With most people still in quarantine, dads are spending more time at home with their loved ones. While most fathers are taking a more active role at home than those before, women still handle most domestic tasks.
If you want to help out more at home during this difficult time, here are some things you can do.
Help With Chores
One of the things you can try at home is to help out with more chores and housework. It’s likely that you and your family already have assigned duties, but now you can help out with more tasks. It could be standard household work such as cleaning dishes, dusting furniture, or doing laundry.
Or perhaps you have tasks you’ve wanted to do for a while. Maybe you’ve been planning to clear out the roof, repair those squeaky chairs, or try out that recipe you saved. Now that you’re at home, you might have the time to check these items off your to-do list.
Study With Your Kids
Because most places have still suspended classes, learning now dominantly takes place at home. More and more parents realize how challenging it can be for teachers worldwide. Some even joke that they now believe educators should earn millions with the amount of patience they show with young learners.
As we await the end of this outbreak and the beginning of a new term, you can help your kids. Thousands of online resources will give you activities you can do with your children at home. From practice sheets and flashcards to coloring pages and informational videos, you can use these materials to teach your kids.
Alternatively, you can also go on a virtual tour with your family. Some places you can visit online include:
- Walt Disney World. Walk past your kids’ favorite Disney landscapes and landmarks through 360-degree panoramic shots.
- The National History Museum. Visit up to 14 different exhibits and an interactive gigapixel photo.
- NASA. The space agency offers an app with augmented reality to let you experience being in the Horton Space Center. You can also have a 360-degree view of the galaxy.
- The National Aquarium in Baltimore. Explore the aquarium and chill with penguins or tropical fish.
- The San Diego Zoo. Watch animals without ever leaving your home through live cameras of the enclosures 24/7.
With virtual tours, you can visit places without having to leave your home. It’s an excellent alternative to plans you might have needed to cancel due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Teach Your Children A New Skill
Speaking of learning, you don’t have to stick to a specific curriculum or classroom work. You can also take the time during this quarantine to teach your kids a new skill or hobby.
Why not show them how to play a few basic chords on the guitar? Or teach your older kids some beginner house repair. You can also guide them on how to knit to create a simple project. It’s an excellent time to share your interests and knowledge with them. You can also learn about what might pique their interest.
Have Playtime Together
With how busy parents can get with work and other responsibilities, you might not always have time to bond. Now you can take some time to have playtime together.
A fun idea is to stage a “Family Olympics” where all household members can play. Plan out simple games you can all participate in and keep score of who wins for the day. Some suggestions for these activities include:
- Trash can toss. Get the most paper balls into the bin in a certain amount of time.
- Water bottle bowling. The goal is to knock down the most water bottle pins with a small ball.
- Paper cup tower. Build the highest tower out of paper or plastic cups.
Playing with your kids can help strengthen your bond together. “When a dad engages with his child, it allows him to enter the child’s world,” says Kate Eshleman, PsyD.
Summary
In the past, many fathers may have been less involved in raising their kids and participating at home. However, there’s now a significant shift in the norm, with more dads being more proactive. In 2012, dads made up 16% of stay-at-home parents, higher than 10% in 1989.
Even during this quarantine, there’s a lot you can do to help at home. You can help out with chores that you might not have had the time for before. The extra time also gives you an opportunity to teach your kids more lessons, a new skill, or about a hobby. Lastly, the quarantine can also serve as bonding time with your family. With all the stress right now, everyone can use fun activities and games together.