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Month: April 2020

10 Fun Self-Isolation Activities for Kids

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Trying to keep the kids entertained in self-isolation?

With schools, parks, and cinemas closed, many families are being forced to get creative with activities for kids stuck at home (there are only so many times you can watch Frozen II).

Keep the kids busy and your sanity intact with these quarantine activities for kids that can be enjoyed in the safety of your home and yard.

 

1. Exercise Dice

This is a great way to get kids moving and hold their attention for long enough to finish your coffee in peace. Just grab a die and assign an exercise or activity to each number, then get your children to take turns rolling it and performing the assigned action. Some exercise and activity ideas might include:

  • Jumping jacks
  • High knees
  • Hop on one leg
  • Air guitar
  • Pretend swimming
  • Penguin waddle.

 

2. Life-Size Drawings

Forget the A4 self-portrait and go big with life-size drawings! Get your child to lie down on butcher’s paper or several pieces of A4 paper stuck together and trace an outline of their body. Then they’re free to bring it to life by drawing their face and whatever outfit they wish.

 

3. Backyard Obstacle Course

Another great self-isolation activity for kids with energy to burn, a backyard obstacle course is sure to keep the whole family entertained. Add some friendly competition by making it a race against siblings or parents, or challenge your child to beat their best time. Some obstacle ideas might include:

  • Running through the rungs of a ladder flat on the ground
  • Jumping over laundry baskets
  • Weaving around buckets
  • Crawling under a broom balanced on chairs
  • Kicking a ball through DIY goalposts
  • Knocking over a tower of plastic cups
  • Balancing on a timber beam.

 

4. DIY T-Shirt Design

If you have a t-shirt, you have a canvas. T-shirt decorating is perfect for a couple of hours of creativity and imagination. Set your kids up with a plain t-shirt and some colourful fabric paints, pens, stencils and brushes, and watch as they express themselves.

 

5. Housebound Treasure Hunt

Make a basic map of your home and hide ‘treasures’ around it (e.g. chocolates or small toys), marking each piece of treasure on your map. For older kids who can read, make your treasure hunt a little harder and use written clues/riddles to help them. For example:

Clue: I have four legs but no feet. When you’re tired, take a seat.

Answer: Chair

This combination of quiz and hunt is a great way to keep young minds active and entertained.

 

6. Fashion Show Photoshoot

Kids will love rummaging through their closets and costume boxes to put together their favourite outfits to show off to the family. Put on some fun music and get your camera ready to capture their best poses on the catwalk.

 

7. Backyard Campout

While we may not be able to go camping at our favourite beach or bush campsites, the backyard is the next best thing. This is one of our favourite self-isolation activities for kids experiencing cabin fever and in need of a change of scenery. Pitch the tent and roll out the sleeping bags for a night under the stars in your own backyard. Don’t forget the marshmallows!

 

8. Rock Painting

All you need is some acrylic paint, small paint brushes, and some rocks, and you’ve got yourself an afternoon of creative fun. Give them a wipe over to remove any dirt, then let the kids let loose with their masterpieces.

 

9. Dance Recital

Mini movers and shakers will be in their element performing a dance routine for the family. Challenge your kids to come up with their own moves or learn choreography online, like this fun and easy dance to “Can’t Stop the Feeling” by Justine Timberlake.

 

10. Cookie Decorating

You can’t beat cookie decorating for a quiet (and delicious!) indoor activity. Grab some plain biscuits or cookies (like Arnott’s Milk Arrowroot) or bake your own sugar cookies for the kids to decorate. You can make circular cookies or mix things up with cookie cutters in fun shapes. Just wait for them to dry and equip your kids with icing, icing pens, sprinkles, and premade edible icing decorations.

For more fun ideas, check out our list of ways for grandparents to stay connected with their grandkids from afar.

 

If you’re having a tough time and need someone to talk to, call us on 1300 364 277. Our telephone counsellors are available Monday-Friday 8am-8pm and Saturday 10am-4pm.

