So, your child’s school does not offer any extracurricular activities during the quarantine. You are worried about depriving your child of all that extra knowledge and fun.
What should you do? Well, I spoke with Lisa Dunnigan of The Wright Stuff Chicks and she gave us some advice on stuff we can do at home for the kids.
Lisa Alexander Dunnigan began her career as a seventh-grade teacher, at Carrollton Junior High School, in Carrollton, GA. She went on to hold positions of increasing responsibility, at Douglas County Schools in Douglas, GA, including School Counselor, Assistant Principal, and Principal. In 2012, due to the multiple instructional gains made by her staff and students during her tenure, Lisa became the Title I Executive Director for the Douglas County School System. She recently retired and will work on The Wright Stuff Chics, Teach Your Heart Out and her family nonprofit, The Pink Santa Hat Movement, Inc.
After school activities need not be taught in a school-like environment by professional teachers in a structured and timely manner. There is a lot
YOU can do to support your child’s academic, physical and social development. Do not be too concerned about formal programs, as many of our children are already over-scheduled.
Obviously, education is a top priority for children. They need to go to school (now online) and finish their homework. They should then do their daily reading or writing work etc. This may take about 30–60 minutes. In the course of his daily work, your child may develop certain academic preferences and interests. In that case, you can try and find a program in a college or a
community center that will help him and encourage him. In the age of the
Internet, information is really not a rarity. Allow him to use the net to find more information about the thing that he likes. Encouraging the child to do independent research to gain in-depth knowledge is something that no formal program does.
If you are concerned about the lack of social life, enroll him or her in a
club — a reading club maybe. It is not necessary for your child to make friends with children his own age. An online parent-child book club is another interesting option. If you can round up a number of like-minded children and their parents, you may well start your own after-school program all online through apps like Zoom.
When there is no organized group activity, look to your community. Yes, you can still do these things online. Many children love to get involved in social problems. They get their first real taste of suffering, charity and community help from such experiences. Volunteering for online tutoring sessions or hosting an online hand sanitizer drive, adult education programs, etc could be a real eye-opener for your child. The lessons thus learned are invaluable.
If physical activity or the lack of it is your major concern, enroll your child for some online dancing classes. If organized sports are impossible to get,
try to enroll her online fitness courses. She may find friends there and may take to the treadmill all from home.
Your child does not necessarily have to be a part of an organized group to benefit from after-school activities. There are various avenues open in front of you. Roping in the enthusiasm of your children in daily household activities like cooking, cleaning, etc can also provide them with a
refreshing extracurricular experience. Moreover, it will improve family ties too.
Thanks, Lisa for your expertise. For more tips follow The Wright Stuff Chicks on Instagram.
