How To Make The Most Of Your Time During Lockdown
April 29, 2020
How Your Child Can Make The Most Of Their Lockdown Time
We’re well into our 35-day lockdown and making the most of more time is high on the list for many of us. When boredom sets in, kids can get anxious, destructive and very unmotivated. This isn’t ideal when you consider that they’ll need to return to school at some point. Whether it’s rest, new skills or online learning, here’s how you can help your child and ensure that they’re making the most of isolation.
1. See time as an investment
Seeing these extra days at home as a gift that can be used for good is the first step to helping your child stay happy and healthy. Making the most of more time is a mindset that can be of use to every member of the family. By looking at this period as an opportunity to spend time together and invest in themselves, everyone will be more likely to emerge from lockdown as better people.
2. Get them into the kitchen
Whether you know it or not, your child will need to learn to cook at some point. Why not start them off on learning those family favourites now? One day when they reach university they might be living alone and need to make themselves nutritious meals. Give them a head start and let them help with making lunches, dinners and snacks. This will come in handy if they’re ever homesick and even one day when they want to make their kids the food that they grew up with. Start simple and let them get creative, you’ll be amazed at how much fun they have.
3. Stay up to date with school work
Many schools are using online lessons and digital learning
to stop students from falling behind. Encourage your child to attend these lessons and do the work. They will only have themselves to blame if they miss out on concepts that everyone else learned during lockdown. Doing the required reading is also a great way to get ahead. Even if they’re only set to read your books later on in the term, why not read them now to get a good idea of what they’re all about?
4. Try new things
Over this time, it’s an ideal opportunity to learn a new skill. Whether it’s a language or something they couldn’t do before like crocheting or playing the guitar, there’s lots to be learned. If your child wants to pursue a new language, sites like Duolingo
have easy and fun courses. These will help them pick up a new dialect in no time. No matter what they learn during this lockdown, knowledge is still knowledge and they’ll be keeping their brains active.
5. Focus on the “forgotten” chores
As the year goes on, many of us tend to push back the tasks around the house that we weren’t wanting to do. This might include the spring cleaning of cupboards, reorganising bedrooms, tidying up the garage and even emptying their school bags. Now is the time to get those grudge activities out of the way and enjoy a cleaner, more organised space. It’ll also help your child develop an improved sense of respect for their home.
6. We’re all in this together
From the Abbotts College family to yours, we wish you all health and happiness during this time. Remember that soon, this would have passed and one day we’ll get to look back on these memories with gratitude. Make sure you create moments that make you smile with your children.
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As the preliminary and final examinations approach, both students and parents or guardians often experience heightened anxiety and stress. This guide provides practical strategies to help parents and guardians support their children through this critical phase of their academic journey. 1. Foster Effective Organization Create an environment conducive to studying by providing a quiet, well-lit study space equipped with essential stationery. Collaborate with your child to develop a structured study timetable to set clear expectations and promote disciplined preparation. Encourage the use of resources such as past question papers, which serve as valuable tools for revision and practice. 2. Maintain Daily Check-Ins Schedule regular, intentional conversations, such as during dinner, to discuss your child’s progress. Inquire about their experience with the day’s examination paper, adherence to their study schedule, and their feelings about upcoming tests. These check-ins foster open communication and allow you to gauge their emotional and academic state. 3. Minimize Distractions Help your child stay focused by keeping electronic devices like phones, tablets, and gaming consoles out of reach during study sessions. Set boundaries on screen time and social media access to prevent procrastination. While challenging, limiting Wi-Fi access during study hours can significantly enhance productivity. 4. Support Emotional Awareness Encourage your child to identify and articulate their emotions, such as anxiety, stress, or fatigue . Recognizing these feelings is the first step toward addressing them effectively. Discuss coping strategies to help them navigate emotional challenges during this period. 5. Teach Self-Regulation Techniques Guide your child in practicing self-regulation to manage stress. Techniques include: Breathing Exercises : Inhale deeply for four seconds, hold for four seconds, exhale for four seconds, and repeat. Sensory Focus : Identify five things they can see or hear to ground themselves in the moment. Tactile Stimulation : Hold a cold object to shift focus and reduce anxiety. These methods can help your child regain calm and focus during stressful moments. 6. Promote a Balanced Routine Prolonged study sessions late into the night can lead to burnout. Monitor your child’s study habits and encourage breaks to maintain balance. Plan activities such as outings with friends, a family meal, or short recreational periods with access to devices. Engaging in non-academic activities, like helping prepare dinner, can provide a refreshing change of focus. 7. Prioritize Self-Care Support your child’s well-being by ensuring they: Eat nutritious, regular meals. Get at least eight hours of sleep by limiting screen time before bed. Engage in physical activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, dancing, or gym workouts. These practices help alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common during examination periods. 8. Practice Empathy and Patience The examination period can be emotionally taxing for both students and parents. Approach your child with empathy, actively listening and offering guidance without criticism. This fosters a supportive environment, bolstering their mental health and sense of inclusion. By implementing these strategies, parents and guardians can play a pivotal role in helping their children navigate the challenges of examinations with confidence and resilience. Good luck to all the Grade 12 students with the upcoming examinations - you most certainly can do it!
