NYL COUNSELLING
Naasira Lambat- Specialist Wellness Counsellor
SWC20/578
Play Therapy. Grief. Transitional. Trauma. Marriage
33 Thabo Mbeki Drive, Mokopane, 0600 Tel.: 079 777 1517
On behalf of MASE
It is such a humbling feeling to know that we are all in this together. We sharing similar emotions in similar environments.
With uncertainty still lingering over us and cabin fever fully set in, it is important for parents to create a safe, supportive and engaging space for learners at home. As parents, we are scrambling to become “surrogate teachers” in this time. Hence, we need to remember that we will be needing equal parts of patience and tenacity. It can become “messy” and that is entirely okay!
I have to commend the school and their dedicated staff for creating such a bubbly atmosphere for some of our students return. The support and constant updates and messages for the children, not only academically but also on their well-being was and still is amazing. Sending them messages of hope and determination will surely keep the students going.
With this passing stress right now, here are some elements that I thought were important for both parents and students to cope at home:
- To begin we need a solid foundation. Yes, parents need to be ready to support their child’s academic, social and emotional learning. Make sure as parents, we have the capacity to support our children. Take care of ourselves before taking care of their needs. Draw up a schedule if this makes you feel at ease.
- Maintain a daily routine- shower, dress and have breakfast before school work starts. Create order and set boundaries. If our children need to wear their uniform for adjustment, do so. Anything and everything that may work to create a sense of routine.
- Dedicate space at home- a flexible learning space. Make it theirs- label it “their” space if need be. Let them have a stationary holder or whatever they need on hand in front of them. When they tailor their spaces to work, they feel more productive and organized. Allow them to make moves where they find suitable. Add comfort and personal touches- have a chair and table comfortable enough for them. Make sure they get adequate time to snack and stretch. It does not have to be an entire room, a small corner of the table may also work
- Most importantly make sure it is emotionally safe and supportive. Like walls provide safety for a house- children cannot work in an anxious environment. Limit the news intake and outside influences during this time. By creating this supportive atmosphere, we are tapping into parts of their brain that are responsible for learning. Limit TV or radio during these hours.
- Be mindful of distractions- try to clear up clutter, unnecessary noise like the TV or radio. Make sure there is enough natural light and a breeze, if possible.
- Allow breaks- some schools have sent out full time tables, so there should be allocations for a break or exercises. Stretching and sunlight is really important! Remember we have become houseplants!
- Consolidate learning- the main purpose of learning is to retain the information learnt in this time. However, this is just one part of it. Once students have retained the information, they need to process it and make new meaning of it. Schools generally use quizzes, art formats or other sensory activities for this. Try to think out of the box, especially with foundation phase kids. This consolidated learning goes hand in hand with a supportive atmosphere. Producing warmth, empathy and encouragement that your child needs as they learn new things and settle into a new routine again.
- Check in with students whilst they are working- check if they are coping so they feel a sense of security, belonging and overall well-being
- Encourage productive struggle- do not do the work for them. Let them persist and praise them thereafter. This not only deepens learning, but strengthens bonds between parents and child.
- Passion and play- allow them to stay motivated by giving them leeway to play. To go outside and finish that lego structure they started. Give them a reason to come to the so-called classroom. Allow them to engage in household chores and learn through it as well. Works great for foundation phase students with subjects like maths and much more.
As parents, we need to play our roles to the best of our capability. Remind our children that this time that is passing by is not a holiday right now. MASE has plenty platforms for communication, make use of it. Schools are open, and have begun. Time is of the essence. Children need to realize that in this pandemic, as much as there is a lot of fun and game, education and mannerism is still a priority. Do not procrastinate- time wasted will never return. This is an independent learning opportunity. This is a perfect time for our children to be able to learn to trust themselves, become more confident in their abilities. This automatically minimizes their stress and anxiety levels. Their coping mechanisms will increase. Be creative and innovative in this time. Utilize our resources around us, eat healthy and exercise daily- remember breathing exercises are as important.
Love and light in this twilight zone
Naasira Lambat
NYL Counselling
079 777 1517
