During this Corona Virus crisis, many folks are working virtually from home. What do you do if you have one or more children at home that you didn’t expect to “take to work?” It’s a conundrum. You love your child, but you don’t want to perform poorly at your job because you have a screaming child in the “conference room.”  So, let’s make this easier and lower that guilt.

Sometimes parents think they need to be constantly involved with their child. This is not only exhausting, but it’s also a false assumption. By creating the right environment and providing appropriate toys and play objects, parents won’t have to continually entertain their child.

Environmental Set Up

Safety first. You are trying to set up the area to be safe, so you can allow your child to explore as freely as possible while you are working. Worries about unsafe conditions are guaranteed to mess up your concentration. So, start by setting up a safe area where you can see your child, but which is also inherently safe, even for those minutes when your attention is focused elsewhere.

To check out the safety of the area, I suggest you look at it from the child’s level. For example, if you have an infant, lay on the ground and see how it looks. If there is a toddler, look at it on your knees. From these perspectives, you’ll have a better chance of identifying dangers you might miss from an adult’s height.

This area should be inviting and intriguing to your child, so she will want to explore and play there. The play area could be defined by mats, a plastic tablecloth or maybe an old blanket. Making the area sound like fun for your children depends on how you describe it to them. Tell them this is a special area, e.g., it can be their magic carpet.

Be aware that they may not stay confined to their magic carpet for a long time, though; they may play for 30 minutes or so before they need a break. You’ll know when they need to stretch. Then, maybe add some movement into the mix. For example, do a scavenger hunt around the house. March up the stairs and pretend it’s a parade, or follow the leader, or whatever sounds fun. While it’s tempting to think “I can’t leave my workplace,” remind yourself of 10-minute bathroom or coffee breaks you would normally be taking. Playing with your toddler can be used as one of those. End the movement by going back to their special area. For example, the last stop on the parade can bring them back to their magic carpet, or they can play follow the leader back to the blanket. It will be a win-win for you all.

 List #1: Toys/objects that  DO encourage exploration for children ages 1-3

EXAMPLES

1. Cotton handkerchiefs /bandanas
2. Toy cars
3. Blocks (or boxes)
4. Dolls
5. Plastic bowls (or recycled tubs from various foods) that have been washed in the dishwasher (e.g., applesauce cups or cottage cheese bowls)
6. Books
7. Stuffed animals

At home, a good safety test is the following: the above need to be too big to fit in the cardboard left over from a coveted toilet paper roll that came to an end.  Otherwise, they are choking hazards. Note that this includes balloons. Yes, they are too big to fit in the tube inflated, but as soon as they pop, they slide right through.

List # 2: Toys/objects that do NOT encourage exploration for children ages 1-3

• Jack-in-the-box
• Toys that you push on and something appears
• Spinning tops
• Toys with prerecorded messages (such as electronic dolls/figures)

What do you think it takes to qualify on List 1 or List 2?

This is certainly not a test. I just want to help you pick objects/toys around the house that would work the best. Because in your home you’ve got the material, just look around. So, did you figure out the difference?

Stay tuned for tomorrow,  part II, where I’ll discuss what works and why.