As schools continue to remain closed throughout the country due to coronavirus, more and more parents are finding themselves with an unexpected job title or teacher. Well, Leena Parmar, our founder, has a postgraduate teaching degree, so she’s dug deep to see if she can give you a few pointers;
1. Take it easy on yourself, don’t strive to be perfect
Avoid social comparisons, remember that we are modelling for our kids, so it is very important that we see ourselves as human and not striving for perfection or try to imitate what others are doing.
2. Keep to a routine and let children get bored
Kids are used to having lots of structured activities at school; therefore, maintaining some structure of start times and break times will keep them in the habit for when they return. And it’s okay for them to get bored, let them sit with the discomfort of boredom may be really hard at first — for all of you — but it’s worth it to let them struggle as imagination, creativity, and self-discovery blossom during boredom.
3. Lean into audiobooks and reading
Building reading skills will serve children at every level. While younger kids love being read to by a parent, there are so many options now. Actors are reading children’s books aloud online, and audiobooks are more accessible than ever. While most public libraries are closed, many offer electronic downloads of e-books.
4. Don’t forget home economics
Right now is the perfect time to learn key life skills, such as cleaning, cooking, laundry and pet care. With teens, you can introduce financial literacy by including them in your chequebook balancing, budgeting and online bill-paying.
5. Be intentional with screen time
It’s helpful to separate screen time for school from screen time for leisure, so encourage kids to switch gears with some physical cues — for instance, have them use a computer at a desk for schoolwork and later watch a movie on the TV while sitting on the sofa.
If your child has a mobile phone, ask for their input on establishing reasonable boundaries around phone usage; and do remember they may need their phone now more than ever, as it gives them access to essential social connections.
6. Go old-school
Even if your child is accessing school materials online, this is a perfect moment to make space for some low-tech activities. Encourage them to pull out the art supplies and get their hands dirty. Writing an old-fashioned letter to friends or family — or even fan mail to a celebrity — helps them not only feel connected but also supports communication and motor skills.
7. Model self-care
It’s important to take care of our own mental health, whether that’s accessing some self-reflection time, enjoying our favourite comfort food, or going for a daily walk — whatever it is that works for you. Now more than ever, we are role models to our children!
Click below for our blog on the importance of maintaining routines, proper sleep Patterns and organisation…
CV DROP OFF ⮁