 

Your Ultimate Coronavirus Source Guide

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With so many pages, people and posts out there providing information around COVID-19, it can be hard to distinguish fact from fake. Some sources simply aren’t up to date with the latest info, and others intentionally set out to misinform their readers.

Understanding the coronavirus outbreak may help remove some of the anxiety surrounding it. But being bombarded with conflicting information can negatively impact your mental – and physical – wellbeing.

We’ve compiled a few reliable sources so you can stay informed and stay safe.

 

Official Pages for Health and Legislative Updates

World Health Organisation Official Updates

The World Health Organisation provides rolling updates on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic on a global level.

Australian Federal Government Official Updates

The Australian Government website is regularly updated to give you the latest Coronavirus news, updates and advice from government agencies across Australia. They also have their own app where you can access information.

You can download the app here:

Queensland Health Official Updates

Queensland Health provides local statistics on a state level, important information relevant for Queenslanders (including self-quarantine requirements and links to current legislation), and a self-assessment tool to help you check your symptoms if you are feeling unwell.

Australian Travel Advice

Smartraveller is regularly updated with the latest information and advice for Australians to stay safe overseas, including current travel bans and what to do when you can’t get home.

 

Resources for Working from Home

Safe Work Australia offers information and advice for working from home, including WHS requirements and risks.

Comcare has provided a Working from Home Checklist to help you create a safe work environment at home and avoid risks to your physical and mental health.

The Learning Blog by LinkedIn has helpfully provided a compilation of tools and resources for working from home effectively. This includes short online courses that cover topics such as productivity, time management, health and wellbeing, how to use tools like Skype and Zoom, and more.

 

Resources for Co-Parents

The Family Court of Australia provides an extensive list of questions and answers with official information and advice regarding co-parenting arrangements and court orders during COVID-19.

 

Resources for Maintaining Your Mental Wellbeing

And, of course, here at Relationships Australia Queensland, we always strive to provide relevant and valuable information to you within our areas of expertise. From coping with the grief of coronavirus cancellations, to self-isolation date night ideas, you can check out our latest advice on our blog.

Have you come across other resources with credible and useful information? Head over to our Facebook page and let us know.

10 Tips for Working from Home During the Coronavirus

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While those of us who are able to do our jobs from home right now are extremely lucky, this doesn’t mean that working from home doesn’t have its challenges.

Working from home can be great – until your toddler wants to play on your keyboard, or that new release on Netflix becomes too tempting.

Yep, it can be tough to stay focused at home. Sure, we don’t have our co-workers dropping by our desk or inviting us to lunch. But the home office can pose even more distractions and make it seem almost impossible to separate our work from our personal life.

If you’re struggling to stay productive or maintain a healthy work-life balance while working from home, this one’s for you.

 

1. Create a Designated Workspace

The most important thing when it comes to working from home (apart from snacks) is to create a workspace that allows you to comfortably and efficiently do your job.

Find a room or space in your home that you can dedicate entirely to work – preferably one with a comfortable chair and desk setup, sufficient lighting, and no distractions (i.e. the TV, fridge, or roommates constantly coming and going).

It might be tempting to slouch down on the couch with your laptop, but this will likely hinder your productivity and make it harder to switch off when you want to relax on that couch after knocking off for the day.

Check out Comcare’s working from home checklist to ensure you’re staying safe and healthy while working from home during COVID-19.

 

2. Get Dressed

Working from home gives us the freedom to wear whatever we want – but that doesn’t necessarily mean we should.

Ditching the pyjamas and putting on ‘real clothes’ helps flick the switch in our brain to get into work mode. We’re not saying you need to suit up or don your usual perfectly pressed work uniform, but sitting around in your PJs isn’t always the best for your motivation.

