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The pandemic may just be the hardest challenge everyone has gone through for the last two years. However, humans have natural instinctive behaviors that allow them to survive, no matter how tough life challenges may be.

The National Center for Biotechnology Information describes this as the Survival Optimization System (SOS) or the coping mechanisms humans have to protect them against threats. When everybody was locked inside homes and are forced to function without much movement and interaction, this coping mechanism seemed to be at work.

On Education

To flatten the curve, schools decided to stop face-to-face classes and go virtual. College students and young professionals got a study degree online course when campuses and universities were closed.

Some students found staying at home enjoyable, but eventually, some felt the impact of leaving their friends and the community they have built within the campus. Routines were suddenly changed, and some found difficulty in adjusting to this change. No more campus events to attend and even commencement ceremonies have been discontinued.

These sudden changes have an undeniable impact on mental health. Some have experienced stress and anxiety, and some felt loneliness after being separated from their campus support system. Students found difficulty in isolation, and the transition was hard.

However, these negative feelings have been survived by the students through several coping mechanisms.

Stress Response

Stress responses are the way people respond to threatening situations. People have different stress responses and there is neither a good nor a bad stress response. The key here is awareness; when one knows how his or her stress response is, the better one can develop the most suitable coping strategy.

The three of the most common stress responses are fight, flight, or freeze. Based on one’s recognized stress response, a mental health plan can be developed. For example, if you are the type of person who tends to have flight as a stress response, you can prepare better in the future if you are aware that this is how you respond to difficult and stressful situations.

Plans are not perfect though, and situations may catch you off guard. The key is to recognize that every stress response is normal, and acceptance of this is one way to eliminate the stress and manage your reaction to a situation.

Giving the day a structure

One of the most difficult challenges of studying at home instead of going to regular face-to-face classes is structuring one’s daily schedule. During the pandemic, scheduling has been highly flexible and some find it hard to establish a certain structure.

But this challenge has presented an opportunity. It is a way to take control of one’s own life. In a way, it has been a lesson for students on how they can handle and manage their own life.

Different students employed different strategies in structuring daily schedules. Some have used apps and programs available online to set reminders. Others reevaluated their priorities and have set realistic expectations regarding accomplishing school work.

The physical space has a great effect on productivity, too. As simple as giving your pillows a different arrangement in bed when studying and when sleeping gives a separation of what you need to do at a certain time.

On Work

Even with restrictions lifted and workers going back to offices, stress is still present due to the virus that has not been eliminated. Some are afraid of being exposed to the virus because of returning to regular office work. Others are readjusting to the sudden transition of working from home to working back at the office.

Hence, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention discusses coping mechanisms that help reduce stress and burnout at work.

One way is to talk to peers about how everyone is doing and feeling. Doing so is important to know that you are not alone in what you are feeling; just knowing that somebody else may be feeling the same way that you are going through somehow gives a sense of comfort.

Going back to the time of the lockdown, working parents faced a different challenge: working at home while taking care of the kids. The only way working parents would have been able to get through this situation is by asking colleagues, especially supervisors to acknowledge the situation and give some room for a flexible schedule.

The Greatest Challenge of the Pandemic

The pandemic has not only challenged individuals’ physical health but their mental strength as well. Disconnection and isolation have certainly contributed to everyone’s stress, students and workers alike. But this is a battle that humans have and will continue to win.

The key is trusting your human instincts. We have natural mechanisms that will keep us going when times are tough.

If you think you’re free as a bird to go wild while driving just because you’ve got car keys and a license at 16, then you’ve got it all wrong.

Getting your new license in your teenage years could feel like freedom. You can go wherever you want, drive as fast as you can, and hit the brakes as hard as you want to. You’d drink and party hard and stay out late because you’ve got your car to drive home anyway.

But then, when you start the car, you realize you are still an inexperienced drunk driver who just got their license, and before you know it, you’d figure in a car crash that will almost take your life. And then, you’d regret drunk driving for the rest of your life. Calm down. This scenario doesn’t have to happen if only you know how to be a responsible driver.

Risk factors among teen drivers

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teen drivers who are 16 to 19 years are the most at risk of motor vehicle crashes. In 2019, the motor vehicle death rate of male drivers who are 16 to 19 years old was twice higher than that of female teen drivers. It is also noted that the risk of a car crash is relatively higher during the first few months of getting their new licenses.

