Parents During Lockdown

During the pandemic, learning has changed and children are experiencing a hybrid mix of in-school and remote learning. How does this affect the parents who are trying so hard to keep their homes and families thriving in these uncertain times?

Students are receiving somewhat of a modified curriculum, without physical access to their teachers and learning supplies. This affects those learners who now can call this their first school experience. These children perhaps have attended a pre-school but learning is different and their first experience now is often on their computer with Zoom. And parents are expected to be there helping while their child learns remotely.

How is this possible when a child needs to be logged into school learning for at least 4 hours a day and parents have jobs to perform. Since children are both In school and online, how do these parents hire help without putting themselves at a greater risk for Covid. We have reached a time now where Home Schooling is becoming more the norm. Parents have to be completely immersed in their child’s learning (especially in primary grades) to ensure that they are properly advancing.

Adding a new role to the already complex everyday life of young parents is quite a dramatic change in the family structure. Gone are the days of “a break” with a scheduled playdate or dance lesson. Now all of these are done via Zoom and parents still need to be present. Many parents have found this overwhelming and their jobs and careers have suffered because of it.

The one consolation to many of these families is that they are not doing it alone. The rest of the world is suffering along with them with the ramifications of the pandemic and the change in our lifestyles.

Parents should continue to have a support network, whether via phone, text or Zoom get togethers with others going through the same hardships and fears. When parents on young families realize they are not alone, they will think clearer about the questions that consume their minds:

. Will my child fall behind in school?

. How will my child become a better reader?

. If my child already struggles with making friends, how can learning online help?

. What if I don’t know how to help my child with homework or projects?

. How can I keep my child active at home in between these lessons?

. How will this affect next year’s learning expectations?

And the list continues as parents and young families try to get through each day as best as they can. Often, they can’t rely on grandparents and older relatives, as they are concerned about Covid, especially when parents work as essential workers and come in contact with many people daily. Not only is family life disrupted and unnatural, but parents are finding it more and more difficult to continue working without feeling guilty about not helping their child further their learning. Where can they find an equal balance? When can they expect it to change? Will we ever go back to the way it was or will this be the new normal?

Many parents have rethought careers and attempted to change their jobs to permanent work-at-home positions. If it works through the pandemic, then why can’t it continue to work as they save on child care and focus on making their home life more stable. Children love being home with their parents but they are also experiencing high anxiety as they watch their parents’ multi-task with helping them, keeping their own jobs and running the household.

The new hope is that, with vaccines being distributed in astronomical numbers, children will return to school in September and return to some sort of normalcy with gym classes, recess and real friendships developing. The concern continues to be how will they cope with the learning deficit they have experienced and will they ever catch up to the grade they are in. We want our children to be proud of themselves and their accomplishments. It will take time to get back on track and we all have to realize that as we try to get “back to normal”

If you enjoyed this article, please share it on your social media and send it to someone you think will like it too!