler in the garden to put some space between us. I cried A LOT. I have no idea how I would have survived a week of lockdown. You should all be really proud of yourselves.

Whilst there has never been a better time for us to have the technology to keep in touch remember its not always a real glimpse of how sometimes day has really gone. Todays spectacular art family could be eating out of a cereal box in their PJs tomorrow. Speak to your friends. Support each other.

Thank you for joining us on the Zoom classes. The children have adapted brilliantly. It could be the new normal for a while and it is a new skill for them to learn. It doesn’t matter if they ask all week for the class or a song and then they don’t join in. I understand it is disappointing but it really doesn’t matter. Keep going with any other online sessions that have worked SOMETIMES – it isn’t going to be perfect every week.

I was hoping to be back at the classes with you all sooner rather than later but I think it will be a while. Please message me if you would like to try again. We are all desperate for a bit of “normal” but maybe need to accept that its Zoom for a while. A bit of structure to one of your days will hopefully help.

It won’t be forever x