Get up, get showered, and get dressed in something comfortable and clean that makes you feel ready to take on the day (and semi-presentable for those Zoom meetings or the postie).

 

3. Maintain Regular Working Hours

We know, we know – sleeping in is life. But transitioning straight from your pillow to your computer screen can be jarring. While working from home allows flexibility with your working hours, it’s important to maintain a routine and manage your time effectively to avoid overlap in your work and personal time.

Structure the day like you would in the office or your normal work environment, commit to set working hours, and enforce a strict finishing time at the end of the day. Communicate your work schedule with your team so they know when to reach you – and when to leave you to walk the dog or finish that puzzle.

 

4. Take Scheduled Breaks

Maybe you feel obligated to be reachable and responsive at all times while working remotely. Or perhaps you’re just not sure how to spend your breaks when you’re stuck inside. Whatever your reason for powering through until knock-off time, you’re only doing yourself – and the quality of your work – a disservice.

Believe it or not, burnout is a real risk factor even when working from the comfort of your own home. Regular breaks are key to helping sustain your concentration and energy levels throughout the day. Research shows workers feel more engaged and productive when they make time to take a lunch break every day.

So set a few alarms and force yourself to get away from your screens, stretch your legs, and recharge.

 

5. Leave the House (if You Can)

Getting some fresh air and sunshine can do you a world of good when you’re stuck inside looking at a screen all day. Mounting research proves the benefits of spending time outdoors for our mental and physical health, so it’s worth booking in some time with the open sky each day if you can.

Depending on the current guidelines and directions for your state or territory, you might like to go for a walk or do a workout in a nearby park. Otherwise, you can head to your own backyard to eat lunch alfresco, read a book, or listen to music.

 

6. Listen to White Noise to Drown Out Distracting Sounds

If you have kids, pets, noisy neighbours, or live near a busy road, this background noise can make it hard to concentrate.

Invest in some noise-cancelling headphones and listen to your favourite tunes or white noise to drown out distracting sounds. Soothing, neutral sounds like rain or crashing ocean waves are great for masking background noise.

Rainy Mood and Noises Online are popular sites offering free, uninterrupted white noise for as long as you need.

 

7. Keep in Touch with Colleagues

Social distancing can create a disconnection with our colleagues, and even introverts might find themselves missing the social aspect of their normal work environment. Our need for these connections goes beyond a bit of banter and bonding over the coffee machine; our workmates help us stay happy and productive on the job.

A recent study revealed that relationships with co-workers is “the top driver of employee engagement, with 77% of participants listing these connections as a priority”.

Regularly checking in with your workmates may help boost your morale and motivation. Not only will it keep everyone on the same page in terms of work tasks, but it’ll also be nice to talk to people in the same boat as you during these uncertain times. Try setting up a weekly video call or signing up to Workplace by Facebook to stay in touch outside of work-related emails.

 

8. Activate ‘Do Not Disturb’ Outside of Work Hours

Does anyone else feel like we’re stuck in that awkward time between Christmas and New Year’s where you don’t know what day it is (without the festive spirit, of course)?

The lines between work time and personal time are blurring. Afternoons are blending with evenings. Weekdays are blending with weekends.

Working from home is making it harder to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and setting boundaries with our colleagues, boss, and clients is key to keeping work separated from our downtime. Putting work email notifications on ‘do not disturb’ and turning your work phone off outside of your working hours is a great place to start.

 

9. Take Sick Days When You Need Them

In a time where technology allows many of us to perform at least some of the aspects of our jobs from home, it can be tempting to soldier on when we’re sick.

But if you’re feeling too unwell to do your job, even from home, you’re entitled to take sick leave – and you should. If your contract allows you paid sick leave, your employer can’t expect you to continue to work from home. So if you’re sick, take your sick leave and leave your inbox for tomorrow.

 

10. Look after Yourself

It’s normal to feel a bit out of sorts with all the changes happening around us. Be sure to prioritise your mental health and make time to do things you enjoy, like taking a walk or talking to friends and family.

