Most people are confined to their homes for work, school and leisure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All schools in Malaysia have been advised to extend their school holidays.
Children usually rejoice in a break from school, assuming it will be a chance to slack off. For most parents, however, the intermediate worry is how prolonged school closures will affect their children’s education.
Families across the county are adapting to the evolving changes in daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Parents are faced with helping their families adjust to the new normal. This includes trying to keep children occupied, feeling safe, attempting to keep up with schoolwork as best as possible and to reassure children that they are okay.
The following tips can help.
- Be a role model. Children will react to and follow your reaction. They learn from your example.
- Explain social distancing. Children probably don’t fully understand why parents aren’t allowing them to be friends.
- Model basic hygiene and healthy lifestyle practices. Cleaning hands at key times with soaps and water or hand sanitizer.
- Build the immune system. Encourage your child to eat a balanced diet, get enough sleep and exercise regularly.
- Focus on the positive. Celebrate having more time to spend as a family. Make it as fun as possible. Do family projects.
- Establish and maintain a daily routine. Keeping a regular schedule provides a sense of control, predictability and well being.
- Monitor television viewing and social media. Dispel rumors and inaccurate information.
- Take time to talk. Let your children’s questions guide you. Keep explanation age appropriate.
- Stay connected to school. Locate learning resources. Take advantage of platform offering online learning opportunities that cater to the school syllabus.
Offer lots of love and affection.
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