Among the risk factors, according to the CDC, is inexperience. Teen drivers tend to make decisions in driving that may lead to car crashes. Because they’re too young and inexperienced, they fail to recognize situations that can put them to harm.

Driving at night can be a potential risk, too. According to CDC, in 2019, 40% of the recorded vehicle crash deaths among teen drivers happened between 9 pm to 6 am. Not using seat belts when driving can also be deadly. Distractions are also potential risks, including texting and calling while driving. Speeding is a common reason, too. In 2019, the CDC recorded 31% of male teen drivers and 17% of teen female drivers speeding when they figured in a fatal crash.

In 2019, at least 24% of teen drivers who died in fatal car crashes were drunk. Meanwhile, the CDC noted the findings of the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior, which recorded that at least 13% of teen drivers used marijuana during the survey.

These statistics are proof of how risky driving is for younger drivers. But, if you educate yourself about safe driving and follow the law, you don’t have to be afraid of these potential risks.

What you can do as a teen driver

Here are some tips on how to be an excellent and safe driver:

• Study and follow your Graduated Licensing Laws.

Graduated Licensing Laws or GDL differ from state to state. This determines certain regulations and restrictions, including nighttime and passenger restrictions. You should know this before securing your license. If you are not quite familiar with it, seek help from your parents to guide you in understanding the regulations. You may also read on the specific driving laws within your state so you will be aware of the regulations to follow.

•  Enroll in safety driving courses.

As a first-time driver, you should take the Traffic Law and Substance Abuse Education Course or TLSAE course that you can avail online. This will educate you on the effect of drugs and alcohol when driving. It also explains state laws related to substance and drug use. In this course, you will be educated on responsible, safe, and confident driving. Through these lessons, you will also be taught effective techniques to be a better driver.

•  Just follow the basics.

As a new driver, stick to the basics. Don’t go speeding. Wear your seat belts when driving. Do not use your phone or do anything that may distract you from driving. Do not drink alcohol or any substance when you know you will be driving. Avoid driving late at night as accidents tend to happen during nighttime. Follow your state laws. If possible, while you are still inexperienced, have someone to supervise you when driving. At least, let someone guide you during your first months until you are fully trained and experienced.

Just because you got your license doesn’t mean you’re free to go overboard when driving. As a driver, you have the responsibility to drive safely for yourself, your passengers, and your fellow drivers. Anything can happen on the road, and if you are not trained with safe driving, accidents can happen anytime. You wouldn’t want to be a part of the fatal crash statistics. Be a responsible driver now and learn safe driving.

Early childhood isn’t something that begins and ends at an exact age. Much like the preschool programs that little kids attend, early childhood is a journey that spans each child’s first few years of life. But it does have stages, which is why understanding early-childhood development can help you become a better parent.

This usually starts well before your kids enter school, with nurturing their development through engaging playtime activities. It continues during their school years when children are exposed to social skills and academics. And it ends when the kids prepare for elementary school.

While the specifics for these stages may vary from child to child, there are some universal ways parents can support their kids’ development at every stage of their early childhood. Here are five:

1. Teach Them the Importance of Playtime with Other Kids

As children’s curiosity and desire to learn new things increases, they also become more interested in interacting with others. This is the right time to encourage them to attend after-school activities where they can interact with peers and hone their social skills.

Furthermore, you can also enroll them in activities that will allow children to spend time with others of the same age. Your children will not only learn how to socialize, but they’ll also explore new concepts through activities led by professionals.

That’s why playtime is such a critical stage for young children. This allows kids to explore their creativity and hone their problem-solving skills because they’ll be interacting with other kids during this time. Plus, it will give your kids their first taste of teamwork.

2. Be Involved in Programs for Their Development

Children are not born with an innate knowledge of what they should learn at every stage of their development. They also can’t tell their parents what skills they need to work on at home, either.

So parents need to be involved in their children’s development, especially when it comes to finding programs and activities that will help them nurture the skills they’ll need. This way, parents can make sure that their kids are learning the skills they need to succeed in school.

You can do this by attending workshops or seminars that talk about the importance of early childhood development. By doing so, you’ll be able to learn the skills they should acquire at each stage and how you can support them in their efforts.