If you’re struggling, you can talk to one of our telephone counsellors on 1300 364 277 between 8am and 8pm Monday-Friday or 10am-4pm Saturday.

Check out our article How to Protect Your Emotional Wellbeing in the Coronavirus Outbreak for some more practical tips from one of our clinical supervisors.

 

Tips for working from home infographic

How to Work from Home with Your Partner

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Sharing might be caring, but sharing a space with another person 24/7 can put a strain on even the strongest of partnerships.

Let’s acknowledge right now that anyone who still has a job, and can perform that job from the relative safety of their home, is really lucky.

In saying that, though, it’s normal to find it challenging – especially if you’ve never worked from home before. Add a partner, housemate, parent or friend to that situation and it can be a recipe for tough times.

It’s OK to find working from home with your partner hard.

No matter how much we like or love someone, being in close quarters all the time can wear thin very quickly.

So how can we make it a little easier for everyone?

 

Tip 1: Separate your workspaces (if you can)

If you’re able to, create workspaces in separate rooms. This will allow you to have your own little area to set up your things, get comfortable, take calls and focus on your job without having someone else breathing down your neck.

If your home doesn’t cater to separate rooms for work, try setting up a physical or psychological barrier to divide your areas. By creating that sense of separation, you may find it easier to tune out little things like food packets rustling while you’re in an important meeting, or dirty dishes in your partner’s ‘zone’.

 

Tip 2: Share schedules with each other

Touch base each week or day to run through important meetings coming up, big tasks to get done or times where you’ll need to really knuckle down.

That way you can each be aware of periods where the other may be experiencing higher levels of stress than normal and know whether it’s OK to interrupt to ask if the milk is still good to drink.

 

Tip 3: Adopt a non-verbal communication system

Partners ‘Zoom-bombing’ meetings can be a hilarious interlude or a distracting disruption, depending on the tone of the meeting and the culture of your workplace. To avoid having to awkwardly explain why your at-home ‘workmate’ can be seen and heard dancing and singing in the background of your webcam, have some sort of signal to let your partner know you’re on a call or video meeting.

For example, you could adopt a red light, green light system with each other, with red light meaning please stay away while green light means feel free to pop in and say hi. It works for more than just meetings, too. You can also use it to let the other person know when you need a clear headspace to focus on the work at hand.

 

Tip 4: Spend time apart from each other

When you’re in each other’s pockets during work time, relaxation time and sleep time, it’s important to make a conscious effort to dedicate a slice of each day to spend on your own.

It doesn’t matter how you use that part of the day – you could try walking, painting, reading in the garden, playing a video game or just chatting to the birds outside. It’s more important that you spend it alone to give yourself time to feel your emotions, think about your day, and reset your mind.

It can even give you something to talk about later when conversation topics are running dry. When you spend every second together, there’s nothing new that the other doesn’t already know about. But when you have some time away, you can chat about the kind person you passed while out for a walk, the aggressive duck you saw at the lake, or the bee that almost stung you in the garden.

 

Tip 5: Keep the romance (or friendship) alive

It’s very easy to be sucked into the mundane of your daily routine when options for outings are so limited. Dedicating an evening to keeping the spark of romance or friendship alive is a great way to connect on a deeper level.

Whether you’re working from home with your partner, or with a housemate or family member, you can invite them to a ‘date night’ or a ‘mates’ night’.

Plan your time to include things you don’t do every other night. For example, if you usually cook separately, cook a meal together instead, or support a local restaurant by grabbing some takeaway. And instead of streaming your standard TV series, dust off the board games and see who the trivia master really is. For more inspiration on things you can do while self-isolating, check out these 10 ideas for date nights.

Keep in mind that everyone handles stressful times differently and one common reaction is to become short-tempered and unhappy. If this sounds like you or your partner, and if things just become too much to handle, it’s important to seek help. It’s normal to struggle, but struggling alone isn’t your only option.

