Parents impart vital life values to children

First years are the best years in your child’s life, whatever you do is a lifelong investment for their sound and secure future. During the Covid-19 pandemic period, some parents have chosen to keep their children home and homeschool them,well, it is a popularly growing concept, however in normal circumstances.

Currently the young learners are at home with minimal opportunities for interaction with others in the same age group. While they are online, these children can interact with peers and learn from each other. For the young learners being in school, physically or virtually helps them build confidence and self -esteem, where they feel acknowledged by teachers and peers, which is a circle beyond their family.

The concept of self-acknowledgment and realization begins to develop at this stage for these young learners. While there has been restricted movement for these children to be able to step out of their homes and meet others in the same age group, an online class helps them make those connections with other children.

It is imperative we encourage children to attend the online classes so that they can stay connected with their peers and with the teachers. It is important for the young learners to be part of a larger group such as a school. As young learners begin to get into the habit of following a schedule, they start making meaning of timings around them, while they learn the sequencing of events.

This helps them to broaden their perspectives, they learn to see life in a different view as they are now beginning to make connections, build understanding and develop skills which help them as they unfold and understand the world around themselves.

Scheduling is one such important concept of life for these very young learners. While being at home, learning is getting impacted, as the gaps are increasing.

The teachers are trained to handle learning through different engagements but parents are not equally trained to take up such engagements which will deliver ample learning.

Parents are best equipped to handle parenting, which is not the same thing as teaching would be. Parents can impart some crucial life values such as respect, care, love, etc. which will go a long way for these young children.

Whereas interactions with a teacher will impart life values and attributes such as camaraderie, open mindedness, curiosity, reflectiveness and critical thinking which are equally important for their holistic development.

These values are dependent on a classroom environment and interactions with the peers along with the teacher.

As an educator, I would sincerely ask parents to not let their young children miss out on the opportunities to develop these attributes and skills and they must consider enrolling with schools even if it is online for the time being.

Neeti Bhalla Saini is the executive principal, GEMS Modern Academy, Gurugram. Views expressed are personal.