3. Encourage Early Learning While Limiting Screen Time

Parents could encourage their child’s early learning and development by exposing them to educational toys and activities. You can do this by buying toys specially designed to help them practice various skills or learn numbers and colors.

On the other hand, many parents tend to equate learning with screen time because it’s convenient and kids enjoy watching TV shows or playing games on tablets. However, you should limit screen time because it could harm your child’s learning process instead of improving their skills.

If left unaddressed, this can lead to developmental delays and your child may even struggle in school. So make it a point to lessen their screen time because research shows that kids may develop learning issues from spending too much time in front of a screen.

4. Provide Children with Healthy Meals and Snacks

Food plays a vital role in children’s development. If a child is malnourished, they will not have the energy to practice their skills and focus on learning. So, you must provide them with nutritious meals and snacks at every stage of their early learning.

For instance, they need to eat food rich in iron to boost their memory and focus better. Meanwhile, they should eat fruits and vegetables because it helps improve their cognitive development. Plus, they need to drink water to stay hydrated and avoid developmental issues related to dehydration.

As far as snacks are concerned, they should be high in energy because children need that burst of energy to keep them energized throughout the day. That’s why you should encourage your kids to eat food such as nuts and dried fruits instead of chips and candy because it will help them concentrate better.

5. Listen to Their Ideas and Widen Their Imagination

Children are creative and imaginative little beings, so they should be encouraged to use these skills for their development. You can do this by giving them toys that help improve their imagination, like playhouses for kids.

Then, listen to your children’s ideas whenever you’re playing with them. This will allow you to widen their imagination even further. By incorporating their input in your playtime activities, you’ll also help improve their social skills and emotional intelligence.

Don’t be the one who does all the talking while they sit back and watch you play. Chances are, if you’re only doing the talking without allowing them to share their ideas, they will feel excluded. So instead of allowing them to be passive observers, actively engage them in your playtime activities whenever it’s possible.

Supporting your kids through their early childhood development can be challenging because there are so many things to do. However, if you arm yourself with the necessary knowledge about their developmental stages and skills your children should acquire at each stage, it will be easier for you to help them grow.

Cultivating leadership isn’t just for the adults. Young kids tend to fare better in the future when they start learning crucial life skills early on. Leadership is a skill encompassing various aspects, all of which can become their springboard for excellence. Let’s not forget that the kids in this generation are the leaders of tomorrow.

The Key Elements of Leadership

Leadership skill has vital elements, which can be taught as early as childhood in a way they understand. Leadership can be explained to kids the simple way—a leader is someone that others would follow.

But it isn’t just that. Many aspects of leadership make someone a holistic person, which is why those with leadership skills tend to outdo many people in every way.

However, kids don’t have to be leaders themselves to cultivate leadership skills. Skills around leadership go for life and can be handy anywhere they go. Here are the elements of leadership:

• Learning From Failure

Leaders aren’t afraid of failures because they know they can learn from them; hence, they don’t fear taking risks knowing that they cannot reap the rewards without them. When they fail, they take the lessons, change, and inspire others.

• Confidence

Kids who are provided the opportunity to be assured in themselves grow up to be confident adults. A leader is someone who embodies confidence itself. Individuals that aren’t self-assured tend to mask their arrogance with their insecurities, but authentic leaders are far more effective.

They establish better relationships, are happier, open to taking risks, accept criticisms and feedback, feel more motivated, and easily recognize success. People tend to recognize others who aren’t assured in themselves, just putting on a face of confidence.

• Humility

Humility keeps leaders on the ground, more likable, and connected with everyone around them. It makes them more honest, flexible, listen empathetically, and open to criticisms. They don’t take criticism as an assault but as an opportunity for growth. Humility is what gives them a more likable persona.

• Decisiveness

Kids can be taught to be decisive early on, and when they do, they become adults who weigh decisions first carefully, make their minds up, and not easily waver. They show commitment, then consistency, which would yield better results for the long term.

• Creativity

Creativity makes a person more innovative. Leadership and innovation go hand in hand. It can help tap into past experiences and create something new.

• Communication

This is a skill sought out everywhere, including verbal and non-verbal communication, collaboration, and empathetic and active listening. With better communication, leaders can sustain relationships, mediate, resolve conflicts, and achieve goals.

