Ideas For Self Isolation With Kids

We’ve rounded up some of the mums at OFB (Home) Headquarters to find out any new tips and tricks that are working for them to keep some order and most importantly sanity.

Li-Ann Scott - Business Relationship Manager

What are your new rules in the house to maintain order?

Creating a new timetable for chores around the house. Since we are all indoors now, it is important that the children understand that the chores around the house (like laundry, dishes, vacuuming) is everyone's responsibility now (where it might've been less on the kids previously due to their school and afterschool curriculum).

Establishing set times where the children are allowed to ask questions regarding their school work or other non urgent things. This helps the us, the parents get work done without the constant interruption. They are encouraged to compile a list of questions down which needs clarification and it will be discussed during those set times during the day.

Setting up a 'quiet room/corner' in the house so anyone who needs to be on extended calls, needs to conduct that in the 'quiet room' so it does not distract the other members doing work. This also applies to the children taking Zoom calls with their teachers for their lessons.

Do you have any tips for a good daily routine?

I've personally allowed the kids to sleep in a little as they go to bed a little later as well. This way I get to have a solid 2-3 hours of work before they get up. We then follow the usual school routine and extend the hours of the day depending on what time 'home school' starts.

We try to stick to our normal routine as much as possible (get dressed, make their beds, breakfast then school) however we now encourage them to make their own lunch so we have allowed a longer lunch break for them.

They are not allowed to play on any devices during the school week (except to do homework) so that rule remains.

In a nutshell, we stick to our normal routine as much as possible but let's face it, none of this is 'normal' so within the new normal, we allow for flexibility.

Favourite activity to keep the kids busy- that doesn't include technology?

1. We do reconciliation on grocery bills every week so now that the kids are 10, we get them to help us do a weekly tally. They have to repeat it until they get the same answer 3 times (to make sure they've added correctly). So it takes them a while to get through it and helps them practice maths.

2. Origami ! The boys are really into making bookmarks and other origami animals which they can decorate later.

3. Other things are playing handball, boardgames like risk and monopoly (that takes forever to finish - haha!) 

Robyn Jones - Head of Marketing

What are your new rules in the house to maintain order?

Clean rooms! Everyone has to start and finish the day with a tidy room. Makes learning/schoolwork easier when everyone has a clear workspace. 

Do you have any tips for a good daily routine?

Everyone has the same routine - breakfast, shower, clean teeth, get dressed, ready to start school/work at the normal time. We also all eat dinner together each day; breakfast and lunch are harder as we are often 'in meetings' or working before the school day starts just to get ahead.

Favourite activity to keep the kids busy- that doesn’t include technology.

Bike rides - helps them burn off some energy!

Renee Tanner – General Manager

What are your new rules in the house to maintain order?

No electronics until all school work is finished

Putting a list on the Fridge -that says “jobs to complete” e.g. clean out garage and then “Fun activities” e.g. a family game night. Letting everyone in the family write something fun on there and we all have to do it.

Do you have any tips for a good daily routine?

Sticking to getting up on time, exercise, shower and dressed like a normal day.

Stop and all have lunch together and talk about the day. (We have never been so close and all up in each others business, it’s actually been really nice.. for now!)

Favourite activity to keep the kids busy- that doesnt include technology.

Printing off free Find A Words - Evie is obsessed with Find a Words. Crazy!

Nadean Richards - CEO

What are your new rules in the house to maintain order?

Everyone must get dresses and make their beds. If anyone gets upset we have a code word “ corona” to stop the friction. When we say it we have to wave our hands in the air so that we look a bit silly and helps contain the situation.

Do you have any tips for a good daily routine?

We have made a strict timetable for everyone, including the kids. Within it we have included exercise, work/school time, breaks, playtime, technology time.

Above all else a walk around the block is a non negotiable for everyone.

Favourite activity to keep the kids busy- that doesn't include technology?

So a big one for us has been hide and seek, which we have also got involved with and might I add become a bit competitive with. That is until we need to go to the bathroom ha! We have been huge with making cubby houses and a side note – we decided to potty train. This has been a big one. We’ve also been playing doctors so a lot of temperature checking has for some reason turned into a bit of a game!