Help your children get more out of e-learning and stay resilient in the face of adversity with these five tips that will increase well-being and happiness
Home-based learning (HBL) has recently settled upon us once again, and kids are thankfully having an easier time adjusting to Zoom calls and e-learning. Most were able to quickly fall into last year’s pattern of learning, while there remained some who needed additional guidance and parental involvement.
As parents, we need to identify our abilities and limitations to effectively empower our children to succeed at home-based learning. We also need to identify what we can reasonably expect from our kids, depending on their age. We can’t do it all, and I believe our kids cannot either. We have to try our best to ride the HBL wave, provide structure and coping mechanisms for our kids to thrive during this period of time.
As HBL commenced, I implemented a daily routine for our children. It incorporated activities to increase their well-being and provide them with moments of meditation, mindfulness and gratitude. These didn’t just include only academic goals, but holistic goals as well.
I wanted them to practise healthy daily habits and learn how to look after themselves, as it will have a positive impact on their level of productivity and learning. As parents, it’s our responsibility to explain the importance of things like routine, sleep, meditation, exercise, mindfulness and gratitude, which make the crucial foundation of personal and academic success.
Related: How to Cultivate Mindful Moments to Improve Your Well-Being
Personally, I found several tips from the Getting to Happy Kids Edition card set that I have designed to be particularly helpful for my children in getting through the days. For my rambunctious 7-year-old, I explained I wanted him to try his best in each class. Many times, during the week, his iPad died, and he frantically burst into my room. I calmly explained to him that nothing was lost but a few minutes. In a separate incident, I caught him playing around with the screen filters while he was having his online class and I quickly shot that behaviour down.
When I couldn’t physically be present by my children’s side to supervise them or help them with technical glitches, I put the responsibility back on them, explaining I simply wouldn’t be available during their online lesson. As parents, we need to know what we are willing to sacrifice, what to let go of, and how to empower our kids effectively.
At the same time, these lessons from the card set will aid your children in coping with e-learning, help you to be kind to yourself as a parent and increase the level of happiness and well-being within your family.