COVID-19 AND OUR QUARANTINED KIDS

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As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, self-isolation or quarantine is one of the key strategies in 'flattening the curve' of infection rates. These 14-day isolation periods involve individuals or families staying within their homes, and not having physical contact with those outside.

With the prospect of schools and daycare closures, as well as workplaces shutting down or moving to remote working, parents around the world are facing a difficult time to find ways to handle their kids at home.

Here is a list of activities that parents can do alongside their kids that facilitate active, engaged learning.


Be truthful

It's really important for parents to listen to and empathise with their children’s fears, speak truthfully about the situation in an age-appropriate manner and put it into context. Have conversations for facts and feelings. Critical to allaying fears will also be allowing children a sense of control, such as over their personal hygiene.

For adults too, keeping a sense of perspective and sourcing information and advice from credible sources will help stave off anxiety. It’s needed for people to be open about what they are experiencing, to reduce any possible stigma or embarrassment attached to self-isolation.

Read & Learn at home

Please read & make your kids read books as much as possible whenever you can. Make sure that you ask them to read NOT only their school Text Books always. Give them absolute freedom to choose books of their interests. Now if they prefer reading e-books or other age-appropriate online publications, they can be allowed to do so.

It's almost the end of your kids' academic year & you are well aware of the syllabus for the Final Examinations by now. If not then you can easily ask for it from the school. Let your kids collect study materials & be self-dependent. Apart from academics, you can find a lot of published online resources that offer day-to-day projects to keep children reading, thinking and growing during the self-quarantine . You can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Allow your kids to discover a thrilling, meaningful story or video. They can do them on their own or with you beside.

Keep in touch with the teachers

It's really easy these days to communicate with the school & also the teachers of your children when you are stuck at home during this quarantined period. Therefore , instead of being panicked about the academics, get in touch with them [cell phone, school website, facebook page, email]. Google Classroom can also be a very useful platform under the circumstances where a teacher can easily conduct constant communications with his/her students & provide them with all the required study materials.

Encourage a routine

Creating a routine for your child is one of the best things you can do during a self-quarantine.

One idea might be to create a screen time routine. Create a set time every day where children can use their screens. That way, they don’t become too focused on it. According to Time magazine: “Follow through when the scheduled time for screens is over, and don’t leave TV on as background noise. If the house feels too quiet, turn on some music instead.


Work on supplies

Puzzles require brain power and critical thinking to put the pieces together. Buying a large puzzle to put together as a family over the coming weeks could be a good way to bond during the quarantine.

Bring in the art supplies

Painting? Drawing? Coloring? All of these are options if you buy the right supplies . Art supplies will help children and parents work together for fun. Like picture books, art work requires focus and concentration, too. While your child is out of school, this will certainly help them stay energized and educated.

Let them help with cooking

Need help cooking dinner or lunch? Enlist the child. Maybe you won’t want to do this if the child is sick. But if they’re healthy and you’re healthy, teach them how to build their own lunches and dinner.

Get things done

Feeling as though something has been accomplished during an isolation period will be important for both children and their parents. It could include working from home, school assignments or setting sights on long-avoided chores, repairs or tasks.

Consider playdates

Experts seem to argue about whether or not children should have playdates with other kids while the quarantine is in place. Children should play outside to limit germs, too. Children should always wash their hands before and after playing.“If possible, consider individual outdoor activities like biking or hiking where sports equipment isn’t shared and it’s easier to keep a good distance from each other,” according to CNN.

Give each other space

It can be hard for families who are used to all going off to their own activities being forced into this intense time. That’s why when you’re on family holiday you’ll sometimes see kids squabbling – they’re not used to being in the same space.While respecting time alone is important, it could also be a time for creating or reconnecting with family rituals. This might be as simple as a proper sit-down family meal, perhaps with a new recipe the kids have been involved in preparing.

Write letters

You can’t go out to see people. You want to keep your child indoors. But you want them to keep in contact. One idea might be to encourage your child to write letters to their friends, relatives and family members. This allows them to practice their writing skills and gives them a chance to stay in contact with people.

Start a daily journal or blog

The COVID-19 pandemic is a historical moment in time. It’s something worth remembering. So encourage your kids to document the experience in some way, whether that’s keeping a journal or making a video blog.

Don’t worry
Look, your children are going to be home with you for a foreseeable future. Don’t worry if you schedule a Netflix day or a movie marathon. Maybe you only have half a day of education. That’s fine too.

Muhammad Touhidul Alam Rashel is working as a Teacher at Excel Academy, Dhaka, Bangladesh | Sources: The Guardian; The Salt Lake Tribune ; pennlive.com ; The Atlantic ; The University of Melbourne psychology professor and parenting expert Prof Lea Waters; [/su

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