Tips for Cultivating Leadership Skills in Kids

Leaders have a wide range of personalities and come from all backgrounds. They can be friendly and outgoing, but they can also be subtle and calm. This means every kid has the potential to become a leader. But they will need support from adults and preschool programs. Here are some ways you can instill leadership traits in them:

• Teach Them Communication Skills

Communication is the foundation of leadership, so make sure that you teach your kids this. It can be as easy as showing them celebrating with others, helping them express their frustrations, and more.

• Surround Them With Leaders

This fact remains—you’re the average of those you spend much time with. Be sure to teach your kids how important it is to choose your friends wisely. Help them to be surrounded by successful people who can serve as their positive role models.

• Instill the “I Can” Mindset

When kids are in a challenging situation, help them break free from the “I can’t” mindset. You can do this by not spoon-feeding them whenever they’re struggling; you just have to guide them all along.

• Encourage Them to Follow Their Own Path

Their life is theirs, so make sure you simply encourage them to make their own path, supporting their strengths and passion along the way.

• Discuss Financial Goals

One way to instill confidence and healthy self-esteem in them is to give them a goal and help them achieve it. Obtaining those goals is really priceless.

• Volunteer as a Family

Take a break from work and serve the community with your kids so that they will have a new perspective of the world and see what your community needs.

• Make Them Choose

While younger, you can give them minimal options, but when they get older, make sure to increase their choices too so that they feel they have control over situations.

Final Thoughts

Kids nowadays are the leaders for the future. The opportunity to learn leadership skills should always be available for them, whether at school, home, or everywhere.

 

In this highly globalized world, it is important to have a diversified workforce. This means that your workers must come from all ages, cultures, nations, and experiences. A team should be as diverse to come up with great and fresh ideas. Many highly developed economies are actually reliant on their older workforce. Singapore, for example, has a lot of older people still working for big companies. Aside from the fact that they are trying to save more on retirement, these older workers are also still contributing magnificently to a company’s success.

The problem with how the world looks at mature workers affects organizations. This population faces an uphill battle in terms of competing with the younger workforce. They can take certificate courses to develop their skills and arm themselves with the tools to be competitive once more.

There is no denying that there are some challenges when it comes to their ability to maximize technology. However, this should not be a reason to discriminate against them from your workforce. You could be losing so much by not giving older workers a chance to prove themselves to you.

Deep Industry Knowledge

What they bring to any organization is deep industry knowledge. If they’ve been working in the same industry for years, it only means that they have a deeper understanding of it. They’ve watched the industry from conception; they know its ins and outs. They encountered problems in the past, and they know how to address them. This is the kind of “expertise” that organizations cannot get from fresh graduates who have only knowledge but not a deep understanding of what will make the company grow.

Soft Skills

Mature workers also have highly developed soft skills. They have worked with all kinds of people with different temperaments. They know how to handle difficult co-workers. Whenever there’s a problem with a co-worker, they’re usually the ones who help settle things. They know how not to let these things affect their productivity at work. This is born out of their experiences, too. Their experiences in the past taught them never to let personal relationships at work affect their output.

They are also great communicators. They can negotiate well with clients because they have years of knowledge of making clients say yes to their suggestions. This is the kind of skill that the younger workforce will take years to develop. Companies should take advantage of this skill on their older workers.

Highly Developed Networks

It’s not like new graduates, and the younger workforce will have friends and acquaintances across the industry already. At most, they have a couple of friends working in the same industry. But these are not highly developed networks. They are mere acquaintances. Older and more mature workers have friends across a hodgepodge of small and medium enterprises, conglomerates, non-profit organizations, and many more. They can easily tap this network when they need something about a project.

Always Present

Older workers tend to stay longer with one organization. A business owner in Upper East Side in New York said that someone he hired at 60 years old went on to stay for another 10 years. When that worker was about to retire, the owner asked him to stay for another year to train his son, who was about to take over the business. Statistics showed that mature workers stay with a company on an average of 10.4 years, while younger workers stay for only about three years or even less.

