HOW PARENTS CAN TEACH THEIR KIDS AT HOME
I always try to believe everything happens for a reason — good or bad. And while there is still much to learn about this pandemic we are facing, it is my hope, and I am sure the hope of many others, that there are some valuable lessons we can learn from it.
One thing that I cannot help but notice is the strength of our communities and the effort of families who are trying to figure out this new normal.
Many parents and caregivers around the country are finding themselves with a new fulltime job — home-school teacher.
I have always appreciated teachers, but now I have grown an even deeper respect for all the help they are extending to parents. Teachers have been reaching out to their communities with creative ideas and activities to supplement classroom essentials into their homes.
After speaking with different teachers from the community, I would like to share some valuable tips for keeping your children up to date on their studies and ways to keep them busy while out of school.
One major piece of advice they would like to extend is just to try your best. No one is expecting parents to become teachers overnight, especially while continuing to work. This can be challenging depending on what grades your children are in, but remember to focus on what’s important. Take the time to read a book that has been gathering dust on your shelf, count how many Cheerios are in your cereal bowl, or write a letter to a family member across town to make them smile.
Apart from academics, it’s important to have children take a break. This can be as simple as taking a family hike, doing yoga in the living room, or watching your favorite movie.
OK, after that breath of fresh air, it’s time to get creative.
Give your child some time to make a new dance to their favorite song. Grab some recyclables and make a craft. Take out those markers and paints to show their inner artist. Allow them to take charge of their learning with creativity.
Teach children to be creative in the kitchen also. Back in my day, we had a class called Home Economics, which taught us how to cook and sew.
I still remember my favorite recipe: a simple piece of toast topped with a mixture of sugar,
butter and orange juice. Now here’s something that parents will be able to teach their child without worry.
Share your favorite recipe and teach your child to be an expert at making it. You could bake your favorite cookies together, make a homemade peanut-butter cup, or make your grandmother’s famous pasta dish. Most importantly, let your kids bring out their inner chef and worry about the mess later.
And now that families are spending more time together, meals have become an even more cherished part of the day.
Now that there’s a mess in your kitchen, let’s talk about responsibility. It’s something that is touched upon in all areas of life. One way of extending the lesson of responsibility at home can be through daily chores.
Allowing your child to do simple tasks, such as washing the dishes, folding laundry or cleaning his or her room is a great way to teach this lifelong quality.
While spending more time at home as a preventative measure might be an inconvenience to many, it is also giving us time to take a step back and realize what’s truly important.
“I get very excited to use my degree on my daughters,” says Emily Donatelli, a mom of two and former first-grade teacher. “In our usual day-to-day, we’re often running to storytimes, playgrounds and such, I’m actually enjoying this time staying put with them.
“Keeping little ones busy is a job in itself,” she adds. “I feel like I’m lesson-planning again, but it’s fun. The teacher in me is coming out, and I’m doing my best to be creative and make learning fun.”
Whether it’s teaching the ABCs or rediscovering nature with your children, we may all come out of this feeling a bit more appreciative of what the world has to give.
“The teacher in me is coming out, and I’m doing my best to be creative and make learning fun.”
– Emily Donatelli, former first grade teacher