One eye on his computer for teleworking and the other on over-excited children, for many parents trapped in their homes due to coronavirus, confinement can quickly become difficult to bear. Invited Friday of Without appointment , on Europe 1, psychologist Aurélie Callet delivered some advice to overwhelmed fathers and mothers.
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Make a table of tasks between spouses
Co-founder of the firm Kidz and Family, Aurélie Callet witnessed the difficulties encountered by couples during this period of confinement, "often around everyday things that rot a little". To avoid a possible inequality in the distribution of household tasks becoming a subject of strong tensions, the specialist thus proposes to define this distribution in advance.
"We can make a table in which we list all the tasks, such as emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash, putting the children to bed, with two columns. This allows us to put things down once and for all", he explains. she at the microphone of Mélanie Gomez. In addition, the table makes it easier to see if the sharing of tasks is fair.
Organize an hour just for yourself
"It is very important that everyone can have their time" just for themselves during the day, assures Aurélie Callet, "even if it is to lock you in your bathroom". But during these 60 minutes, prohibition on anyone coming to disturb mom or dad, insists the psychologist. And this time slot should obviously not be done during work.
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Accept not be perfect
According to Aurélie Callet, "it is even more important now than in normal times" to accept not to be a perfect parent. "Many parents today feel very guilty, while the important thing is to do what you can, and not to put pressure on yourself," she continues. "Right now, you can't be a perfect parent, a perfect employee, a perfect cook, etc. You have to prioritize things."
Cut telework in half, if possible
For parents, the organization already made complicated by telework and the distribution of household tasks must also take children into account, even more during this school holiday period. To best deal with these imperatives, Aurélie Callet advises, if your employer allows it, "to work rather in large half-days", with a parent who would work, for example from 8 to 14 hours, when the other would work the rest of the day. And if the two spouses cannot adapt their professional timetable, "you must regularly go see your children, even just 5 minutes every 35 minutes," advises Aurélie Callet.
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An idea of activity "every three days"
After more than three weeks of confinement, finding new ideas to occupy your offspring can be a real headache. Also, Aurélie Callet, recalling that confinement "is a long-distance race", recommends using a new idea "every three days", so as not to burn out all of its cartridges.
Furthermore, she adds, while children "tend not to be bored", this period can be an opportunity to teach them "to play alone in their room with forgotten toys, which can make them more self-sufficient. " Another piece of advice: it is possible to organize calm family time each day, "like half an hour of silent reading in the living room", explains the guest from Europe 1.