A lot is going on in the world right now. Things are changing, people are frightful, and the news can be stressful to watch. Staying positive during the coronavirus pandemic can be difficult, especially for parents and their children. However, we wanted to spread a note of positivity during this time and remind you that you’re not alone. We’re still here for you and your family, and we’re going to try our best to help you through it. Before we begin, we wanted to offer you an inspiration poem by Kitty O’Meara.

And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.

Staying Positive During the Coronavirus Pandemic

The poem above mentions what some are calling “hidden gifts” to be found during this pandemic. Many of us are now being forced to stay at home and even working remotely. While it may feel scary because change is scary and there is a lot going on in the world, we can also start working together to see the silver lining, so to speak. With less time being spent outside of the house, there is now more time to focus on ourselves and our children. With a little bit of creative energy, it’s possible to transmute the stress we’re feeling into positive, fun, and productive activities. Check out some of our tips for things to do to help with staying positive during the coronavirus.

Spend More Time with Your Family

It almost feels like time and life never slow down. We’re always on the go, busy, or doing something. We’ve been given a unique opportunity (silver lining) to spend more time with our family. It’s time to bust out some board games and puzzles or create some new games of your own. When it’s time to cook dinner, have your children help and start to teach them some of the basics of cooking. Even little ones can help by snapping green beans or stirring mixtures.

Try Meditation or Reflecting

Since there is a lot of stress and uncertainty abound, it’s likely your anxiety levels have gone up. The change in routine can also be confusing and stressful for children. Therefore, now is a great time to start practicing meditation, even just a couple of times per week. You can also teach your children the benefits of meditation, mindfulness, and consciousness. If meditation for you or your children isn’t something you’re interested in, just quiet time to reflect is adequate. Try to think about positive things and what you do have, rather than what you might be missing right now.

Learn a New Hobby

There has never been a better time to learn a new hobby! Thankfully, you can find most of what you need online if you need some materials to get started. Ask your children if there is anything they would like to learn, such as painting, crochet, knitting, writing, drawing, or more. If you’ve always wanted to learn to knit, for example, now is a great time to start. There are many tutorials and kid-friendly tutorials on YouTube that can teach you many different skills. Encourage your children (and yourself) to focus that anxious energy into a creative craft.

Start a Journal or Write a Story

Since there is a lot going on at once, it can be very stressful, to say the least. It’s important to be able to express and reflect on what you’re feeling. One of the best ways to do that is by writing in a journal or diary. Just checking in once a day or every other day to talk about what’s going on and how you’re feeling can do wonders for your wellbeing. This might be more challenging for children. If they don’t want to keep a journal, encourage them to write a story instead. Sometimes writing a story allows us to express how we’re feeling without directly saying it.

All of these activities can lead to positive character development, increase creativity, improved communication skills, and more. Of course, this applies to your entire family. Now is the time to get everyone involved. Just because you’re always together doesn’t mean you have to always be together. Encourage your children to reflect in their own ways through meditation or journaling. While there are plenty of things you can do as a family, it’s a great time to encourage independent creative thinking in your children.

Practicing The 5 C’s of CreatableMe

As you may know, at CreatableMe, we’re all about the 5 C’s: Consciousness, Creativity, Communication, Connection, and Character. All of the suggested activities above are connected to these 5 C’s in one way or another. Consciousness through meditation or writing, creativity, and character building through crafting and learning new hobbies and communication and connection through family time and writing as well. Practicing the 5 C’s of CreatbleMe during this time can help you with staying positive during the coronavirus pandemic.