Secret Strategies for Kids that Parents Can Apply during MCO

Secret Strategies for Kids that Parents Can Apply during MCO

Some people call it cabin fever.  Wikipedia defines it as a distressing claustrophobic irritability or restlessness when a person or group is stuck at an isolated location or on confined quarters for an extended period of time.  

 

Is MCO causing cabin fever?  

 

Many claim it is much more intense than just the regular dose of cabin fever.  During the Movement Control Order (MCO) parents have to contend with work schedules, delayed datelines, canceled contracts, deferred payments, stalled negotiations, extended completion dates, and cost overruns.  Some say the usual courtesies and civility towards each other seem to be more frayed, less tolerant.  Parents worry about how MCO affects their livelihood and the financial consequences toward their children.

 

If you have children, they compete for your time, your computer and your internet!  If you have younger children, you are now the out of control babysitter and new-found (albeit reluctant) teacher at home.  Chances are by now you marvel at how preschool teachers motivate, cudgel, nudge and encourage these same kids to even complete a page of homework.  You discover newfound perspectives and marvel at the superpowers of the kindergarten teacher, always smiling, encouraging, full to positive things to say about your child.  Secretly, you wonder if she is talking about someone else’s child.

 

Here are some secret strategies you can apply at home, during MCO with the kids!

 

Strategy No. 1: Set A Routine 

Hand-draw a cute timetable for your child to follow.  Time for breakfast, clean up, do some drawings, art & craft and reading.  Later they get to spend 20 minutes doing something they like after completing a set of events.  The reward comes for those that follow the rules.  Children need routine.  It gives them a sense of control over how much time they can work on an item and then move on to other things. 

 

 

Remember how upset you were when you were young and wanted to play with your lego only to be told, time is up with no apparent notice and that was the end of it?  Teach them about time and they will learn to manage their time.  There is less grumbling and when you set a routine for what happens next and for how long.  Teach your child to manage his time, soon you will have a child say “Mummy, I’ve finished reading, can I do this now?  By creating a timetable, you set limits on what your child can do during his time at home.

 

Strategy No. 2: Set A Place

Create a small cozy place with a chair and table she can identify as her “work” place.  Make it a pretty place like the way you set up your working space.  Children love to mimic their parents.  Personalize it by placing a few of her favorite items.  Make it a place for coloring and reading.  Teach your child to keep it tidy.  It is ok to mess it up, but clean it up when you are done. 

 

Find a place that you can keep an eye on while you are doing your own work.  Tell her to do her work whilst you are doing yours – it gives a child the feeling of accomplishment.  If you want, turn on some music.  Children are always learning from background noise, singing from the radio or listening to mandarin, Bahasa or English songs. 

 

 

Let the news play in the background if you like.  Maria Montessori calls it the absorbent mind, children absorb everything they see, hear, touch and taste, even if they seem uninterested. 

 

Children are always picking up new abilities even when it seems they are not paying attention.  Discovery learning is an important feature of child cognitive development. 

 

Strategy No. 3: Sing Along

Develop a sing-along song with your child.  If you sing, chances are your child will sing.  Children need a positive role model.  If you sing, they will too! 

 

Sing with action, help the kids develop those major and minor motor muscles at home.  Instead of leaving the kids glued to the TV, get up sing and do some action to the song.  Better yet, improvise on your dance and let your child do some improvisation.  Let their creativity shine!

 

Strategy No. 4: Keeping Up with School

Schoolwork is not just math.  Do your arts & craftwork, readings, and other fun work from your child’s kindergarten.  Set aside time that you can spare with your child.  Pre-recorded lessons allow you and your child to find time together to complete their assignments. The occasional real-time video conference with the preschool is a good way to reconnect the children with their classmates.  Work with your child’s preschool, let them know what works for families who are coping.  There is a good chance your preschools will relax datelines and activities during these times.  Preschools are in a dire situation, trying to find the right balance between trying to show the value of academic work yet unexpectedly burden parents who have no capacity to take on more duty at home.

 

One Montessori school in TTDI signed up a personal Zumba kids trainer for kids and parents in the evenings on a video call to let off the pressures of working families.  A time to enjoy the family union. 

 

 

As for writing, this skill starts with developing strength in our hands.  This motor development comes from drawing, grappling, kneading, tossing, beading, churning, twisting, curling, bending activities.  Many of these motor movements come from routine housework, the kitchen or gardening.  So while your young child is helping in the kitchen or garden, she is on the way to improving her writing as well.

 

Education is not just fundamental academics such as language, number and science.  While at home, you can develop their competencies and character, which are also part of the main pillars considered as the 21st Century skills by The World Economic Forum.

 

Competencies are described as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration.  Character qualities reflect how a person is quick to adapt, leadership skills, curiosity and initiative. Work on little projects together, let their leadership and creativity grow.

 

In the background keep up with what you can on the foundational literacies with your preschool.  Remember education is not just about academics, perseverance and creativity are equally important qualities in the 21st Century.  

 

Good Luck!

 

Childhood is not a race to see how quickly a child can read, write and count.  It is a small window of time to learn and develop at the pace that is right for each individual child.  Earlier is not better.”
– Magda Gerber

 

 

 

Photos: Courtesy of Ms. Esther Wong, Ms. Diana Teo & Ms Teresa Chin

 

About the Author

Chin Peng Hon is a Doctorate student pursuing his degree in Education.  In his previous career, he led a Consulting services team regionally and then globally in Banking solutions for a Multinational company.

 

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