Supporting Your Child with Their Schooling Through the Second Wave Lockdown

After an extra week of school holidays, it is now certain that several schools in Victoria will be closed again due to the rising cases of coronavirus in several hotspots in the region. The government has also confirmed that it's back to remote learning for prep to year 10 students in locked-down areas of the state, and this will soon start on July 20.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton announced that further restrictions would most likely be imposed if the number of infections will not be contained until the end of the month.

The return to remote learning
It now inevitable that most students in Melbourne will need to go back to remote learning, and parents should once again support their children through these trying times. However, the Victorian Government will offer extra funding to various kindergarten services and other primary school programs in lockdown areas.

So, parents can expect several free kinder programs that can be accessed online during term three. Also, other resources are available, which include phone and video counselling for secondary school students.

The governments have also reached out to various organisations like the Melbourne Football Club to produce free remote resources for students.

What you can do to support your child with their learning
You'll need to understand that children like adults must mentally adjust to being back to stage three restrictions. This means they will not be able to play with their friends or meet relatives for six weeks.
That is why parents should encourage their children to engage in various activities like playing board games and doing fun artworks. This is also the most appropriate time to build the foundations for better communication, so it's best to reach out to them so you'll know their concerns or anything that might be bothering them during this lockdown.

You may also need to learn new technologies that are essential to remote learning, so you can better assist them with their schoolwork. In fact, parents should take a more personalised role in their kid's online learning activities, like setting a distraction-free space for their schooling. You should also be able to block specific software or apps in your child's computer and mobile devices that might potentially distract them from their studies.

Most importantly, this is the time to build unity and better cooperation in your home by doing several household chores together. Therefore, it is wise to schedule several activities for your kids like gardening, washing dishes or cooking lunch. This will develop their sense of responsibility and they will also feel more comfortable doing simple household chores.

Always remember to take care of yours and your families health and wellbeing first. Follow health protocols set by the government and never take risks that will jeopardise the health of your family. This means planning your errands before going out of the house, wearing mask, washing hands, and taking all necessary precautions to avoid the spread of coronavirus.   

​View more tips on how to support your child's learning.