Thank you to everyone that was able to log in to Dr. Silvia Dubovoy’s Zoom meeting on Thursday night. We hope it was helpful suggestion to an approach we should be taking with our children and ourselves. Although it was short notice, for those of you who were not able to participate, please find Dr. Silvia Dubovoy’s notes below on some ideas for preparing a home environment as well as some informative documents specific to Movement, Communication, Self-Discipline and Independence. If you have any questions you would like to ask Dr. Silvia Dubovoy, please feel free share and we will get back to you.
Dr. Silvia Dubovoy’s notes:
Some ideas for preparing a Home Environment for Parents and Teachers.
Thank you for joining me on Zoom, I hope the meeting can bring some peace of mind to parents and teachers during these difficult times.
Crises are opportunities for learning new ways of approaching life and this situation is taking from us many privileges and liberties, but at the same time giving us the opportunity to be with ourselves and in your case with your children, partner and maybe other members of your family.
I have learned the importance of approaching fear with ease and patience rather than with mind struggles. My mind needs not to be restricted or overwhelmed, especially when I have the children in the house. First step is to manage your emotions so you can control them and make wiser choices and good decisions.
Do not overthink and just be alert, careful and reduce any negative thinking. We are going to make it. Practice breathing, yoga or anything that helps you achieve a feeling of calmness and emotional balance. We, adults, parents, and teachers, need to be balanced and peaceful to be able to connect with others, especially our children.
First of all, we like it or not, we have to accept that we are going to live in a secluded place for some time and that we need to use this situation wisely; we need to do certain things that will make our lives and the lives of everyone around easier.
Prepare your home and prepare your time to live all together and satisfy the needs of everyone in the home. This is the time in which education as we have known is going to change dramatically. We need to be concerned about which skills will benefit our children for a future that we do not know. The world will be changed forever; let go of any preconceived ideas or expectations and enjoy each day with your children. This is the most important thing at this time, the emotional well-being of the family.
If I could give you two important things in just 15 minutes they would be ORDER (providing a consistent routine and orderly environment) and INDEPENDENCE ( allowing the children as much as they can do for themselves). I understand that some of you have children from 3 months to 7 months, that are dependent on the caregiver. However, as soon as they can sit, there are plenty of places where the child can be during the activity time.
ORDER
Go through your house and find a space for each one of you that is going to be kind of permanent for some time, including the space for very young children. A predictable place where the child can be comfortable, aesthetic pleasing, organized and with the appropriate stimuli. One thing at a time, not crowded and with a place where all things used go back when not in use. All members of the family respect this rule. Order will give you peace of mind through these uncertain times as opposed to a cluttered environment which brings chaos and stress.
Organize your space and make it simple. Prepare space for each member of the family and be clear of the limits. Remove unnecessary, unsafe or not appropriate objects for a family that has ages between months to years. For the children, have ready a shelf, a bin or a drawer, where all is going after being used and goes in order, so we can use it next time. Avoid a huge box where all is mixed. If the child is one year old tell him and model how to put things away after you use them. All kinds of things, from the bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, books, toys, etc. must have their own place to be stored.
Toddlers must have access to the materials they need. When you organize well your space, children not only become independent, they also let you do your own work. They need to learn that we all have to work on our own. They enjoy and appreciate that you do not need to entertain them all the time. The older is the child the more they should be in charge of putting everything away.
Children need to predict what is going to happen, where are things going to be; verbally tell them what you are doing, “I am putting this away, so you know where it is when you need it”. Establishing order and routines from the beginning, even with toddlers, will help them with order and independence.
Structure your week and days: Have a calendar with a detailed schedule following the patterns you have observed your child is going through. Observe which is the biorhythm of the child in terms of being alert, sleepy, tired, upset or angry.
There are patterns during the day, write them so you can organize different activities depending on the state of the child. If you have more than one child in your home observe their different patterns and make a schedule that follows each child but have certain family gatherings at the same time if possible. A baby might have different feeding times than the toddler, however, he might be sitting around the table or being next to the brother or sister, while he is having lunch or a snack.
To fill out times and activities ask yourself what does your child needs to do every day related to: Nutrition, Movement, Communication/Language, Experiences for the senses, Independence, Behavioral control and Collaborating with the parents in the home activities at their level.
