Naturally, children are very excited to celebrate holidays or their birthdays, and they look forward to them for months. They love it all, from the food to the games to the gifts and the singing.
It may seem especially devastating to cancel holiday or birthday celebrations, as part of a responsible practice of social distancing in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
Kids may find it disappointing to not celebrate these special days with a large group of friends or family, sharing food and playing games. Luckily, it is still possible to make the day special for your child.
A great first step is to explain the importance of social distancing to your child and why it matters, so you can be sure they feel good about doing their part.
Here are a few more ways your family can celebrate special occasions while social distancing.
Enjoy the Planning
Help your child make occasions like holidays or birthdays special by putting care and attention into the planning of the celebration.
Have an upcoming birthday party that you will hold digitally? Send out physical invitations anyway. Upcoming holiday? Put on music, and enjoy the process of decorating your home in anticipation.
Involve Others
Thankfully, while we social distance, we don’t have to isolate ourselves digitally. Tools like Instagram and Facebook Live, Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime allow us to connect with one another even if we can’t hug or sit in the same room.
Pick a date, time, and platform, and send out your invitations. You might consider including even more friends than your home could normally hold in order to fill the digital space and create the connections that feel so meaningful during social distancing.
Get Dressed Up
While it is tempting to pass the days in sweatsuits or even our pajamas, it’s important not just to keep some normal routines in place for your children (for the sake of home learning and mental health), but also to mark special days by putting on special clothes — even if you are socially distancing.
Getting dressed up, even if it is for a digital party, makes the day feel celebratory and momentous.
Get Creative
Why not choose a theme and dress accordingly? Or make it a dance party? You could also plan activities and games like karaoke or charades.
There are a multitude of ways to turn up the level of fun even while social distancing makes social celebrations a little different from the norm. Discuss options for activities with your child and find out what would make them excited. Then incorporate those activities into your celebration.
Make Sure Social Distancing Doesn’t Spell the End for Social Activity
While the coronavirus pandemic has shaken up our normal lives, routines, and the way we socialize, don’t let social distancing keep your children from connecting with others and continuing to build social relationships. Especially when holidays and birthdays roll around, work with your family in order to plan an event that will be fun and memorable.
It’s not just a good way to pass the time — it fosters strong bonds as well as ensures that your kids don’t feel like they’re missing out too much, even though so much of their lives have been disrupted.
As always, stay safe out there!
