In the matter of a week, most parents were thrown into a world of homeschooling, working remote, job instability and overall panic from COVID-19. From worrying how to get essentials like toilet paper, to figuring out how to optimize the few hours we have in a day all parents have learned one thing: we are in it together.

We at Do Good. Be Kind wanted to offer up our services to help. One of the core pillars is: accountability.

Here’s how to teach your kids accountability now that they are home all hours of the day.

1. Enforce accountability through recognition

Just like many work environments have found, rewarding others for work can go a long way. This applies in the home too with positive reinforcement. Every kid needs to do their part. Why not make it a game?

Ideas to reward children:

• Do a point/star chart: let them earn something each time they make their bed, do dishes or help prepare a meal
• Give a privilege: we’re all trying to figure out how to manage device usage. Perhaps give them extra time on a device when they do something good.
• Zoom/FT friends: this is a given, but allow them more time to interact with friends

Rewarding kids for doing their part can ensure they see the reward from doing good and what they get in response to contributing or doing their part.

>>Pro Tip: our kids have been loving Storyline Online where actors read a favorite children’s book. This is a great reward to give a child on breaks throughout the day.

2. Make kids accountable for their physical health

Ask your child what they are going to do to treat their body good each day? A lot of us stuck inside are asking the same thing. Are there videos to put on? Is there a fun challenge like running around the yard a certain amount of times? What about basketball or the scooter?

When you see triggers for activity, it’s not necessarily time for you to put down your work, but ask kids: what have you done today to be good to your body? Remind them healthy food choices as well go a long way.

>>Pro Tip: make a fun food tracker to earn points for healthy food choices. Create a grid that shows: proteins, dairy, fruits, vegetables, water and whole grains. Have kids put check marks once they have enough of each and then allow them a reward once they accrue the needed points for each.

A SAMPLE CHART WE LIKE

3. Implement a daily accountability schedule 

Block scheduling is a great way to get kids accountable for different tasks throughout the day. A quick Google will show that a block schedule is a system for scheduling the middle- or high-school day, typically by replacing a more traditional schedule of six or seven 40–50 minute daily periods with longer class periods that meet fewer times each day and week.

Items to include might be: yoga, math, reading, writing, spelling and social studies. As listed above, don’t do more than seven daily exercises so as not to overwhelm children.

Final thoughts: Surviving Coronavirus by teaching kids accountability

Teaching kids to be accountable and the rewards they feel from doing so can be a beautiful thing. Everyone at home right now needs to do their part. At Do Good. Be Kind, we believe the world will be a better place by teaching kids and even adults ways to reinforce how they are kind to themselves: physically, mentally and emotionally. By being kind to others and the world around us, we can do our part to fight this contagious virus together. 

How can we help? 

We know there is a lot of uncertainty in the world right now, and we feel we are right there on the front lines with you. We know you are showing up for your kids and your loved ones every single day, and no matter what that looks like, we applaud you!

If there is any way we can help at all at this time, please reach out through one of our many channels.  It is our deep desire to provide some joy, relief, compassion and love during this crazy moment in the history of our world. Do you have someone you want to highlight who is doing an amazing job at showing up? Do you feel that someone is isolated and feeling lost and need a hand reaching them? Do you need a high five yourself and a pat on the back to remind you to hang in there? Reach out — we are here in every virtual way, and we have got your back.

We love you,

Do Good. Be Kind Team