The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic affected people of all ages. So if you happen to be a parent, besides focusing on working and earning an income, it’ll also be your job to ensure the well-being of your children at all times.
Of course, even if it’s not that noticeable, kids are experiencing hardships because of the current situation as well, especially with online classes becoming the new normal for schools around the world. And eventually, this may end up affecting their overall development. So, how can you give them the assurance and care that they need as the days pass?
Social Connection is Important in Life
Going to school is an essential part of life. Of course, this is what helps one to gain and develop the knowledge and skills they need to be able to succeed in the real world. But besides that, it also serves as a way to build connections that would allow one to become more socially active as they age.
The Pandemic Altered Our Way of Living
However, once the pandemic took place, we all had no choice but to adjust. When it comes to your professional career, you may have had to continue working from within the confines of your home. As for your children, they probably now attend their classes virtually as well. And even if it seems like a convenient option because you’d only be staying in one place throughout the day, this may actually have an effect on your well-being in the long run.
Of course, for starters, being indoors may cause us to lose a sense of physical connection with everything on the outside. Thankfully, we have the technology to lean on in case we need to stay updated regarding any important news, and in a way, it also acts as our means to communicate with loved ones who are far away. However, despite the benefits we can get from digital innovations, there would still be instances when we’d need the company of others to combat feelings of loneliness and isolation.
Always Listen to Your Kids
So as a parent, it’ll be best that you always encourage your kids to express what they feel. For instance, they may be a bit sad because they already miss playing with their friends outdoors. As you listen to what they have to say, you should also reassure them that things are gonna return to normal eventually and that they are safe under your care, so they shouldn’t worry.
Be Their Guide
During the weekdays, you might be busy because you need to accomplish your tasks at work. But you should still find the time to guide your children with their online activities as well. Of course, even if they have teachers to help them with their lessons, physical barriers can sometimes hinder them from fully absorbing all the necessary information. So by letting them know that they can turn to you whenever they need to, they’ll be more at ease.
Provide a Conducive Way of Learning
However, there may still be times when being away from a normal school setup can affect their attention span and motivation to get things done. So as much as possible, you should try to keep the surroundings conducive for learning. For instance, if you have a spare room around the house, you could clean it up and turn it into a makeshift classroom by adding desks, chairs, and maybe even a whiteboard where you can write notes and important information.
To further stimulate their desire to learn, you could also provide rewards like what teachers would usually do in school whenever someone gets a correct answer. Whether by giving out stamps, stickers, or other items you can purchase from novelty stores, doing this may help bring back the energy and sense of normalcy that they need.
Encouraging Them to be Better
Being a parent is a challenging role to fulfill, especially during this time of the pandemic. But instead of dwelling on the hardships that came with it, you should choose to exert more effort into helping your kids adjust to the situation. Of course, social connections are one of the things we need the most nowadays. This is why it’ll be best that you give them the freedom to talk about what they’re feeling because no matter how big or small the issue they’re facing is, it’ll always be valid.
However, besides providing emotional support, you should help with their mental development as well. Because despite teachers being virtually present to attend to their concerns, physical barriers may somehow hinder your child from achieving their full potential. So as much as possible, you may want to consider allocating some time to be their guide for them to stay motivated and willing to learn.
