Here in Delaware, the original two-week school closures have been extended until at least May 15 to coincide with a state of emergency that includes the closure of nonessential businesses and organizations.  

What has felt like an extended spring break the past two weeks is now going to become an extended period of time that they, and their parents, have never experienced before.

We will all be home, with limited places we can go and friends we will only see from a distance when they walk or bike by our house. The same is going on in much of the rest of the country.

So, our family, with two very active boys who have very active social lives, has to adjust to this new normal. What we’ve learned during the past two weeks is that our boys function best on a schedule similar to what they’re used to when school is in session. And so do their parents.

That schedule includes going to bed at a normal time, which in turn, means they aren’t sleeping through the morning.

We are waiting to learn the exact amount of time that will need to be spent on schoolwork, but that time will include morning and afternoon sessions. It won’t be on Zoom or “live” in any form, so it will be up to us to create a homeschool schedule.

Whatever this time period turns out to be, just like when they are in school, there will be time set aside for physical activity and lunch. What there won’t be time for from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. – even if there is time for it – are video games, television or any sort of electronic usage. That time becomes casual reading time.

Like a regular school day, academics will end in our house no later than 3 p.m. At that point, just like when they get off the school bus, they’ll be outside playing either alone or together, but not with friends until the gathering ban in our state has been lifted.

Our yard has a basketball hoop in the driveway, regulation soccer net in the back yard, and a garage filled with countless yard games and other types of sports equipment. Basically, for the two hours between the end of the home academic day and dinner, there’s plenty to do outside.

After dinner, it’s back outside for a typical evening in the Buzby household – more sports and other backyard game activities and the dogs to walk – just without friends.

What we have implemented into our evening schedule and plan to continue is a bike ride around the neighborhood to end the day. The boys gather up a couple of their friends and spend the last 30 minutes or so of daylight just biking around the neighborhood together.

The bike ride follows all of the suggested precautions during this pandemic. They are all at least six feet away, not sharing any sports equipment or horsing around on the community playground, and it all takes place outside in the open air. Just as refreshing for the parents, it gives them a chance to chat the old fashioned way – in person, not via text messaging or FaceTime.

After the ride it’s time to hit the showers, get a snack, watch a show, and head up to bed to read, which is the school-night bedtime routine they are used to.  

This routine might not work for everyone, but the key to it is just that – it’s a routine. And other than not going to the school building itself, one they are used to.

The key is finding a routine that works for your family, and sticking to it.

Stay safe and healthy.

Jon Buzby has been involved in and writing about youth sports for the past 30 years with perspectives as a parent, coach and board member. Jon is an award-winning writer and his latest book, “Coaching Kids Made Easier,” is available on Amazon. Send comments or future blog topics you'd like to see to JonBuzby@hotmail.com and follow him @YouthSportsBuzz on Twitter.