So far, things have been looking rather bright in Australia’s coronavirus situation. But even with that said, complacency is still going to be counterproductive.
That means parents must still understand the importance of implementing new routines that will focus more on time spent at home with the family.
However, it goes without saying that implementing these routines have been difficult for many (especially those with special needs). Many of our kids have been mentally and physically accustomed to a daily pattern that involved going to school, meeting friends and then coming home.
That pattern has been both a clue and an obstacle to the solution of making new routines for families struggling with pandemic restrictions. Is it really okay to substitute the new routine and abandon the old? Can distant learning and communication really compensate for live classroom experience?
There are no simple answers to these questions, but there certainly are little techniques and strategies that can help. Consider giving these a try:
1. Keeping the uniform.
This may sound a little peculiar, but if your child’s school has a uniform, it may help to have them wear it even during online classes. The essence of this trick is to keep a routine as familiar as possible.
This can be especially effective for some kids on the autism spectrum. They may not be able to actually come to school. But if you can keep them waking up at the same time, getting dressed and eating breakfast as normal, then you have already done much to maintain their sense of stability.
2. Make playtime very rewarding.
It can be argued that playtime can be far more important during this crisis than before. This is partly because both parents and children are experiencing higher amounts of stress and anxiety due to the uncertainty created by the restrictions.
That can make learning very inefficient and it applies whether you have regular kids or those with special needs. Hence, giving children more rewarding time to enjoy themselves between lessons can be helpful. Let them play with more toys after lessons, video call their friends or engage in exciting art projects to take their mind off of things.
3. Transforming the house.
Finally, while you may be unable to drive kids to school, you can still try to recreate that daily travelling experience by simply changing things up at the house. Designate a room as the ‘school’ room with a table and chair for them to recreate the same feeling of a classroom. Don’t hesitate to monitor them either as it has become very important for parents to really support teachers when distance learning.
You can also do this with other spaces around the house as well. If a quiet backyard is better than a crowded living room, then you can set up there instead. The point is you want your kids to develop a sense of moving from two very different spaces in a manner similar to their daily routines. It may not seem much, but it can go a long way when kids gradually designate one spot of the house as their ‘school’ while the other is home.
All in all, there is actually nothing wrong with trying to keep new routines very similar to the old ones as much as possible. Oftentimes, it is when parents assume a very radical change that all the stress and difficulty tends to crop up.
Instead, take your time implementing only the changes that are absolutely necessary. There are certainly a lot of smarter ways to help our kids adjust!
If you need any advice or support, then know that we at the Australian Tomatis Method are still here to help you. Please reach out if you need to, either by email at info@tomatis.com.au or by phone to Francoise at 0414 444 915.