To talk to a telephone counsellor, you can call us on 1300 364 277.

 

Have you got another tip you can share with us? Let us know on our Facebook page!

How to Protect Yourself Online During the Coronavirus

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Many of us are turning to technology to connect with our loved ones during the coronavirus outbreak.

Tools like video chat, instant messaging, and online gaming make it easier than ever to keep in touch with each other. But for some people, using technology can also pose a risk to their own safety.

If you’re experiencing or living with family and domestic violence, being careful online is a key part of looking after your physical and emotional wellbeing.

So how can you make sure you’re protecting your online safety during a time when you’re actively encouraged to connect with others?

We hope these tips can help.

 

Use a Safe Device

One of the best ways to protect your privacy is to only use the internet on a ‘safe device’. A safe device is a personal phone or computer that other people can’t access.

If you’re in a situation where you have to share your device with others right now, that’s okay. The following tips can still help you keep your personal browsing history and online activity private.

 

Update Your Passwords

Having a secure password that only you know is a good way to protect your online safety.

The most secure passwords are random strings of numbers and letters, so consider using an online generator like this one to create new passwords for all of your accounts.

Alternatively, you can use something called a ‘passphrase’, which is a string of random words.

Something like ‘horse battery staples manager’ is a lot harder to guess than your birthday.

Here is a website to generate passphrases.

No matter what method you use, try and create a unique password for every account you have.

 

Protect Your Passwords with a Password Manager

It can be tricky to remember all your passwords – especially if you’ve used a generator to create new, more secure ones.

You might be tempted to click ‘save password’ when it pops up in your browser so you don’t have to worry about remembering it, but this isn’t very safe.

Password managers act like a safer version of the ‘save password’ feature by keeping all of your passwords locked behind a ‘master password’.

When you’re online, all you have to do is type your ‘master password’ into the password manager, and it will automatically fill out all of your secure passwords for you.

This means you only have to remember your master password instead of a whole list!

Here is a list of some free password managers to get you started.

 

Change Your Account Settings

Another easy way to improve your online safety is to double-check the privacy settings of all your accounts.

For social media websites like Facebook and Instagram, the default privacy settings might mean people you don’t know can see everything from your posts to your phone number.

By adjusting these settings, you limit the number of people who have access to your social media profile and information.

This can reduce the risk of you showing up on strangers’ feeds.

It’s a good idea to adjust these settings on your children’s social media accounts to keep them safe, too.

 

Use ‘Private Browsing’ Mode and Delete Your Browser History

Regular search engines such as Google will keep track of websites you’ve visited and things you’ve downloaded in your browser history. This is information you might not want shared with others.

While you can manually delete your browser history, you can also use the ‘private browsing’ feature on these websites.

When privately browsing, the search engine will not track your browser history and there will be no record of the websites you’ve visited.

 

Turn off Your Location Services

Many phones have location services, such as GPS, automatically turned on. This can make it easy for other people to track your location, but these settings can be turned off.

Some photo-sharing apps, such as Instagram or Facebook, have ‘geotags’ in their photos that tell people where the photo was taken.

To avoid these photos telling people where you are, consider asking friends not to tag you, or adjust the settings on your account to stop others from tagging you.

Finally, when going to places that you don’t want anyone to know about, such as a counselling appointment, turn off your phone where possible.

 

Create a New Account

If you’re concerned your current accounts are still being monitored or shared, you can create a new social media account to keep in touch with your loved ones privately.

When making the new social media account, use a fake name or your middle name to make it harder to trace back to you.

Link the new account to an email with an anonymous name, such as greendog@hotmail.com, for extra security.

Always make sure to log out of your accounts after you’re done using them.

 

Stay Safe

Remember that even under coronavirus restrictions, you can still leave your environment to escape harm without incurring a fine.

