Keep Your Schedule:
Set up a schedule. School time, lunchtime, play/exercise time, snack time, dinnertime, sleep time. Try to keep your usual schedule of wake, work, eat, play and sleep.
School Time:
Set your kids up for success. Set up a school zone in your house with all the supplies your kids will need. This can be a desk in their room or the kitchen or on the dining room table. Gather all their school supplies and remove unnecessary electronics.
Do you know if kids help to make a meal that they are more likely to try it?
Lunch Time:
Try simple foods like a whole grain English muffin pizza. Top one half with pizza sauce, cheese and veggies. Use cookie cutters to cut out the shapes and see how they melt.
Here is one of my family’s favorite, homemade hot chocolate:
Measure out a ½ cup of dark chocolate chips, two cups of milk or alternative milk (I love the taste of the extra creamy oat milk,) and a teaspoon of vanilla. Warm the milk in a pot, 
add the chocolate and vanilla, stir until the chocolate is melted.
Pour the chocolate goodness into cups, add mini marshmallows, and a dollop of whipped cream. To make it a bit extra, puree strawberries or raspberries. To make the puree, place a fine mesh strainer over a bowl and mash the berries. Add the raspberry puree (just the liquid not the seeds) into your favorite whipped topping. Place a dollop on your hot chocolate. #yummy!!
Make fun shapes with food.
Gather the fresh veggies and fruits you have like carrot sticks, mini tomatoes, celery, thin sliced radishes, string beans, lettuce, raisins, apples and bananas. Add in “paint” like guacamole or hummus. Let your kids create an edible work of art on their plates.
Regular exercise is an important part of your child’s day. They should have at least one hour of active play a day.
Play/Exercise Time:
Here are some fun ideas.
- Have a household scavenger hunt
- Play tag outside in the yard or driveway
- Try rockin’ it old school with jump ropes or hopscotch
- Create an obstacle course in your house or outside
- Find a fun kid-friendly exercise video on YouTube (there are so many free and fun videos to choose from) you and your kids can dance the hour away.
Exercise is a healthy way to cope with stress for you and your kids. They need to learn healthy coping mechanisms and exercise is an amazing one with so many benefits!
Sleep is both restorative (think beauty sleep for you) and it re-energizes you and the kids (Ok, maybe re-energizing them is not what you were hoping to do…just sayin)
Create a bedtime routine. It could include powering down electronics, bath time, or reading a book. Anything that helps you shed the day and wind down. You all deserve and need the rest.
Sleep Time:
Practice good sleep hygiene. Everyone’s room should be:
Dark- Quiet
- Cool
- NO electronics at least an hour before bedtime
- You can read a book or magazine
- Kids should have at least 8-9 hours
- Parents need 7-8 hours of quality sleep
Stay healthy! What are you doing with your kids? Let me know in the comments below.
Peace & Grace
Maryrose
Photo credits
- Young boy with computer: Photo by Oluwakemi Solaja on Unsplash
- Child cooking: Photo by Tanaphong Toochinda on Unsplash
- Ballerinas: Photo by IIONA VIRGIN on Unsplash
- Baby and cake: Photo by Henley Design Studio on Unsplash
- Girl and paint: Photo by Senjuti Kundu on Unsplash
Maryrose & Thyme 