What Parents Can Do to Support Their Kids Now
What can parents do now?
In the wake of COVID-19, few schools have determined exactly what they’re planning to do come August. Open their doors completely? Continue online learning? A hybrid model? Given this uncertainty, there are some strategies parents can implement now to ensure a smooth transition come August—no matter what that looks like.
Kids want to feel safe.
Kids are more resilient than we, as parents, ever give them credit for. While not every personality type is a master at navigating change, these young minds somehow emerge on the other side of an obstacle stronger than we ever initially give them credit for. To that end, there are some basic needs that our kids need to be reminded of going into what’s shaping up to be a very different summer and a very different school year.
Be present.
Our kids want to know that we care and, at this age and stage, you spell L-O-V-E with T-I-M-E. Working and learning from home may have disrupted our family routines—in a good way. Parents call me with feedback that they are having more frequent meals around the dining table than ever before. They’ve cleaned out the game closet and are actually bringing Monopoly, Spades, and Clue back into the rotation. They’re teaching their kids to ride bikes, drive a car, apply for a job—and everything in between. While we may not be able to return to the level of “quantity time” we’ve had within our tribe as things eventually normalize, perhaps we can keep “quality time” at the forefront.
Be empathetic.
Parents, we don’t have to have all the answers. In fact, we don’t need to have any of them. Kids just need an advocate that climbs into the weeds with them and muses, “How are we going to solve this together?” We’ve all mourned the loss of something or someone dear over the past 14+ weeks. What a powerful opportunity to connect that opens the dialogue for something more.
Be in their corner.
Throughout all of this uncertainty and unrest, kids need to know that their parents are their biggest advocates and their loudest cheerleaders. Show, rather than tell, your kids that you are that source of support for them. Invite them into the conversation with constructive praise (“You killed it on that spelling quiz this week!” or “Great job working out that issue with your brother earlier today—you showed a lot of grace”) rather than merely watered down “do-good” language (“Keep it up!” or “Very nice!”) It really all goes back to our #1 point: Be Present. The rest of the chips just fall down where they may but, by truly listening to our kids, we show them we care.