Willingness to Learn

Yes, older workers are indeed more technologically challenged than younger workers. They, after all, did not grow up with computers and the Internet. It wasn’t their fault that they didn’t know how to design a website or navigate one as smoothly as younger workers. But here’s the thing: they are almost always willing to learn. Many companies have started upskilling and reskilling their older workers with tech skills so that they can keep their jobs. Those who invested in teaching their older workforce are reaping the rewards of that investment.

The perceived tech gap should not stop companies from hiring older employees when studies showed that they stay longer with one company, are less tardy, have fewer absences, and are more open to criticisms and learning. Although no workforce is perfect, the fact that they’ve matured doing their jobs should not be taken against them. Yes, the world is changing, and with that come challenges in recruiting workers. But that shouldn’t cause a company to lose the opportunity to learn and benefit from more mature workers.

There are pros and downsides to attending a physical campus; joining a virtual classroom has its own perks. Aside from allowing you to have a more flexible schedule, virtual learning has the potential to minimize your degree’s expenses and will enable you to advance your career while continuing your study more efficiently. If you acquire a master’s degree online or other degrees, regardless of the format, you’ll have a much higher lifetime income than someone with a bachelor’s degree.

There Is More Personalization of Online Classes

Virtual classes give students the freedom to work at their own pace. This is regardless of whether they are asynchronous or synchronous (pre-recorded videos or taught in real-time) compared to an on-campus environment.

Virtual classes don’t require a teacher’s physical and constant presence to guide the students throughout the course’s entirety. That can be from homework inquiries to lessons to deadlines for assignments and projects. These classes allow students to have more control over their learning abilities.

As a result, students can tailor or co-create their educational experiences as they see fit. Once they log in, when can they see the pre-recorded lectures? For added comprehension, which of their homework assignments can they re-read? In what way can they plan their time to meet impending deadlines? Naturally, teachers will try to be available to help. Although the choices will depend entirely on the student, it also means that online learning is ideal for self-motivated students or those continuously improving their self-motivation.

The Freedom to Learn at Your Own Pace

As an online learner, you may determine your own pace. That can help you acquire and retain the material in your coursework more effectively. In a typical classroom, students must take copious notes during discussions to review the information later. However, e-learning allows students to review the course content many times and when they are at the peak of their focus.

You can follow along with lectures and discussions via podcasts and videos. You can watch, pause, and re-watch these as needed to give you ample time to understand the topic thoroughly. Aside from saving time, you’ll also have the pleasure of finishing more accessible courses more quickly and focusing on more challenging ones.

Online Learning Has Cost Advantages

In the world of education, there are several ways to cut costs. Virtual learning gives that solution to students on the brink of emptying their wallets. You can save money on transportation since you don’t have to commute to school. It also saves you time because you don’t have to go to and from school as much as you would otherwise.

It’s estimated that the average student spends around $1,000 per year on textbooks and other coursework. Taking advantage of online resources is a common feature of virtual courses, resulting in fewer textbook purchases.

As a result of all these savings opportunities, virtual learning has the potential to be highly cost-effective. Aside from that, you won’t have to worry about being late to class or having your classes canceled due to bad weather. However, a power outage or bad weather that prevents you from accessing the Internet may make attending a scheduled online lesson difficult. Still, you can catch up fairly quickly.

A Broader and More Global View

Students enrolled in online courses come from all around the United States and the world. Class conversations contain a broader spectrum of opinions because of the opportunity to log in from anywhere. That helps you improve your own cross-cultural knowledge. Students not only get the chance to engage with people from around the world. They can also extend their viewpoint and be more culturally aware as a result of this experience.

People who can innovate are in high demand by employers, and creativity often originates outside one’s immediate environment. For example, in entrepreneurship, other countries’ accomplishments with technology or their approach to businesses can generate new ideas or develop an old notion. New ideas from experts in other nations may inspire you to spark your creativity that can be valuable to the business you plan on running someday.

Communicate with Your Instructor Effortlessly

Sometimes, you can only speak with your lecturer one-on-one in a traditional classroom environment after the class or during their office hours. To acquire feedback or support, you have the freedom to contact your professor through phone, live chat, or email when learning online and improve your experience.

Think about the advantages of online learning when deciding whether to pursue any degree online. When it comes to the challenges of juggling education, family, and work, a degree through online means can be an excellent option for students. It also prepares students for professional growth and allows them to demonstrate essential skills to prospective employers.

