Déjà Vu: Keeping the Kids Motivated While Home Schooling

Here we go again.

Last week brought it with headlines declaring that not only had remote learning been extended in some schools across the UAE, but in-person examinations have also been postponed until “at least January 28”. No parent will ever say that home schooling during this pandemic has been anything other than incredibly tough. Right?

And with a combination of the technical difficulties that come with getting several students on a Zoom call, ensuring children stay motivated and on-track with their studies, as well as ensuring their emotional needs are tended to, adding ‘teacher’ into the mix of rolesjuggled daily by a parent doesn’t make life any easier. To help parents navigate the return of remote learning, here are five key pointers that can help encourage children to keep a consistent and healthy home-schooling schedule.

1. The Stability of a Routine

One of the most important things for home schooling is to create a study schedule or structure at home. Routines help children feel safe, secure, and comfortable. A consistent step-by-step routine helps them comprehend the predictability of their day and allow for fewer disruptions to occur. Study routines also help children quickly accomplish day-to-day tasks that are required for school.

2. Encourage Them with Incentives

Make a list of what can encourage your child to stick to a home-schooling schedule. Buying a gift may not be a good idea as it may get financially difficult to keep it up, but things like ordering their favourite takeaway, choosing a movie on family movie night, or extra screen time over the weekends can help motivate a child. For younger children, you can make it a bit more fun by giving them gold stickers and, perhaps, they can take a longer break from schoolworkafter every third gold sticker. Incentivising your child can help them develop a sense of pride and self-confidence in the tasks that they have completed.

3. Take Time to Hear Them Out

Home schooling on Zoom calls can be hard for children, especially those who are used to a slower kind of learning, where they are able to interact face-to-face with a teacher and clear their doubts. Check in on your children to see if they are facing difficulties tackling their studies. It’s also an opportunity for you to spend quality time with them – perhaps you can teach them fractions using baking ingredients and bake cookies together? Or share tools that you may know on how to study and take notes better?

4. It’s Okay to Make a Few Screen-Time Concessions

Quarantine and home schooling are a new normal, so it is prudent to adjust your expectations of your children in order to help the family remain connected. If your child is struggling with a math assignment for a few hours, it’s okay to give them some additional screen time as a break. Mental health matters a lot, and it’s important that you avoid unnecessary conflict. Instead, aim to keep a healthy balance of indulgence, fun, and routine.

5. Allow Them to Have Some Fun

School time means fun conversations with friends, passing notes in class, and playing games during break time. Home schooling takes away the charm of regular school because it does not offer that fun environment. Let the children play in the backyard during recess or put on their favourite music – this can help add a dose of joy into their days.

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Posted by Sharon James

15 Tips On Harnessing Your Feminine Power

This International Women’s Day.

Throughout human history, women have played important roles in their communities as leaders, healers, educators, artists, and spiritual figures, even if their contributions have not always been acknowledged or valued equally. The history of feminine power is long and complex, spanning many different cultures and societies throughout human history. Read on to learn about key events and movements that have shaped the concept of feminine power as we known it today.

Feminine Power Through The Ages

Since the dawn of time, women’s roles and personal power have shifted and evolved:

In ancient societies, women played important roles as leaders, healers, and spiritual figures. For example, in ancient Egypt, women could serve as pharaohs, and the goddess Isis was widely revered.
In the Middle Ages, women often held positions of power within the church as nuns or abbesses. However, women were generally excluded from political power and were seen as subordinate to men.
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the women’s suffrage movement fought for women’s right to vote and participate in political life. Women also began to enter the workforce in larger numbers, challenging traditional gender roles.
In the 1960s and 70s, the feminist movement emerged, advocating for gender equality and women’s rights. This movement helped to bring attention to issues like the gender pay gap, sexual harassment, and reproductive rights.
In recent years, the #MeToo movement has brought attention to issues of sexual harassment and assault, empowering women to speak out against abuse and harassment.

Despite the challenges and setbacks, women have continued to assert their power and influence, from grassroots organizing to cultural expression. Today, there is a growing recognition of the importance of feminine leadership and the need for more diverse and inclusive representation in all areas of society. To honour the women before us, and International Women’s day, you can celebrate your feminine qualities and characteristics. Embracing your feminine power means celebrating your strengths and using them to create positive change.

Practices to Take Your Feminine Power Back

Here are some practical tips on how you can embrace and hold on to your feminine power:

Practice self-love: Take time to nurture your mind, body, and soul through self-care practices such as meditation, exercise, and spending time in nature. To embrace your feminine power, first love and accept yourself as you are.
Cultivate self-awareness: Spend time reflecting on your strengths and qualities that you appreciate about yourself as a woman. This will help you build self-confidence and feel more comfortable in your own skin.
Embrace your intuition: Listen to your inner voice and trust your gut instincts. Women are naturally intuitive beings. Trusting and embracing your intuition is key to tapping into your feminine power.
Embrace your emotions: Women are often encouraged to suppress their emotions, but embracing your emotions is a powerful way to tap into your feminine power. Feel your feelings, express them, and use them as a source of strength.
Connect with other women: Connect with other women who inspire you and lift you up, and work together to create positive change in your community and the world. Connect with women by joining a women’s group. Women are often strongest when they work together.
Challenge gender stereotypes: Stand up for yourself and other women when you encounter sexism or discrimination. Challenge traditional gender roles and stereotypes. Embracing your feminine power means breaking down gender stereotypes and creating space for women to thrive.
Embrace your creativity: Take time to explore your creative passions, whether it’s writing, painting, or dancing. Women are often natural creators, and embracing your creative side is a powerful way to tap into your feminine power.
Express yourself: Explore different ways of expressing your femininity, such as through fashion, makeup, or art. Find what feels authentic to you and go with it.
Celebrate your femininity: Wear clothes that make you feel amazing and embrace the whole of you, curves, stretch marks and warts, and all! Own your femininity with pride.
Learn to set boundaries: Learn to say “no” when necessary. This maintains your self-respect and establishes healthy relationships.

Mind-Body Tips to Increase Your Feminine Power

Being a Women’s Health and Wellness Coach, it would be wrong of me not to add some Mind/Body self-care tips:

Prioritize your time: Make time for yourself every day, whether it’s a relaxing bath, meditation, reading a book, or engaging in a hobby you enjoy.
Exercise regularly: Find a form of exercise that you enjoy and make it a part of your regular routine. Physical activity is crucial for overall health, and it can help boost confidence and improve self-esteem.
Eat a balanced diet: Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats into your diet. Eating a healthy and balanced diet provides the nutrients your body needs to function properly and maintains a healthy weight.
Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a consistent sleep routine to promote better sleep quality.
Practice stress-management techniques: Deep breathing, meditation, yoga, or tai chi helps reduce chronic stress and improve overall well-being.

Remember, empowerment comes from within, and embracing your femininity is a personal journey and you can create positive change in your life and the world around you. It just requires self-reflection, self-care, and a willingness to be true to yourself.

Sharon James is a women’s health and well-being coach specialising in menopause wellness. Visit www.sharonjamescoaching.com for more information or connect with her via Instagram and Facebook. You can also get on the waitlist for her Menopause Mastery workshops here.