Coronavirus is not an excuse for abuse, and it is never okay in any circumstances.

Lots of services are still running at this time to make sure help is available if you need it.

You can give our telephone counsellors a call on 1300 364 277 anytime between 8AM-8PM Monday-Friday and 10AM-4PM Saturday.

The 1800RESPECT hotline also provides family and domestic violence counselling 24/7: 1800 737 732.

If you feel like your wellbeing, or that of your children, is in immediate danger, please call 000.

Coping with the Grief of Coronavirus Cancellations

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Cancelled holidays. Delayed weddings. Limited funeral gatherings.

These are all big events and with their postponement or cancellation come big feelings. But these ‘big things’ aren’t the only changes to life as we know it right now.

Maybe your child’s sports league, which you loved attending, was cancelled for the season.

Or maybe you were really looking forward to getting together with your friends and family for a baby shower.

Or maybe you just miss the comfort of your normal routine – going to the shopping centre, packing the kids off to school, and playing at the playground.

In the grand scheme of things, these inconveniences might seem small; so small that you shouldn’t be too upset. Because, after all, there are much worse things going on in the world. If the worst you experience is to miss out on the local 10km fun run, then you are doing well.

But even though we understand this fact, it doesn’t always help the creeping sadness we can start to feel when we think about all the moments and memories we are missing during this tough time.

 

Is it normal to feel sad about missing out on things because of coronavirus?

Absolutely. And to make it harder, in times like this, we often feel multiple types of grief. This might include specific grief over things you’re experiencing right now, centred around the known impacts to your life, like events or routines.

You could also feel more of an ambiguous grief – one that focuses on the unknown. No-one knows yet how long our lives will be significantly impacted by this pandemic, and so our minds struggle to deal with the ‘what ifs’.

While it’s important to cancel events for the benefit of public health, it’s also important to allow ourselves – and others – to grieve those cancellations. Feeling sad that we are missing out on things important to us does not make us terrible people. It makes us human.

All of these feelings, along with other emotions like frustration and anger, are completely normal to experience in times of disruption and uncertainty.

But it’s important to acknowledge and understand why you feel the way that you do, and to unpack that a little in order to move forward and allow space for more positive emotions and behaviours.

 

Getting through grief you feel about COVID-19 cancellations

Keep in mind that grieving is a process, and it will have ups and downs. One day, you might feel like you’re coming to terms with your ‘new normal’, then the next you might be struggling to make it through the day. Your process will be unique to you, and there is no ‘correct’ way to move through your feelings.

Allow yourself time and be kind to yourself.

What you can do to help yourself

You might be seeing people and images online promoting productivity while you’re stuck at home, but if you don’t feel like learning a new language, baking a new healthy treat every day and getting to work on that novel you’ve always dreamed about, don’t beat yourself up.

Try to stay focused on what is important to you, whatever that looks like.

You might find it helpful to:

  • Stay in touch with your friends and family, and plan dedicated time to spend talking with them
  • Plan something new to look forward to in the future, even if it’s just a barbeque with friends
  • Ask for help from a professional counsellor or psychologist
  • Maintain your physical wellbeing by eating as well as you can and getting outside for approved physical activity
  • Manage stress through self-care activities that resonate with you like listening to music, painting, doing a puzzle or meditating.

Try to do things you enjoy, even if you don’t really feel like doing them in the moment.

How to help someone else going through it

Helping others through this time can be really challenging. We might be physically separated from them, making it hard to figure out exactly what is going on and how they might like to be helped.

We might be in close proximity with them 24/7, making it hard to separate frustration with the situation from frustration with the person – especially if their grief is causing them to act out of character.

We might be struggling with our own emotions, making it hard to find the mental resources to help someone else.

Or we might just not know what to say or do.

The good news is we often don’t need to say or do much at all. It can be as simple as offering love and support.

This could mean you ask how they’re feeling and take the time to listen and understand what they say to you.