With the advent of the Delta and Lambda variants, there are fears of another lockdown. It is a frustrating situation. But as they said, “better safe than sorry.” If such a lockdown would occur, you can turn your anxiety around and do something useful. You may choose to do arts and crafts. Or you can also opt to improve yourself by enrolling in a class.

There are many choices for you to try. But before you decide on anything, you must do a little digging. By doing this research, you will get the most out of your pick. Thus, you will make the most out of your precious time.

Accounting

If you are not afraid of math, then you should try accounting. Technically, it only involves the four basic mathematical equations. But you are just applying them on money. By enrolling in this course, you open a world of various career options. Once you graduate, you may choose to work in the government. You can also opt to focus on taxes. This is possible because all industries need an accountant.

You can choose to remain with your current employer. If you do that and have finished the said course, you will certainly go up the career ladder. Although this course deal with actual money, it will give you access to other areas that talk about finance, such as economy and management.

Accounting is an ever-evolving subject. For as long as you are willing to test your boundaries, your knowledge will never stagnate.

Baking

You can also choose something more mundane. This seemingly banal course is a good way to reduce stress. If that is not a good enough reason for you to enroll in baking classes, you should also consider making money from the baked goods.

With so many businesses closing down, people tried to adapt to the new norms and make money from their hobbies. It also means that many people are opening their patisserie. But you can make a competitive edge for yourself by creating a certain pastry that people will love.

With that in mind, you must finish the baking course so that you can create your niche. It would not just be a so-so bakeshop. But you are putting your mark on the baking industry in your city.

Another reason for enrolling in this class is that you can create healthier options for your loved ones and yourself. Once you know the basics, you can substitute the ingredients for more nutritious ones. If you are a parent, you can ask your little ones to join you in baking a cake for the whole family.

EMT Classes

Enrolling in an EMT course is a great way to keep boredom at bay. It will not only keep you occupied. But knowing some basic life-saving skills is worth your time.

If you are not thrilled about being in an enclosed area with many people, you do not have to worry. Some institutions offer hybrid EMT classes. This means that most classes are remote learning sessions. They will call you for a few face-to-face meetings.

The skills that you will learn in this class are not just neat party tricks. But it will empower you in a dangerous situation. You know what to do to survive.

Foreign Language

Speaking in another language would impress your date. But more importantly, this can help you grow career-wise. With the world growing smaller and smaller, the ability to effectively communicate your thoughts is important. This is important in the negotiating table, whether between two organizations or between you and your prospective employer.

If you do not find that impressive enough, learning another language will help fight mental deterioration. It will also improve your memory. Learning another language will enhance your listening skills because you need to carefully listen to how a certain word is pronounced.

As you go through the course, you will learn more about the culture. Considering the numerous travel restrictions, this is a great way to access the country. It is way cheaper than traveling abroad.

Being confined in one place is frustrating. But you can make the most out of your time by taking advantage of the many courses offered. You can make your world go wild by taking up creative writing. Or you can diversify your daily dinners by enrolling in culinary arts.

The pandemic may have restricted our physical movement. But it does not have to control our mental growth. Challenge your mind by enrolling in any class.

Play is an essential part of childhood. While many people see it as kids simply having fun, it’s been found to contribute greatly towards the child’s cognitive, physical, and social development and emotional well-being.

Yet many adults feel that at some point, play becomes a waste of time.

As kids grow, they are expected to take on greater responsibilities. They need to focus on academics, supplemented by choice extra-curricular lessons like playing the violin or getting into the soccer team. Such activities are known to contribute to a well-rounded education and, ultimately, better future outcomes.

The value judgment of a child’s playtime typically comes from an adult perspective. Kids pursue what interests them, regardless of its potential impact in the long term.

Thus, the issue of young kids playing video games can be shrouded in uncertainty.

Dealing with the intangible

Activities such as music, sports, and other forms of artistic expression or athletic training can easily correlate with a child’s development.

We can see how they gain confidence and greater motor coordination. We celebrate the tangible results, ranging from making a shot to performing in front of an audience or creating artworks that will later adorn our walls.

But what does a video game give your child?

By definition, nothing in the virtual environment is real. The items and powers a character acquires in an RPG don’t stick around when the child exits the game. Neither do their high scores in an online competition really matter outside of cyberspace.

