After listening to moms, many are going through a lot right now. The problem is their children are being educated in a different way.

A Different Way of Learning

It doesn’t allow for things like hugging, holding, and touching. They have to wear masks all day long while trying to learn. While learning they have to remember not to touch their face. In addition, they have to know what this virus can do to their family members and others around them.

Also, we have educators or teachers who are trying to get their students to make the grade level goals and that’s just not going to happen this year. Maybe some students will make these goals, but only a small percentage will.

Our Children as a Whole Being

We must look at the student, our child, as a whole being. We need to work on their feelings and social skills. It’s important to teach them now how to deal with their own anxieties and frustrations.

Coping with the Virus

This area needs to be put first at this point. Our students and your children have been coping with this virus and the social distancing for almost a year. As an adult we know the toll it has taken on us. Imagine the toll it has taken on our youngsters from elementary to high school? Parents need to be told how every student in the country is in the same boat when it comes to meeting grade level goals.

Everyone needs to be allowed to take a breath and continue to do their best. It seems like there has been push towards making goals to analyze who learned what during this unprecedented time in our child’s education when the focus should be on their well being.

Look at Their Strengths

If I was a mom with children home at this time, I would concentrate on their strengths. What is it that they know and then take small steps towards what they can learn? For example, if your child has been given a worksheet on calculating time, it is important for the child to understand analog time vs. digital.

So now take a step back and teach them this some time in your day or coming days. Making a list of these areas that need re-teaching or review will help as they receive their new weekly work packets. Since it is real-life knowledge that needs to be taught, it is valuable.

Focus on Actual Learning

The push towards goals as if it is a typical school year needs to change. Their upcoming school year will look different also since learning was blocked by only attending several days a week and not having the necessary attention from a live teacher. We need to notice that our child’s mind is concentrating more on survival rather than the new punctuation lesson. By pushing their learning and thinking that it will distract them can be damaging.

Dealing with Meltdowns

Our children are having meltdowns or are close to having one. Some parents have expressed their own anxiety to this happening. However, it is something that is normal. It is like these little ones are all pressure cookers. They will explode and we need to recognize that it is normal.

Steps to Handle the Meltdowns

As these episodes happen they need to have the support to find their way past them. Focus on your child’s well being. Have discussions with them about their anxiety. Ask them if they have feelings of anxiety and what does it look like to them. Extend the conversation by asking them how it makes them feel and if they have any ideas on how to help it in their body.

Calm & Tranquil Environment Key

Parents are experts at doing their job, coordinating their children’s lives with schedules and outside help, and keeping everyone’s mind afloat. As I stated in my July video post, it is important to create an environment of calm and tranquility. With calm comes along the importance of discipline even in this time of pandemic. Tranquility needs to be present in order for children to have a feeling of security.

Steps to Creating Tranquility

Be sure to incorporate meditation or simply time where your children sit or lie down while listening to soothing music from soundscape to classical daily. During this time, they should practice breathing slowly in and out while thinking of a fun time in their life. Maybe have them focus on a past vacation or a special place they enjoy.

When you have your child practice this every day, you are actually helping your child to be better prepared when their pressure cooker does erupt. By reminding them that this is a great strategy when they feel like everything is tumbling down, it will help them as frustration takes over their minds and bodies.  

Survival of the Past

When we look back at the data from the Spanish Flu of 1919 and how youngsters and adults were wearing masks, it doesn’t emphasize nor does the information point out how each child’s learning potential grew. We look back and see how these young individuals survived through a horrible moment in history without the technology that we have today.

Similar to this time period, this pandemic of 2020 will be recording how our children went to school and the changes that occurred in the classroom as well as the home. It won’t point out individual triumphs in their education but what teachers and parents learned in order to support their precious cargo.

Use Technology to Create Calm

As you add meditation or quiet moments consisting of 10 minutes daily, use technology to give your child knowledge and fun. With this wonderful technology of today, be sure to research videos that can help your child at their age to learn about the history of their country as well as finding fun learning video games and movies. Be sure to give yourself a break and decrease the moments you come down on yourself.

Your Sacrifices are Seen

Remember all that you’ve struggled through from March 2020 when schools shut down to learning how to maneuver through a different kind of learning for your child. Recall all the sacrifices you’ve overcome in order to continue on to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Avoid being hard on yourself and enjoy every moment with your child. There will be a time when this virus is under control and our lives go back to somewhat normal. Breathe, support, laugh and enjoy every smile.