dapān kariv sañz! | gird your loins!
life is hard. we know that. and challenges are countless, of course. currently the havoc caused by the corona virus disease (COVID 19) pandemic tops the list. what makes it even harsher, for most of us, is the chaos and confusion surrounding this new enemy in the house!
given we are flooded with information every millisecond of the day related to this disease, it seems the tussle between the dos and don’ts about this uncanny monster may take a while to settle. in the meantime, what may be worthwhile is a radical acceptance of the fact that it is real and, quite unfortunately, leading to a rapid loss of precious lives and peace of mind across the globe.
a great care of ourselves and those around us is a must. no doubt. and there is enough information about how we may do that. as we navigate through it, we must scan and absorb what is being said, scientifically and wisely. we must not, however, undermine the judgments of our gut or intuition, yes firaasah,about what feels or does not feel right for us!
what we can also do is to respond to the chaos in a well thought-out manner. basically do what will ‘make’ us rather than ‘break’ us at this critical hour. we need to use our resources, such as our mindsets and our time, wisely. doing so will not only help us cope with and mend the situation effectively, we can also turn it to our benefit. of course the practicality this is going to be hard. it is a doable feat, however. whereas we all are in the process of rethinking and reorganizing our routines given the ‘lockdowns’, the task is especially important rather demanding for our children.
so, what should be the order of the day? for one, rounds of meaningful conversations about the phenomenon with our young ones over tea or whenever opportunities pop up! children are inherently inquisitive. they will anyway bring to the table their multilayered curiosities and queries. let us be a sport and not a spoiler in their research endeavors; engage with them through their what-s, when-s, where-s, who-s, why-s, and beyond. the process will only cultivate critical thinking skills in us, an asset we all can use a bit more of in our lives otherwise too!
we will not have all the answers. it will be worthwhile to weigh the ones that we have and look for others to fill the gaps. we will also scrutinize any ‘panic-based’ energies that we may be picking up in the process!
conversations are one method to channelize our energies in a better direction. we need solid to-do activities, too, for children to nourish their physical, emotional and social strengths, and engage their creativity. you would agree. after all, classrooms or for that matter schools are not the only places to learn. all interactions that children have, whether with people or the surroundings in general, inevitably turn into ‘schools on the go’ for them. at the moment, we will have to revert to our homes as a safe space for their learning and becoming in life. we will need to make conscious efforts, plans, and strategies to turn these spaces into ʦə̄ṭhāls so that our young ones are able to give wings to their imaginations! this would also mean that we spend quality time with them and make ourselves available when they need a hand with anything.
so what can be some of these activities? well, first thing first. as we plan a list, lets converse with our children on the ideas that they might have on this. they can delve into how they want to spend their time, the things they would like to learn, and the methods and the activities they would want to engage in during the process. the list can be built into a permeable routine based on their interest and other resources, while also paying some good attention to what their books and homework-s have to say!
some of the ideas that may be thrown into the discussion can include, for example, knowing where one came from; let us say children draw a family treeto help them trace their roots till they are able to place themselves too in the map. a good history lesson right there! the exercise can also prove helpful to ground oneself. and, as they say, any contribution does start with one’s family.
let us involve and engage our children in household chores too, based on a mutual judgment about their interest and what help they can offer! children can help with cooking, cleaning, taking care of a younger sibling, laundry, and other things; perhaps also feed those birds that are chirping in our front yards. in times like these, there is no better medium for them to learn the skills they will need to be self-sufficient in their own lives.
other activities can include:
- farming: for this, the season cannot be better than our beloved sōⁿt! what a delight it would be for the children to watch grow whatever they will sow, or plant right now. they will of course also learn the practicality of all science behind the process.
- cooking: children would enjoy cutting ingredients or stirring a dish as much as they would enjoy playing their favorite game! once ready, they can also share the dish with a friend or a neighbor!
- learn a language: they say it is easier to learn a language when we are young. so why wait, if that is something our children want to explore!
- experiment: it may also be a good time to conduct some of those experiments- in science, geology, etc., that they know or are curious about.
- art: there is no better way than this to mend ourselves and sketch our imagination. children can design, draw, sketch, paint, color, and build anything, and from everything – upcycling, as they say!
- knit, sew, crochet: yes, time for their hands to be in tune with their creative thoughts. even if that means tying a loose button!
- play and exercise: perhaps revive some of those traditional games that taught us many things. for example, saz’lo’ng or tenche.
- writing and reading: children can write their hearts out or weave stories that say a lot. basically create some magic. they can also maintain a journal and or pen who they want to be and how they can get there. or, read something because they want to. and because they are curious to know about something!
well, the list can go on. as they say, the sky is the limit. in times like these, children can very well reclaim their spaces, learn to appreciate and respect what they have, and just be the ardent learners that nature has made them and evolve into greatest of beings, given our homes offer them such spaces. and, yes, let us not forget to persuade them to also relax, soak some sunshine or just watch the falling rain. no matter what is happening on the earth right now, let us also encourage them to see the moon and the stars still shine on us!