Parenting, to say the very least, has been challenging in the days of coronavirus. Not only are you stuck at home with your kids much more but there are numerous restrictions and other judgment calls you need to make in regards to your children’s’ safety. Summer is here but camps and other activities are canceled for many people, leaving you with few options. Some common questions you may be asking yourself: What should I allow my kids to do? Do I stretch the normal boundaries? Does reopening mean I don’t have to worry as much?

Sorry, You Still Need To Worry

When everyone was on lockdown it was miserable but at least you knew where you stood. You had to stay inside and there was no place to go. As bad as that was, it took away a lot of parenting guesswork. Now that coronavirus restrictions are being loosened, there may be more options for activities but the rules are less clear.

The problem is that the “reopening” of businesses has little to do with our health. The loosening of restrictions is more about the economy and political pressure. The coronavirus has not gone away just because you can now eat inside. The recent surges in the virus show us that we need to remain vigilant. So, what do you allow your kids to do now that more things are open? Just because they are allowed to go somewhere, does that mean it is a good idea to go? Are all house rules suspended because regular summer is ruined?

Coronavirus Parenting Guidance

Here is some parenting guidance that takes into account both mental and physical health concerns.

Screens

Just because kids are stuck at home a lot more does not mean that screen time should be unlimited. Yes, it is an easy way to eat up time and keep them occupied. But everyone needs balance in their life and you do not want your children to turn into zombies. It is okay, however, to allow more screen time than they had before the coronavirus but if your child is spending all day playing games online with their friends that is a cause for concern.

Routine

Children need structure. They may act like they don’t but you will start to see problems if their time is totally unorganized. Now, this does not mean you have to create an hourly schedule but keeping certain routine activities in place will help them maintain a sense of normalcy. For example, keep bedtime and wakeup times generally the same. They may argue that they have no reason to get up in the morning (and you might agree), but keeping regular sleeping times ensures they are getting the necessary rest. Proper sleep has also been associated with improved cognitive function. In addition, try to keep consistent mealtimes and eat as a family if possible. That will give each day more structure and keep you in the loop of your children’s lives.

In-Person Interaction

This is one of the huge questions of the reopening. Do I allow in-person socializing? I think you can as long as you follow certain basic rules. One, you need to make sure everyone practices social distancing. Second, more supervision is needed for younger kids. Children under 10 can’t be expected to social distance for more than a few minutes. Third, keep the interaction under a couple of hours. As time goes on, people relax and will not be as vigilant over time. Next, stay outside. If you let someone else into your house for more than a few minutes you are basically letting them into your bubble. Finally, make sure you trust the family with whom you are socializing. If they don’t seem to care about social distancing, then you might want to skip a playdate.

Should I Vacation During The Coronavirus?

Some areas to consider if you want to go on vacation:

Transportation

After being cooped up for a few months, a lot of people want to get out of town. It is not a bad idea as long as you take certain precautions. First, traveling by car is the safest form of transportation. It is the only way to keep your bubble intact. Being inside a train or airplane with a lot of other people increases your risk substantially. Second, you have to minimize rest stops. If you do need to stop somewhere, you need to be careful. Summer rest stops are going to be filled with people and bathrooms have tons of germs. Wear a mask, try your best not to touch anything, and wash your hands when you are done.

Where To Stay

Staying in a hotel or motel poses some risks. Some things to consider. How well have the rooms been cleaned? Do you have to take elevators or be in indoor spaces with many people? Is renting a house an option? A house is more self-contained but if you have to share a house with a bunch of people outside your bubble it defeats the purpose.

Activities

There aren’t many indoor activities to do on vacation these days and that might be a good thing. Being outside is the best bet as long as you can socially distance. For example, the beach is a great idea as long as it is not mobbed with people.

Playgrounds and amusement parks deserve a special mention. They are reopening but allowing your child to play in one is a real judgment call. We know that coronavirus spreads mostly through face to face contact, but do you really want your child touching the same surfaces that hundreds of other children with snotty hands have touched? A good basic rule is to remain outside, socially distance, and don’t put your hands on anything that hundreds of other people have touched. And make sure you have the hand sanitizer handy in case they do.

Do I Expand My Coronavirus Bubble?

Until a vaccine is developed we have to live with the coronavirus. That is a long time for children (and adults) to have to socially distance from other people. It is only natural to think about expanding your bubble so you and your children can have closer access to friends and family.

When thinking about expanding your bubble, it is all about trust. Do you trust people to be honest and practice good coronavirus safety practices? I have heard people say that family should be included in your bubble simply because they are family. But, what about when grandma is 80 years old and has a preexisting condition? And what about cousin Billy, who likes to go out and party without a mask? Whether or not people are related does not matter. What matters is if they have respect for the consequences of the coronavirus and how it may affect your family. If you feel like you can trust certain people with your health then you might want to consider it. Just remember, every time you expand your bubble you are increasing your risk. If you find yourself with a bubble of 25 people, for instance, you have probably gone too far.

Coronavirus Parenting Is Not A Popularity Contest.

This is an extremely difficult time to be a parent. No one in our lifetime has ever dealt with a situation like this one. You are inevitably going to make mistakes. That’s okay. The only unforgivable action is to act like COVID-19 doesn’t exist.

As a responsible parent, you may also have to make some unpopular decisions. You are sometimes going to want to say no when your kids (and family) want you to say yes. Just because other parents are allowing their children to do something, however, does not mean you have to follow their lead. In the end, you have to make choices that are best for you and your family. Educate yourself and trust your gut. Most of all, just do the best you can. It is all anyone can ever ask of a parent.