Tips For Thriving in Crisis
The covid_19 crisis is unprecedented in our lifetime, and we all have different ways of surviving. I want to share 5 ideas that are helping me, and I hope they encourage you as well.
1. Make your bed. I'm listening to the book, Make Your Bed by William H. McRaven and I'm reminded of how important it is to keep basic habits going so that we have anchors for our daily life. If you can continue your normal morning routine, you can help your children have safe spots in their day, despite the upheaval.
2. Take it day by day. If we try to forecast how long this will last, or the long term impact on our children of missing out on classes, lessons, and playdates, we will drive ourselves crazy. If instead, we take this one day at a time, and just make each day as happy as possible, we can build sweet memories with our children, despite the scary situation.
3. Read aloud. All of the books we have read, Little House on the Prairie, Sarah, Plain and Tall, Little Britches, The Endurance, and many more are reminding us now that we will be okay. Ma survived the Long Winter, the Shackleton expedition survived a year in the polar ice, and we can survive too. This too shall pass, and we can do our best to make it a season that pulls us together instead of causing us to fall apart.
Purchase The Playful Pioneers, our Little House on the Prairie inspired resource!
4. Take care of your health. Get out for a walk, drink plenty of water, turn off your phone, and get plenty of sleep. These habits can make the difference between surviving and merely coping, and I'm co-hosting a 4-week challenge to help you do just that. We will work on healthy habits together, and you have the potential of winning gift cards and money back for participating. Just click the link to learn more, but space is limited and we start Monday, March 23. I'll be right there to cheer you on!
5. Get outside. When we are inside dealing with a new normal, life can feel very chaotic, but it's much easier to feel calm when we are outside in nature. It's a good time to explore new nature reserves and wild places, while giving other folks plenty of social distance. If you don't have wild places nearby, you can make your yard or balcony a little wild by adding elements such as a sand table, a box and potting soil for planting veggies, and other natural items.
We are also excited about getting outside with our children this spring, and our one-month nature guides can give you some great ideas for learning with fun nature themes. If you find yourself in need of some inspiration while you practice social distancing, these guides can help.
For students who have finished The Peaceful Preschool, we recommend starting with the Ocean, Garden, or Tree Guide, followed by Farm, Sky, Mountain, Freshwater, and Desert. You can create an entire kindergarten year with these guides which include math, phonics, practical skills, art, fine and large motor skills, and literature.