A Neighborhood Safari Helps Keep Families Active During Quarantine
CANONSBURG, PA: Due to COVID-19, social distancing has taken over everyones lives. Quarantine is starting to become the new normal for families in Canonsburg, but the neighborhood of Alto Piano found a way to spice it up.
Jamie Schaltenbrand gave Alto Piano the idea of a neighborhood safari. It’s not the kind of safari with real animals, but with stuffed ones for the kids
The idea was for members of the neighborhood to put a stuffed animal in a window visible to the road, that way when kids walk by, they can search for the animal just like an exciting safari.
“We asked everyone if they could put a stuffed animal in their window so that kids could find when they’re going on a walk, like to help encourage kids to stay active and get outside too. That way, when they’re walking through the neighborhood, they could kind of look and guess what animals are in each neighbor’s window and do quote unquote, like a safari Hunter,” Schaltenbrand said.
Staying active and productive is not always the easiest thing to do in a day that has no pure structure.
Having this safari gave the families something they can keep occupied with, especially the little ones.
The Schaltenbrand family is made up of a 7-year-old, a 5-year-old and a 2-year-old, so this was just one way to keep them occupied in the day. Although, those other hours not doing the safari, can come with some struggle.
“It does get complicated trying to manage keeping the 2-year-old quiet, being on conference calls and trying to have her logged in and do her work all at the same time,” Schaltenbrand said.
It is not just the little ones, though, that need to stay busy in the day.
The Thomas family also lives in Alto Piano and have teenagers in their family. It consists of a 17-year-old and 14-year-old, which makes their quarantine dynamic a little different.
“I think we’ve tried to recognize that regardless of whether like you got to get outside just a little bit each day, even if that’s the kids have been shooting hoops in the driveway. Me kind of having to mandate a few days like you have to be electronic free for an hour or so,” the mother, Anne Thomas said.
A side from going outside, Thomas said they try to read, break out some crafts and exercise, but there is one underlying activity that has gone through the roof in not only their house, but all households across the nation. That would be cellphone screen time.
The Washington Post said that most peoples “screen time report” has increased about 30% since the social distancing and stay at home orders have been enforced.
“I think screen time is like hovering around, probably 10 to 11 hours a day,” Thomas said about her kids.
Other than being on their phones, the mothers of the Schaltenbrand family and the Thomas family both said they try to keep a structure to the day for their kids, even when they are getting on their last nerve.
Stephanie Dooley, a family councilor from Counseling and Wellness Center, says having a structured day is important, especially with kids. Without structure, it can lead many problems like anxiety, stress, grogginess, sadness and more.
“Keeping kids on a schedule where they are going to bed at a reasonable hour and waking up at a reasonable hour that works with your schedule and keeping a structure like they would have, that’s going to be essential,” Dooley said.
That goes along with why it is important to stay busy and have multiple activities or time set aside for many things to do in the day, like going on the neighborhood safari walk
Dooley explained how why you need to be active as a family. Quarantine can bring a lot of pent up tensions throughout the house. Especially when you aren’t given alone time.
“That’s important to keep up physical activity. So, that acts as a stress reliever and that can also keep parents motivated to keep their physical activity up. Chase the kids around and go on walks and get some fresh air, go outside, walk the dog. All those sorts of things that aren’t just sitting around and staring at screens all day,” Dooley said.
It is easy to let the physical part slip when your day is not set in stone.
There are many ways to keep busy during social distancing to avoid those problems.
“I would definitely keep up your virtual contact with family and friends, so you can kind of get recharged with that. Especially if you’re someone who’s living alone. Like maybe you call someone while you’re making dinner or you show someone that dinner that you cooked or you even eat together over FaceTime and trying to keep those things up,” Dooley explained.
Other great ways the councilor says to keep busy as a family are having a consistent morning routine, family dance parties, the good-old fashioned board games, family walks and even self-care routines.
So, go on a walk with your family, play games and even search for stuffed animals in your neighbors’ windows. It is more beneficial for your health than you thought!
“We’re just kind of trying to really enjoy the small things that we took for granted to be honest with you and enjoy the extra time together,” Shaltenbrand said.