MY neighbour’s children have been staying at home for the past few months in compliance with the movement control order (MCO) and helping their parents, who have just started a small business selling home-cooked nasi lemak.  A saying about parenthood goes: “Children do not hear us. They imitate us”. Now is probably the best time to use this tendency for good. 

It is crucial to teach our children to be resilient. The pandemic is a learning opportunity for the kids. Parents can explain to them what a pandemic means and how schools can be a a risky place for young children. Caring, sensitive responses from parents play a pivotal role in offering the young souls a sense of security and resilience. When a child feels loved, cared for and supported, he or she tends to be more resilient to life’s experiences.  

Home is where our hearts belong. Parents can focus on communication and concrete actions while conveying the right messages to the little ones, by both word and deed.

First, create a positive home environment to prevent boredom and stagnation. Without a school routine, children may succumb to boredom. Many are forced to adapt to online learning. Homework, tuition, exercises and even talent slots are conducted on the digital screen. Is it interesting or a relief for the teachers and children? I would say the answer is ambiguous. 

Some parents find it hard to monitor their children while working or doing house chores. Some notice that their children are easily distracted and fatigued. In fact, many parents, especially the double-income families, are inclined to rely too much on the teachers to manage their children. Institutions such as after school academies and childcare centres have become a part of life for the children, who mostly long to be in own cosy homes. Therefore, the MCO is the best time for family bonding and for parents to make up for lost time with their children. More time needs to be allocated for participation in their children’s activities or to create a routine for them such as reading, workouts, yoga or fun learning activities such as baking and role playing.

Second, build positive interaction with the children. In some cases, home is not the most conducive environment for children. The country has seen a spike in domestic violence cases during the MCO, who has led to financial difficulties, physical confinement as well as psychological pressure. In such cases, there is a need to protect the children from trauma at home. The adults must be well behaved in their interactions with one another. Praising the children whenever they complete a routine or a chore can be encouraging and a confidence boost .

Third, instil good values. Children can learn from their parents how to think out of the box to survive hardship. Entrepreneurship is a concept they could learn. In the case of my neighbour, the business is selling food. Parents can hit two birds with one stone by teaching the kids about survival while exposing them to the real world and the socio-economic effects of the coronavirus.

This is the longest “school break” for our children. We have yet to see a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Everybody knows no freedom from fear. But our children still needs to be educated. Even without the benefit of the learning institutions, knowledge can be picked up every day. The Covid-19 crisis the best time to teach our children to be versatile and resilient because they will be the ones to steer the ship in the next storm. – May 27, 2020.

* Iris Ng Pei Yi reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.