Five tips for keeping the kids learning during the quarantine period
Learning is a never-ending cycle, be it your summer holiday, winter holidays, exam time or why not be coronavirus holidays. There is absolutely no reason why a kid should stop learning. And when we say learning, we are necessarily talking about academic learning. Yes, of course, academics are a part of learning, but there is surely much more to a kid’s life than just academic learning.
Quarantining once self at home can be tough and can take a toll on our physical and mental health. But why not see the silver lining in the cloud? This is the only time we get to stay with family and learn about life, which would otherwise be impossible to learn. This holds true especially for active kids and at the peak for their learning process.
How often do you come across such circumstances? Holidays, healthy and home-cooked food, the warmth of your family, indoor games, fun and folly and ever-running high-speed wifi. Sounds like a fairy tale to me. I believe we have to count our blessings and use this god-send time to focus on our goals and ambitions
This is once in a lifetime opportunity, especially for students whose exams are on hold or cancelled. Some students are happy that the exams are postponed, some are gloomy and some, my favourite category of students, just don’t seem to care. But, there is one common factor among all these three categories of students that is the simple fact that they seem to be bored of being locked-up within the four walls of their home.
What are the different types of learning we are talking about?
- Academic learning
- Physical learning
- Valuable life lessons
- Household learning
So the question here is,
How do you utilise this time effectively?
Let us call it the learning cycle
So let me explain how it works and how each of the things listed in the wheel, not only helps you pass the time but also gives you a head start in developing an all-rounded bright career.
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Hobbies
Your dad is busy in the kitchen, preparing your favourite pasta, how often do you come across dads showing off their cooking skills? Your mom is getting her day off and she is enjoying it to the fullest by spending some good time with her kids, your grandmother is watching her favourite soap opera on the TV and your grandfather cursing corona for cancelling IPL while you sit there scrolling down your Facebook feed, all in the hall at the same time. How often do you get to see such a scene nowadays?
Enjoy this time and use it to build some hobbies. Read books, write something or keep a diary for yourself or learn a new instrument. Who knows the next AR Rehman or Ed Sharren might be within you.
Because the things you learn from family stays with you longer than the things you learn at school. -
Physical exercise
It goes without saying, but I will say it nevertheless, your body is your temple. Always remember that. Exercise for an hour two and release those endorphins out of your body. Nothing makes you feel refreshed and revitalised like putting your body through some training and exercise. Run, jog, skipping, yoga, pushups, pull-ups etc., there are plenty of exercises that you can do at home without having to go out and risking infection.
As they say, exercise is a celebration of what your body can do not a punishment for what it cannot.
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Mental Health
While the body is your temple, the mind is your god and it goes without saying, never upset your god. Children today undergo an enormous amount of stress, unlike the olden and golden days, where childhood would be stress-free. Hence doing activities to help ease out mental stress, especially during this quarantine period is very important. Yoga, Pranayam, Surya Namaskar and a good amount of sleep are some of the things that help maintain mental health.
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Academics
Last but definitely not the least; keep those textbooks open, at least once a day. Remember while all the things mentioned above are secondary, our primary aim is to get that sharp mind of yours running and well oiled so that you can study well and do good in your career.
More importantly, remember to eat healthily and maintain a good healthy lifestyle. Nothing, absolutely nothing beats the taste of your mom’s cooking. No McDonalds or gol gappe can compete without your mom’s simple dal rice. Eat, exercise, do hobbies and spend time with your family
And always remember, all these things are done so that you can focus on your studies and have a bright and wonderful future ahead.