How School Closures Can Strengthen Your Family

In the midst of closures and cancellations, Christine Carter, Ph.D., at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center has outlined three ways to help families thrive. 

Create some structure around work and school at home

Working from home comes with its share of distractions, especially having kids around. It’s important to get properly set up now for work and school at home—instead of putting it off until the situation becomes clearer or you lose all your patience. Designate specific times and places to do work and learn. If your kids require supervision while they are at home, Carter suggests finding a partner (a neighbor or friend if you don’t have a co-parent) to help, and set up shifts with them. Eliminating interruptions will allow you to focus on your tasks, and decrease stress and tension.

Connect with your clan

Social distancing is hard on all of us. But with families stuck at home, you can do your best to spend this time with each other so you’re all in this together. Meals that once would have been spent in front of the computer can now be shared. While distancing from the world outside your home, keep your family close and connected.

Embrace not having somewhere else to be

With our social calendars currently empty, many of us are at a loss with how to fill the time. Although it feels productive to be busy, now is a good time to slow down and take care of yourself and your family. It may seem indulgent to be practicing self-care while there are so many in need, but one of the best things you can do for others is to take care of yourself.

In all of this, it helps to remember the deep meaning and purpose behind what we’re doing: We’re trying to slow the spread of this disease and keep the world and the people around us safe. To learn more about strengthening your family while stuck at home, read the full article from the Greater Good Science Center, an Experience Happiness partner.