Principles for supporting continuity of learning and children's well being

Create a safe and engaging environment

• Create a flexible but consistent daily routine. Get children to decide their daily routine in which there is dedicated time when they would be studying.
• At the end of each day, take a minute to think about the day. Ask your child about one positive or fun thing they did.
• Set a side time to spend with each child.
• Switch off the Television (TV) and phone. Ask your child what they would like to do. Listen to them, look at them. Give them your full attention.

Create a positive learning environment

• Say the behaviour you want to see.
• Use positive language, it works!
• It‘s hard to feel positive when young children or teenagers are not listening, are stubborn or demonstrating challenging behaviour. We often end up saying “Stop doing that!”. But children are much more likely to do what we ask if we give them positive instructions and lots of praise for what they do right.
• As adults, we are role models for children. Be an empathetic listener; decide to do a family activity every day where everyone participates. When we model peaceful and loving relationships, our children feel more secure and loved. Positive language, active listening, and empathy help maintain a peaceful and happy family environment in these stressful times
• Family harmony at home isimportant.

Use positive disciplining

• When children misbehave, take a pause and redirect them to a different activity.
• Try and catch early signs of challenging behaviour. Try to find out reasons for the behaviour and discuss it with the child, try and understand what is bothering them. If the situation does not improve, contact the schoolto provide counselling to the child".
• Use consequences, itis better than hitting or shouting at children.

Have fun with the children

• School shutdown is a chance to make better relationships with our children and teenagers. One-on-One time isfree and fun. It makes children feel loved and secure and shows them that they are important.
• Ask children to talk about their teacher, their favorite subjects and activities at school, their friends, and what they did not enjoy about school. Ask children to remind everyone in the family not to touch their nose and mouth and wash their hands with soap regularly and make hand-washing fun.
• Young children learn through play; these activities can be fun and educational for everyone. Movement games with in the home will provide physical exercise.
• Telling stories, singing songs, using household objects for acting, memory games can be fun for children of all ages.
• Playful parenting is socially interactive, joyful, meaningful, actively engaging.
• Suggestions for age-specific activities are presented later in the document.

Have realistic expectations from the child

• Praise your childwhen they are behaving or doing well and be realistic in your expectations.
• All work done by children is important; as parents it is very important to remember to appreciate the child’s work be it their school work, helping with age-appropriate household activities, creative activities such as a new drawing, a new song, or a story that they may have developed.
• Encourage them to take up new interests – reading, singing, dancing, drawing, making toys or models, cooking, taking care of plants and animals, etc.

Take care of health and eat healthily

• It is important that the entire family take care of their health, adopt all COVID-19 prevention behaviours like washing hands with soap and water, sneezing and coughing in the elbow, wearing a mask when stepping out.
• In addition, itis also important that children get to eat healthy food and snacks.
• Help children develop a habit of doing some exercises or yoga daily, this will help them remain physically fit.
• Reports have suggested that in the lasty ear there has been an increase in the number of cases reported of sexual abuse and violence against children. Parents must talk to their children about safe and unsafe touch, set boundaries for children, apprise children of the risks of talking to strangers and not going out alone.
• Talk about COVID-19, to dispel rumors. Share stories about those who are helping to prevent the spread and care for the sick. Talk about and reinforce COVID-19 prevention behaviours.
• In case someone is unwell in the family, then children are observing. They will have questions, listen to them. Be honest and supportive. It is okay notto know answers.

Source : Ministry of Education