With the continuation of the pandemic process, children's school processes, habits and the order established in the family have changed considerably. While some parents work from home and most of their children continue with online education, which requires a new order at home, for parents who cannot work from home, having their children continue distance education may cause different concerns for them. The fact that parents have to change their routine in which they balance work and family responsibilities requires a separate struggle and effort in addition to the difficulties brought by the pandemic. Research on the pandemic around the world has found that parents working from home are taking on more responsibilities and having more difficulties than before the pandemic.
The frequency of negative moods of both parents and children increased during this period. It is during this period that parents experience mental, physical and emotional burnout. People who feel burnt out are emotionally withdrawn and go through a depressive process. Parental burnout during the pandemic has the potential to harm children's development. There are some strategies to prevent burnout and establish a new balance between work and family life. First of all, it is necessary to determine the boundaries. In case of working from home, a separate room should be preferred to deal with work, if possible. The aim here is to draw boundaries by creating a separate space for your work life and to avoid feeling obliged to deal with work uninterruptedly at home. Inconsistency and disorganization within the family can also cause parents to feel exhausted. Creating family routines such as having a family meal together, creating a period of time where everyone turns off their devices, separating weekday and weekend routines as before, and organizing a movie night or game night together can reduce burnout. It is also extremely important for parents to pay attention to their self-care. Experiencing high levels of stress can cause parents to behave more inconsistently and have difficulties. Not neglecting self-care is essential to manage stress. Being able to socialize safely, exercise, and engage in relaxing hobbies help parents have a more balanced day, thus improving family relationships. It has a positive impact. It is also important for parents to have social support. Connecting with parents going through the same process and being able to share their feelings and experiences with a close friend can provide social support.
Another strategy is to reshape family expectations. Everything may not be perfect in this process. Your child may have difficulty getting used to the new school routine and your new home routine as summer ends. You should not hesitate to ask what they need and take their suggestions into consideration. It is necessary to chat with children and listen carefully to their concerns about the process. Feeling understood, providing an environment where they can express their feelings and thoughts, and having their parents provide accurate information about their concerns can help them go through the process more calmly. Ensuring that they do not lose contact with their friends can also be supportive for children.
While children continue their education at home, it is also important to wake up early in the morning, maintain the preparation and breakfast routine as before, and determine the bedtime for children at night. For children who do not want to follow classes, it may be necessary to explain in age-appropriate language that this is really as important as the school process and should be taken seriously. The environment in which they study should be as free from distractions as possible. It should be explained to the child that he/she has responsibilities as well as rights and that lessons are included in this responsibility. In addition, simple household chores such as feeding pets and setting the table for young children, and simple responsibilities such as helping with meals and housework for older children and adolescents contribute to their life skills and help them feel strong and bond with the family as they contribute to the family. is happening. It is necessary to take into consideration the child's age and capacity in the responsibilities to be given.
This entire process can be turned into an opportunity to strengthen the invisible bonds of love between parent and child. Staying at home can be an opportunity to spend more time together, have fun, do things together and share. However, in this new order established during the pandemic, children need to get through this process in the best possible way. It should not be forgotten that while supporting parents, they should also protect themselves from burnout.
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