By Alison Malkin, NNHS Prevention/Intervention Counselor
This is an unprecedented time that is causing uncertainty and worry. Parents/guardians are juggling their own employment and familial health concerns and are asked to assist their children and teens with academic enrichment. The CDC states that “consistency, predictability, and follow-through” are the keys to creating structure (CDC, 2019) and it matters little that the focus of this article is for younger children. This list provides suggestions and resources for building that structure.
1. Acknowledge that this is a surreal and stressful time and that having a schedule and routine can truly help normalize what is atypical.
2. Establish a time to wake up. Creating a wake/sleep routine prepares everyone for the day ahead. Although teens would love to sleep until 3pm and go to sleep at 3am it is very important to maintain a healthy wake/sleep pattern. And they may well argue with you but remember it is their job to push the envelope and your job to set limits and say no. The longer they are able to have a relatively healthy sleep and wake routine the easier it will be for them to access their muscle memory of learning.
3. Agree on a time to have a “family meeting” to plan out the day and the expectations.
4. Showering and changing clothes each morning helps prepare for the day.
5. Be sure to include time for breaks, meals, and a walk outside or virtual time with friends or exercising or meditation and, if possible, include some humor together. “Lightening the mood” does help.
6. Make a plan for where your children/teens will complete the enrichment work. It is all too easy for teens to seek their beds when doing work but that will only accomplish creating fatigue and a desire to fall asleep (Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard University, 2007). Encourage them to use a desk or table – somewhere their bodies/brains will learn that this is the place to be focused and learn.
7. Ask about the work they are doing and talk about the process. This is new to them and if you are working from home there may be new tasks you are learning. Share with them your challenges and frustrations. [My 20 year old had to help me with the camera of my laptop. He’s still laughing.]
8. The ages of your children will determine how long they can stay focused and absorb material. For younger children, 20 minutes of an assignment followed by 10 minutes of physical exercise may work effectively and longer stretches for older children (healthychildren.org, 2020).
9. Let your children know what your work schedule is (either from home or from work) so they are aware of your availability and when your work day is over.
10. Encourage everyone in the home to stay hydrated: drinking water is so important.
11. Reach out to your children’s teachers, counselors, administrators. Please know you are not alone and we are a community working together.
References and Resources
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020. Working and learning from home during the COVID-19 outbreak. Retrieved on March 25, 2020 from www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/chest-lungs/Pages/Working-an d-Learning-from-Home-During-the-COVID-19-Outbreak.aspx
CDC, 2019. Building structure. Retrieved on March 25, 2020 from https://www.cdc.gov/parents/essentials/structure/building.html
Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard University. Twelve simple tips to improve your sleep. Retrieved on March 25, 2020 from http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/getting/overcoming/tips
Quartz, 2020. We are all teachers now: resources for parents and kids cooped up at home. Retrieved on March 25, 2020 from https://qz.com/1819166/how-to-teach-your-kids-at-home/