In March 2020, life in Trinidad and Tobago and the world as we know it changed overnight. One day we had a daily routine where we as parents went to work and did our thing and our children spent their days at school then suddenly schools were closed, phrases like essential and non-essential workers and social distancing were added to our vocabulary. Working from home was now required (for those who had jobs) and we were now being called upon to set up zoom classes for our kids as well as assist them. Learning from home is now the new normal.
We at Grade A have been receiving calls from frustrated parents. Parents who feel overwhelmed with this new normal. Many point out that yes they know the material however they are not cut out to teach. Trust me, I get it. I'm a mom who just like you has to both work and teach two kids. It's hard not having a distinction between work and home. It's hard when you are working and your child might just pop into your zoom call. I get it. The struggle is real.
So how can you combat the homeschooling burnout?
Understand that you don't have to be perfect but consistent. Honestly, our classes are just 1 hour long 3 days per week with students having to complete tasks independently. I believe that you can cover a lot in a short space of time. Trust me on this, you don't have to replicate an entire school day to be successful.
2. Set up a distraction-free study zone in your house. Online classes are not like face to face classes and it's very easy to get distracted. To help your child stay focused, set up a study area away from the television and any busy area of your home.
3. Leave room for fun activities. Children are being forced to stay inside away from friends. We adults are having a hard time so can you imagine our children?
Do some fun baking, make slime, art and crafts and schedule some video calls with their friends. Keeping a fun element will help your child and yourself cope with the sudden change.
4. Seek out help where necessary. It's fine to ask for help. It's fine to hire a tutor or ask a family member to assist. We can't do it all and we are not superhumans.
These are just a few tips to help you keep your sanity during this time. Grade A Tutoring and Learning Centre provides private tutors for both online and face to face tutoring in Trinidad and Tobago. If you would like help, don't forget that you can always reach out to us by calling or sending a WhatsApp message to 324-5496