Everything, right from our careers, to partying, to shopping, meeting extended family and friends etc. has come to a standstill, due to the Covid -19 outbreak. Though we have all adapted to the new circumstances and a new way of life…..the question is, “Have our children done the same? Ironically, the answer is ‘no, they haven’t’. This entire shift has been overwhelming for them, where for long durations they are expected to pay attention to their teachers via screens. We owe a responsibility to create a safe world for our children and help them adapt to this new normal. So, as parents’ and educationists, what is it that we can do? Life skills, is what we need to support and promote in our children. a) Anything and everything in our realm of expertise should be utilized to the fullest to help them manage friendships, relationships, problem solving, managing their emotions, making the right decision, identifying their inner strength in this new wave of paradigm. b) We must emphasize and show our support, provide guidance and mentor our children to handle their fear, anxiety, study pressure and time management in this new format of digital learning and communication. c) We need to create avenues to strengthen social connectedness, by regularly allowing them to meet friends virtually, create a drop-in opportunity with teachers to discuss concerns. d) Allow online study groups to nurture their friendship, enroll in online extracurricular clubs organized by the school. There is a sense of wellbeing when students are engaged in fun activities. e) Identify students with social, emotional or behavioral health risks. Promote health awareness program. Communicate more listen when a child is expressing a concern, try to listen and help, ponder over the child’s words and the emotions they are feeling. How they react to their thoughts and feeling needs a check from time to time, if they are quieter than usual, if their behavior is a concern, or worrisome, one needs to talk and find out, why? Students, who are reluctant or unsure of how to express, go through a “quiet trauma” and are unable to reach out, they find it difficult or rather embarrassing to talk about it. Virtual communication and counseling groups can be formed for students to talk about, what they feel, their fears and what’s going on in their minds. Parents needs to be mindful that children don’t develop paranoia or an unrealistic and unhealthy fear about the illness. While we struggle to make sense of the pandemic, we are capable of taking care of our children’s emotional health and only then can we be sure that our children are ready for any uncertainties the future might have. By overcoming the pandemic within, only then will they face the pandemic outside.
Principal Elizabeth.S