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Helping Kids Make Up for Lost Time (It’s Not Just About the Classroom)

helping kids

Let’s face it; the pandemic has been tough on all of us. The idea of children making up for lost time has been bandied about for a while now.

For young children, however, it has completely turned life on its head. Frankly, as they make the transition back into something resembling normality, they will need support and lots of it. Parents and teachers alike will be eager to help kids make up for the lost time. While the initial thoughts will naturally turn to the classroom, you need to focus on so much more. Here are some top tips to make the next few months far better. 

1. Restoring Routines 

School isn’t just about academic learning. It is equally important for teaching kids to embrace structure and schedules. No matter how hard you’ve tried, routines will have suffered when home-schooling. The return of traditional learning is an opportunity to reintroduce old routines ranging from bedtimes to meals. If nothing else, it teaches them that life is getting back to normal in every sense of the word. 

Children are resilient and know how to roll with the punches. So, once they are back into the old routines, they will acclimatise to it very quickly. This will be the perfect foundation to make up for lost time. 

2. Encouraging Social Skills 

Thanks to video learning and home-schooling, many kids won’t have actually fallen that far behind on their work. Unfortunately, their social skills may have suffered a far worse fate. The idea of hosting parties and sleepovers may need to remain on hold. Still, arranging days out with friends in safe environments can work wonders. In truth, most parents will appreciate the chance to chat with other adults too, even if it’s just a natter in the local park. 

Regular human interactions are the only way children will find a return to normality. Parents should be prepared for anger, confusion, and emotional challenges. It is totally natural, but your support will guide them to happier, more stable times. 

3. Promoting Physical & Creative Activities 

As well as social development, many children have missed out on months of sport, music, and artistic lessons. While they have still grown, other elements of physical development may be behind where they would’ve been. Finding a UK grassroots football or netball team can change that. Likewise, looking for local dance classes or music theatres can make up for lost time. They’ll be back into the swing of things in no time. 

They’ve spent so much time either locked indoors or living very limited lifestyles. As such, kids will be itching to enjoy extracurricular activities. If it promotes physical health, mental wellness, and skill development, that’s ideal. 

4. Rediscovering Exploration 

A fair number of kids have likely spent months exploring the latest maps of Fortnite or Minecraft. In fact, some teachers have tried to use virtual field trips to keep up that sense of adventure. Nonetheless, UK school trips will allow children to finally build the magical memories that were once taken for granted – fingers crossed they can go ahead soon. Right now, the benefits of those sorts of activities may be as important as anything directly gained from the classroom. After all, embracing the beauty of the world around them can be linked to a love of learning too. Given the fact that overseas vacations will be less frequent for families, enjoying the local attractions in this way will be telling. 

5. Capturing the Moments 

There is a year-long gap in many aspects of your child’s life. So, now that they can enjoy a little normality, it’s not just about living in the moment. They should have the chance to ensure that these moments stay fresh in their mind for a long time to come. Investing in a cheap digital camera that’s capable of taking great photos is highly advised. This will soon make up for the lost time. At least from the perspective of photos. 

You can take this to the next level by turning their photos into artwork. From phone cases to canvas art, the products will brighten up their lives. It’s something that they will treasure for many years to come. 

capturing moments

6. Using Extra Tuition 

When children have been stuck inside for so long, you may not want to think about extra lessons. In reality though, a little one-on-one tuition could be the key to catching up in style. The key is to gain the extra help from a specialist. They will provide greater efficiency than parents trying to home-school. Just an extra two or three hours per week could soon repair the damage caused by the pandemic. 

The key to mastering this step is to establish good communication. Teachers, parents, and private tutors should all work together. As long as the child’s best interests remain the focus at all times, consistent and quality teaching will follow. 

How are your children coping with the easing of lockdown rules? Have they started clubs again? We’d love to know how you’re all getting on. 

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