Redefine 2020 for Your Child

Redefining 2020 for Your Child

We are heading into the new unknown; a whole academic year on a computer, a 24/7 work from home culture, our cup runneth over with stress and chaos. 

Let us find the right tools, simple strategies, to balance our home life. Our kids of all ages are learning to navigate more independently through virtual learning. We should accept this challenge and find the right space and means to let them be successful. As you’ve heard a million times: at a real table, with plenty of light, and little distractions.

More important than uploading homework by midnight, is to validate the anxiety and irritability that your child/teen will feel. Validation is powerful no matter the age. We need that too!

Then, we have to also gear up and model good coping and stress management. It is imperative they see some of the struggle on a Wednesday evening and hear you use a feeling word followed by a five minute break, or telling Alexa to play a goofy song.

Support these children, do not forget about them when you have had a rough day. They are continuing to be distanced from peers when developmentally it should be a main pillar to their lives. Let them grieve that. 

Redefine this year in your own mind first. Adjust your expectations but try not to lower your standards. We still want routine and self-care. The family still needs family dinners and bedtimes. Support your friends, call your parents. We are redefining 2020-2021 academic year together. One this is certain, you as a parent, it is all about Survive and Advance. You will in fact survive the WFH lifestyle and your child will in fact learn things and advance. 

“Children learn more from what you are, than what you teach.”