As the
Winter of Covid stretches on, many children are still learning remotely, with
parents continuing to adjust to the triple demands of parenting, working, and
being a teacher’s aide. If you’re one of those parents, and you’re feeling
overwhelmed, you are not alone. Real Simple’s Lindsay Tigar has assembled
“educators, psychologists, and parents like you for some strategies they swear
by” to help keep all the plates spinning… most of the time.
Before
running down the very helpful list, Tigar makes a point of expressing
solidarity with parents, and emphasizing a lowering of expectations as a key to
happiness. She writes: “While we all know how important it is to prioritize
self-care, take a bath, and eat clean, the reality is, sometimes the dinner
menu kind of has to be cheese and crackers. And that is completely OK. “
She looks
at the big picture, opining that little bribes and cheats will not be
remembered in the long run, but rather, “you’ll recall the small moments of
togetherness that you or someone else in your family normally would have
missed.”
READ MORE: “Cheat Days” may help remote learners and parents
Tigar
talks to two sets of parents who have happily lowered their standards, but
haven’t necessarily gone hog wild. Anthony and Christina Ma, who both work from
home while raising and helping educate two youngsters, have allowed for more
mess in the house. While stepmom Sue Keats gladly allows an extra hour of
screen time.
Tigar’s
interviewee Kimberly Nix Berens, PhD, author and the founder of Fit Learning has invented the “hardworking interval.”
This entails sitting your child in front of their work, and setting a timer for
10 minutes, during which time they will be expected to focus on their work
while you do something you need to do. Ten minutes are up, they get a break,
then back to the ten minute interval.
Among
other list items is scheduling play. This is particularly important. Having a
semblance of predictability can go a long way towards making everyone feel a
pleasant, calming sense of control in a crazy time.