Ultimate Advice for Parents Transitioning To Hybrid Learning

by: Razqa Ammaridhiya Indra

With the pandemic seemingly at its end, offices and schools are slowly reopening. Numerous cars have packed the streets on the way to offices and schools, and mornings are now becoming more intense trying to break away from the work-from-home routines. With the significant shift, here are five ultimate pieces of advice for parents as their children approach hybrid learning.

Be there for your child

The first and arguably the most important thing I want parents to hear is to be there for their children. This situation has stressed students out, much more than you can imagine. If you're stressed, then so are your children, even if they may not show it. Use this time at home to check on them, both mentally and physically. Are they getting enough exercise? Do they seem stressed, sad, or anxious? During this pandemic, mental health is a widely discussed topic which shows how important it is. Take the time to talk to your children, and you will be surprised by how much you are missing. Reach out to them, appreciate the times when they reach out to you, and listen to what they have to say if they come to you. So many things go unchecked and unnoticed by parents, so constantly checking in on the kids is an effortless and amazingly effective thing to do.

The pandemic isn't over yet

Although the situation seems hopeful, the pandemic is not over yet.

With students returning to school and parents returning to offices, it's easy to forget that this situation isn't over yet. Continue to follow health protocols, and do not let your guard down. Frequent hand washing, keeping a balanced diet, enough sleep and rest, and exercise must still be part of the family's routine. It is also advisable to keep going out of the house to a minimum. Parents with younger children are especially advised to follow this, as younger children tend to be more reckless when following health and safety protocols.

Take care of yourself

Sometimes when you're so caught up in work, you forget to slow down and take a breather. Once you destress, you'll find family time more enjoyable. Stressed people tend to lash out, have a shorter fuse, and be more aggressive. None of these traits are helpful when you spend most of your time at home with your family. Take a moment to relax, have a warming or refreshing beverage, and forget about work for a moment. You'll find that your mood will improve instantly, creating more opportunities for quality family time. Remember, a happy parent will make a happy child.

View this situation as an advantage

This pandemic is a significant break from everything; now that traffic and commute are obsolete, this leaves much free time to spend with your family. Use this situation as an opportunity to grow closer with your loved ones. Some families drift farther apart during this pandemic; you should conquer that and do the opposite and bond with your family. One thing that I found helpful is to have meals together whenever possible. A good avenue for this is dinnertime. Gathering the whole family at one place once a day can do wonders. Dinnertime is an excellent opportunity to share how their day went and converse with each other. Other activities such as watching TV shows or YouTube together and playing games the whole family can enjoy helps a lot, too. Who says technology had to bring people apart?

Keep you and your children engaged

The final piece of advice is to keep you and your children engaged with different activities. This pandemic can be mind-numbing at times, and it can leave you feeling purposeless and demotivated. To combat this, try small but productive activities. Buying sports/workout equipment is a significant step, as it is something both productive and healthy to do. Of course, you should follow protocols when doing so, but it is also a great activity to bike, walk or stroll around your neighborhood. I find this a refreshing activity and helps numb the boredom of being inside all the time. We all need a change of scenery now and then, and I think that one of the easiest and effective ways to do this is to go around your neighborhood. You can also go around as a family for some more quality time and exercise.

Another thing you and your children can do is to find new hobbies that can occupy your time. Again, with this pandemic seemingly coming to a close, you should use the rest of your time and enjoy this stay-at-home lifestyle while you still can. Picking up a hobby is an excellent activity as it keeps you stimulated, and depending on what hobby, it can be a valuable life skill. Hobbies such as picking up a new instrument, trying your hand at drawing, or learning to cook are all excellent activities to try.

With these tips and reminders being shared, I hope this article serves as a guideline on ideas or things that you can do during this period of transition back to normalcy. Now is a good time as ever to take a step back and reevaluate what you've been doing during this pandemic.

Have you spent enough time with your children and family?

Do your children seem anxious or on edge?

Have you and your loved ones been getting enough exercise?

When's the last time you've taken a break to destress and check in on your mental health?

These are all questions you should ask yourself and look at by the time you've finished reading this article. Remember that things will eventually get better, but every cloud has a silver lining. So, find that silver lining and make the most of it!