Self-isolating or having to complete a hotel quarantine? Here are my tips on how  to survive quarantine with a toddler. 

I flew into Jakarta, Indonesia after a fun filled family Christmas in Switzerland. We stayed at the Hotel Borobudur, we picked this hotel because it had a small apartment and the option to order food in from a nearby grocery store.  In our house in Switzerland, it was constantly filled with family, friends and exciting afternoons with our tiny tot. For weeks on end, there was never a dull moment. So it is safe to say, our arrival in Jakarta, faced with a 7 day quarantine was an abrupt shock to the system.

Prior to arriving, I thought, how can I make this quarantine less of a blow to Naia and more comfortable for Papa and I? I immediately created a list of fun indoor activities and headed to our local arts and craft store to stock up.

Our quarantine was surprisingly filled with many precious moments that we will remember as a family. We reduced our frustrations and increased ease just through being organised and engaging.

Here are my tips on how to win in quarantine:

1. My first tip to anyone looking to quarantine is to get organised. Purchase all arts and crafts beforehand and leave room in your suitcase for toys.
2. Take any baby digestive teas, nappy rash creams, bottles, favourite snacks with you.
3. We picked a quarantine hotel with a kitchen, just having the normalcy of cooking and cleaning everyday made it worth it.
4. Set expectations for yourself, and don’t let them be too high. During this time you will have to lower your standards, let the kids watch more TV, flow with a different routine etc. We were incredibly jet lagged and so was Naia. She was awake at 3am for  the first few nights, so I stayed up and allowed her to play with lego which eventually tired her out. Her body clock naturally readjusted as the days went on.

Let start talking about the toddler activities, these are all so easy and very effective.

1. Indoor bowling. (EASY)

Stack some paper cups and grab a ball and away you go.

2. Feed the shark (LITTLE PREP)

Using an old food delivery box, draw the outline of a shark head and cut it out. Make yourself some teeth using some different coloured paper - first cut one medium strip of paper and then cut triangles into it to create the teeth.

Make multicoloured paper fish or use some pom poms from your arts & crafts set to feed the shark. Great motor skill activity for your little one. For extra effect, play the “Baby Shark” theme tune.

3. Pick-up worms. (EASY)

Cut some pipe cleaners up into smaller pieces and get a clothes rolling pin. The stickiness on the pin will allow you to pick up a pipe cleaner so you can move it from A to B. Either from a plate to a bowl or one piece of luggage to another.

4. Motorskill colour stickers (EASY)

Get 3 or 4 coloured papers and pre-buy some round or anytype of single colour stickers. Get little one to match the stickers to the paper. This kept my little one busy for a while and she learnt a few new colours too.

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5. Lego! This was a lifesaver. We bought a giant piece box of legos and it kept her busy (the smaller legos were a choking hazard).
6. Bob the builder. Using paper cups and a few golf tees, make a hole in the top of the paper cup with the golf tee. Let little one take the tee out and in, you can also pretend it is a nail and tap it in like you are building something.

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5. Aqua doodle or window paint.
6. Playdough
7. Her favourite Youtube singalongs. Give yourself a break, you are also in quarantine. Keeping your routine and rules rigid during this time will only make it harder. We surrendered to cartoons and singalongs because she loved them, so it really made her happy.
8. Ping Pong Marble-Like Machine

Using an old baby biscuit box we devised this ping pong machine, our little girl was stoked.

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11. Indoor Shopping (Preparation) Stick one paper over another, and cut a few slits into it. Cut out some fruit pieces and a basket, slot the fruit into the slits and the basket to the top of the page. Make sure you have a slit cut into the basket, so you are able to insert the paper fruit. Ask your toddler to go indoor shopping with you. This is a great game to teach them new words, about eating healthy and to have fun.
12. Classic cardboard box play time. Let their imaginations take them away.

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My final top tip for surviving Quarantine, especially if you have flown from the other side of the world is too manage jet-lag. A few things we tried to introduce was:

1. Eat meals at regular times, try not to skip too many meals.
2. Go out on your balcony or find a spot by the window with sunlight and bathe in it, the sun rays help to regulate your body clock.
3. Try not to take too many naps during the day.
4. Introduce bedtime routine for baby.
5. Exercise, carve out some time for a family movement session.