Or you might find some joint comfort in talking about interesting topics that are unrelated to grief, loss, and the current situation.

And if you’re in doubt about how best to help them, try asking. They might not know, but asking the question shows that you are there and you care.

If their grief doesn’t seem to be easing over time, it’s important to encourage them to seek professional support.

 

Feeling upset because of all the ways COVID-19 has impacted (and may impact) your life is normal and OK. 

If you need to talk, you can call our telephone counsellors on 1300 364 277.

 

Check out our article on isolating at home with your family for some handy tips on improving your home life through this challenging period.

Tips for Co-Parenting During COVID-19

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We know parenting comes with its highs and lows, but no one could’ve predicted this.

For many, challenges caused by COVID-19 are adding to the stress of already difficult family circumstances.

School closures, travel bans, and social distancing might interfere with your normal co-parenting arrangements, and navigating these changes can cause anxiety for you and your child.

We hope these co-parenting tips make it easier to get through this difficult time.

 

Keep Your Child Informed

While you may want to protect your child from negative news, talking to them about what’s going on can help them understand why things might be a bit different for a while.

When talking to your child about coronavirus, remember to:

  • Remain calm and reassuring
  • Share information in an age-appropriate way
  • Be sensitive to their fear and anxiety
  • Encourage questions
  • Stick to the facts and explain that some information online isn’t true
  • Don’t share more information than you need to in order to avoid overwhelming them
  • Focus on what you’re doing to stay safe and why changes to routine are necessary.

If possible, talk to your co-parent and agree on the best way to approach the topic so your child is getting consistent messages. With the support of both parents, your child may be able to adjust more quickly and easily to new arrangements.

 

Show Them How to Protect Themselves

One of the best ways to protect your child’s safety is to teach them how to follow health advice. It doesn’t have to be scary – for example, you might like to put on their favourite song while showing them how to wash their hands properly to make it a fun learning activity. Or check out The Wiggles: The Handwashing Song.

Explain why playground equipment is a no-go zone and why playdates are off limits for now, and find alternative options to socialise, like video calls and online games with their friends.

Work together with your co-parent to determine rules around hygiene and social distancing to keep your kid’s safety as your main priority.

 

Be Compliant with Court Orders

You still have to meet the terms of court orders and parenting agreements during COVID-19, unless you have a good reason not to or you both agree on other arrangements.

School closures, travel restrictions, or quarantine rules may mean you’re unable to follow some aspects of your court orders. If this is the case, you’ll need to give your co-parent plenty of notice and work together to come up with a solution that suits everyone.

For example, if you’d normally do changeovers at a café, play centre, or shopping centre that’s now closed due to COVID-19, try to agree on a different changeover location.

Be sure to get any changes to your custody agreement in writing – even if it’s just through text message. Keeping a clear record of changes will help everyone, including the Court, to understand what agreements were reached.

The Family Court of Australia has published an FAQs page with more helpful information on co-parenting and family law.

 

Work with Your Co-Parent

Co-parenting involves making plenty of decisions together – especially right now. Try to be flexible and understanding as you work as a team to keep your child’s best interests as your main priority.

For example, if your co-parent is in self-isolation and it’s unsafe for your child to physically spend time with them, accommodate other ways to communicate, such as over the phone or video calls. Offer to make up for the time apart now with more time together in the future.

Understand that times are tough for your co-parent, too, so try to approach tricky conversations with compassion and open-mindedness.

 

Maintain Routine Where you Can

While you may need to make changes to your normal arrangements, it’s important to try and maintain some sense of ‘normal’ for your child by setting a daily routine.

Routine makes children feel safe. Keeping days structured with regular mealtimes and bedtimes can help bring them a sense of comfort and security during a time of immense change and uncertainty.