If a developer shuts down or the app is removed, what remains? Skills don’t transfer, records of accomplishment cease to exist, and the child has wound up spending a considerable amount of time engaged with their screen.

Studies have shown that video games can be helpful to a child’s development. But that depends on the content and design of the game itself. It must build on the ways kids naturally play and learn. That’s not always the goal developers have in mind with the titles they release.

Replicating the natural world

From the earliest age, interacting with the physical environment through play teaches children how real-world objects work. They learn that a fall can hurt and that dropping things can damage them.

Playing catch with a ball or Frisbee gives any kid a better intuitive understanding of the laws of physics than any class they will take later on. Playing with a dog or other animal teaches them to observe behavior, pick up on cues, and empathize.

Video games may provide some benefits. A puzzle game is essentially similar to real-world puzzles, only with more bells and whistles. In fact, the virtual environment may afford even greater variety for this genre.

However, most video games remain rooted in real-world experience. Their incorporation of fantastic elements or effects works best when the user can still be anchored in the familiar.

Your on-screen avatar may be able to jump thrice their height, do flawless backflips and somersaults, and push around massive blocks all day. But you still play by the rules. Gravity still brings you down, and you can’t walk through walls.

These principles extend to the social and emotional aspects. If you want kids to learn how to interact with others, video games can be useful for that goal. But that would depend greatly on the moderation of online interactions, which is often lacking and can lead to adverse effects.

Setting boundaries

Video games only truly became mainstream with the advent of smartphones and reliable internet connections. Their effects are still being studied, which can lead to a lot of conflicting advice.

Screen time limits help. Studies have shown that kids can benefit from playing one hour per week, but not more than that. Excessive play was steadily linked with multiple negative effects. And even those benefits can be lost if the specific game isn’t creating a positive experience.

Recall that play’s function is to help children learn and develop in different aspects while having fun.

Most adults would acknowledge that the internet and devices, in general, are here to stay. Video games serve as an introduction to the digital world in which our children will grow and mature.

It’s a new responsibility for parents and caregivers to evaluate games, not just based on content rating or reviews, but how well they are designed for a child’s development.

We must be particularly vigilant when it comes to the social interactions made possible through online games. People behave differently behind the veil of cyberspace. Not everyone embraces the concept of good digital citizenship.

Set those rules and boundaries, rather than simply creating a limit on screen time. Your reward will be a positive digital experience in your child’s early years.

Being a parent comes with many challenges and responsibilities, especially during the first few years. Of course, upon bringing a new life into the world, you would need to ensure that you are always there to guide your children since they still can’t care for themselves.

As they age, they slowly become more curious about anything and everything around them, which is a good sign because it can further expand their skills and knowledge. But external factors could negatively affect their overall growth along the way. So what can you do?

Develop Better Recognition

Usually, as early as age 2, kids would already have the ability to learn basic skills, such as putting toys back in their right places, participating in pretend play, putting on their clothes, and the like. At the same time, they would also begin to recognize faces, sounds, and pictures. So as much as possible, parents should provide labels to help children make better associations as they go along.

Technology Can Serve as a Guide

Fortunately, in today’s society, it is already possible to acquire the information we need within seconds, and we have technology to thank for that. Whether you would want to use a television or any gadget, there would always be available content to help kids learn.

Once they are capable enough, they could even play online games from time to time, provided you are there to monitor them. Of course, besides studying, children would also need to have the freedom to enjoy and do other activities they like.

Encourage Them to Try Something New

Eventually, having access to such tools and apps can allow one to discover a hobby as well. It could be painting, playing a musical instrument, cooking, dancing, etc. There are many options to choose from, so you should encourage them to try as many as they can because doing these can be of great help to honing their talents.

For instance, if you notice that your child loves watching shows that involve a lot of singing and dancing, you can visit a nearby studio during the summer and ask if there are rehearsal rooms for rent or workshops that you can enroll them in. Not only will they get to better their skills, but they can also make some new friends along the way.

Influence Them to Be Empathetic

But besides prioritizing their physical and cognitive development, it would be wise for parents to educate their children regarding the importance of empathy. Because even if one manages to excel in the academic department, lacking emotional intelligence might hinder them from achieving all their goals in life.

