Guest Post By Karen Whiting
Children panic when they don’t understand what’s happening and the routine changes. We want our children to face the crises calmly as that brings peace to them and the home. It also equips for future problems. A hands on approach helps a child remember more.
Teach Hygiene
Since the most important aspect for everyone is to wash our hands and not touch our faces turn that into play. Let them play in water with washing toys while sharing how that cleans the toys and cleans their hands. Let them drop a little food coloring into a glass of clear water and watch how it spreads. Explain that germs can spread in the air like the color spreads in the water. So, we need to protect ourselves from this new virus and the soap and water will help us do that. Read about Jesus washing his friend’s feet in John 13.
Share Health Signs
Take your child’s temperature and let your child take your temperature. Show on the thermometer what is a warning number to be concerned about and discuss other signs that you might be sick with a virus and it might be the coronavirus. Calm your child with the good news that most people get better, especially those who are healthy before they get sick. Eat a health snack and drink a glass of water. Talk about how healthy foods can help them stay well and help them get better faster.
Help Your Child Adapt to Staying at Home More
Show their baby photos and chat about how time goes so fast that you sometimes have missed spending more moments and days together. Now you have more time together so make plans to enjoy the time. List games to play and books to read together. Make up ways to have trips at home. You can set up a farm area with toy and stuffed cows, pigs, and other barnyard animals as well as books and maybe an online farm where you can hear animal sounds, and pretend to drive there on chairs with making car sounds. Go to the spot in your home and enjoy each animal. Discuss what the animals do that helps people and how people care for those animals.
Connect Long Distance
Connect over the distance with cards, calls, and online chats. Let your child have an online playdate with a good friend. It could be playing with cars together or having a distance tea party. Discuss ideas of what to do on the video call and invite the friend for that activity. Send out cards to give a distance hug. You can make a folded paper accordion with a hand cutouts glued to each end. Open it up and write “I’m sending you a big hug.” Mail these to friends and loved ones and read how Paul wrote greetings to friends.
Pray as a Family
When something bad happens we need to remember that it is not a surprise to God. He knows what has happened and what will happen. We need to trust God and pray together to thank God for community workers and ask God to keep us all safe.
Model Good Practices
Stay calm and wash your hands often. Avoid touching your face and your child’s face. Take a deep breath when you feel a little worry and say, “I take a deep breath to help me stay calm.”
About Karen Whiting
Karen Whiting is a RoseKidz author who loves to combine hands-on activities with faith in her books 52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve and 52 Weekly Devotions for Busy Families.
52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve
God has called us all to serve the people around us, no matter what our careers or callings are. How can you help your children understanding God’s call to serve and share his love in fun and meaningful ways?
Enjoy having 52 weekly devotions packed with engaging stories, hands-on activities, memory verses, and relevant discussion questions for families called to serve on the mission field, in the military, law enforcement, at church, and more! Flexibly designed for families with busy schedules, the easy-to-read 52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve is the perfect way to involve your whole family for fun and memorable moments while building a personal connection with God!
52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve has an easy-to-follow format with short Scripture readings and quick devotion to build foundations of faith through family interactions. Includes optional hands-on activities and chat prompts help parents carry the thoughts throughout the week to intentionally focus on Jesus in daily life. It’s the perfect way to get your whole family together for fun and memorable moments while building a personal connection with God!
5 Key Features of 52 Weekly Devotions for Families Called to Serve
- Flexible and Easy-to-Use: Spend anywhere between 5 minutes to an hour. At bedtime or at the dinner table, start any time, anywhere! Offers clear instructions and a simple format.
- Short and Meaningful. Enjoy having 2-4 minute devotions that are engaging, relatable, and meaningful. Great for on-the-go families!
- Bible-based. 2-4 minute Scripture reading, with “going deeper” options.
- Hands-On Activities. Help your family connect to God and each other with 150 optional activities that will help build firm faith foundations with fun family interaction.
- Age-Appropriate. The questions and activities range from easy (preschool) to more thoughtful (middle school). So, you can ask each child a different question at their level.
Covers 52 Topics for Families Called to Serve in the Military, Mission Field, Law Enforcement and More!
The Basics of a Family in Service
- Understanding a Calling
- Our Unique Calling
- Family Mission Statement (and more!)
For the Family Member Abroad
- Separation Preparation
- Communicate with Technology
- Bridging the Distance (and more!)
Showing Love and Support
- Care Packages
- Time for Family
- Support Network (and more!)
Emergency Preparation
- Wildfires, Smoke, and Safety
- Safety Rules
- Disaster Response and Relief (and more!)
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