 

Keep Up to Date on Important Information

Health advice and government guidelines are changing rapidly. Pay attention to the latest information and updates with reputable sources such as:

 

Look After Yourself

This is a stressful time for everyone, and it’s reasonable to be feeling anxious. A few ways to maintain your emotional wellbeing might include:

  • Staying in touch with friends and family via safe mediums such as text, phone calls, video calls, and letters
  • Finding support from other parents in online groups and forums
  • Eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep
  • Taking a break from negative news in the media.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and need to talk to someone, you can access our telephone counselling on 1300 364 277. Our professional counsellors are available to talk Mon-Fri 8am-8pm and Sat 10am-4pm.

 

Infographic: Tips for Co-Parenting During COVID-19

Grandparents and Coronavirus: How to Bond with the Grandkids from Afar

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The coronavirus is worrisome for everyone, but it’s especially dangerous for older adults.

People aged 65 years and older with existing chronic medical conditions, and people aged 70 years and older, are considered to be at higher risk of serious illness if they’re infected.

As coronavirus has been shown to disproportionally impact older adults, families are facing difficult decisions about whether their children should continue to have physical contact with their grandparents.

Social distancing is one of the best defences against contracting COVID-19. But a lack of in-person contact can be difficult for children and older loved ones who have suddenly found themselves separated.

Luckily, there are plenty of fun activities to help grandparents and grandchildren stay close while they’re apart.

 

Write a Letter with a Twist

Even with the internet at our fingertips, there’s nothing like receiving something in the mail – and this is the perfect time to become pen pals with your grandchildren.

Traditional letters are fun and all, but we think kids will be running to check the mail with these unique ideas.

Use Invisible Ink

Your grandchild will feel like a secret agent uncovering your hidden message written in invisible ink. Follow these steps to make your own invisible ink at home using lemon juice.

Create a Find-a-Word

Another creative way to send a special message, a personalised find-a-word turns a simple note into a fun activity for your grandchild.

Don’t Use Paper

Write inside a book, on the back of a photo, or even on a frisbee. This is a fun way to mix things up and keep your grandchild on their toes!

Write ‘Open When’ Letters

An ‘open when’ letter comes with the instruction to open at a later date or in a specific situation. Grandkids of all ages will love the added element of suspense with these letters. This is a great way to remind them you’re there for them even when you can’t physically be there.

Some ‘open when’ letter ideas include:

  • Open when you miss me
  • Open when you’re feeling blue
  • Open when you want to laugh
  • Open when you have a nightmare
  • Open when you’re feeling unwell
  • Open when you need a pep talk
  • Open on your birthday.

 

Have Fun over Video Calls

You may not be able to play and cuddle in person, but video calls are the next best thing.

Video call apps like Skype, WhatsApp, and FaceTime allow you to see your grandchild’s facial expressions as you talk.

All you need is a smartphone, tablet or computer (with built-in camera or webcam) and an internet connection, and you’re ready for some quality time through your screens.

Read Together

Thanks to video calls, you don’t have to miss out on bonding over picture books. You can read books for fun or help them with their homework by having them read out loud to you.

Have a Dance Party

Put on some music, set up your devices where you can see each other, and bust a move! If you’d prefer to stay seated, try singing nursery rhymes and doing the hand movements to favourites like The Itsy Bitsy Spider and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

Perform a Puppet Show

Treat your grandchild with a front-row seat to their very own private puppet show! Get crafty and draw faces on a couple of wooden spoons, adding a tissue or handkerchief for a dress. Or simply draw eyes and a mouth on a couple of socks. Whatever you use, little ones are sure to be entertained and delighted.

Show and Tell

Show and tells are a great way to get kids talking. You might like to ask your grandchild to give you a tour of their bedroom, show off their favourite toys, or get their pet on video.

Is social distancing impacting your mental health? Discover our practical tips to protect your emotional wellbeing in the coronavirus outbreak, or call us on 1300 364 277. Our telephone counsellors are available Mon-Fri 8am-8pm and Sat 10am-4pm.