This is why you need to set a good example as early as possible. You can start by treating them the way that you want them to treat you. This is probably one of the easiest ways to instill the value of respect to children, especially since they have a habit of mimicking what they see and hear.

However, because they would also get exposed to external factors, they might adopt some bad behavior. So you should discipline them every once in a while. By doing this, children might find it easier to make a clear distinction between good and bad as the days pass.

You Are Their First Teacher

Parents are a child’s first teachers. So even if you are tired from working, doing household chores, or running errands, you should find the time to educate your child. But you should not worry because there is no right or wrong way of raising them. As long as you establish a consistent balance, it would be easier for you to develop a great relationship.

With the help of technology, you now even have the option to guide them by using educational videos, games, and other online activities. Sooner or later, the things they see and hear can inspire them to try new hobbies, which is also an essential part of their growth. But on top of supporting their academic and non-academic pursuits, parents must instill the importance of respect and empathy because possessing these values can help them succeed in the long run.

At home, you juggle many jobs. You prepare food to keep your family nourished. You make sure everything’s to keep everyone comfortable and safe. Now that your children are partaking in remote classes, chances are you’re also like someone maintaining an employee’s morale and wellness, like a motivation consultant.

You know how challenging it is for your kids to keep up with classes conducted on Zoom. After all, you find it difficult yourself whenever you need to conduct online meetings with colleagues. You can empathize with what your little ones are going through. With that said, here’s a little help. To make sure your children stay motivated until the end of the non-face-to-face school year, here are some strategies you might want to adapt.

Explain to them the current situation

There’s a deadly virus wreaking havoc worldwide. People need to quarantine and social distance. That is to curb the spread of COVID-19. That’s why classes are now done online. These things you must explain to your child. And thoroughly, that is.

Just because your child sits with you on the couch while you watch the news or you see them looking at your morning paper, you cannot assume they have a proper grasp of what’s happening. Explain to them that in time the pandemic will end, and things will go back to normal, including classes.

One usual cause of demotivation is confusion about a situation. Make sure your child understands.

Make sure your child has other creative outlets

Sometimes a person who’s lost their motivation needs something inspiring to work on for their passion and zest for life to come back. So have all sorts of outlets for creativity at home. For example, a piano or a keyboard. Or a jigsaw puzzle to keep your child’s brain sharp.

The key is to know what your child’s interests are outside academics. And you must be supportive of those interests.

Allow ample time for rest and recreation

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. That’s an iconic part of the movie The Shining. And you know how that movie goes.

Make sure your child’s mental health does not suffer from the pressure of online learning. And from a prolonged self-quarantine too. Rest and recreation should factor greatly into your little one’s daily schedule. That way, they won’t go berserk on you.

Do not pressure your child

Your goal is to motivate your child. Not to pressure them. And there’s a difference between those two. Motivation is an act of love. Pressuring is fascist.

You do not want to be fascist. If your seven-year-old calls you a fascist, despite the fascination you will initially feel about your seven-year-old knowing such a big word, it will definitely hurt. So be mild with your reminders. Be gentle with your admonitions.

Be generous with your appreciation

While you’re mild with reminders and gentle with admonitions, you must be generous with your appreciation. If your child gets a virtual star from their teacher, do not hold back with your praises. Express your delight further by preparing a special meal for your little one. Or by letting them have an extra hour with the tablet.

Your goal is to express to your child that you’re on the same boat, on the same team. That way, they can stay motivated, knowing you have their back no matter what.

Have a conducive area at home dedicated to learning

If you have a spacious house and there’s a spare room you use for your kid’s online classes, that’s great. For those less privileged, it’s important to improvise. The rule of thumb is to devote space where your child can focus on learning.

That spot should have a desk and chair suitable to your little one’s frame. Plus, other essentials like sufficient lighting.

Motivation is important. If we want to achieve our goal, we need to set our mind to it. And we need to follow through despite hurdles thrown our way. That’s something you must instill in your child.

Now that your kid’s attending online classes, it’s normal if they feel a little dispirited from time to time. After all, children have been caught off guard by this new and strange system. Before, they only use gadgets for entertainment. And now they’re using it for school too. That can be overwhelming.

But do not let your child be consumed by disinterest or apathy. Make sure they bounce back ASAP. Practice the recommendations above and keep your little one, if not on top of their class, at least in it.