A lot of parents have had to take on the role of being teachers during the lockdown to ensure their children don’t fall behind on their schoolwork. And even celebrity mom Halle Berry has admitted that home-schooling her children has been hard. Read more: Halle Berry loves being single and is even considering giving up dating for good
The award-winning actress shared her experience of home schooling her 12-year-old, Nahla Ariela, and six-year-old, Maceo Robert, with Entertainment Tonight.
“It’s a nightmare for me. It’s a nightmare,” she told the publication. “They are not learning anything . . . to get them to focus and realise they’re at home but yet they’re at school, it’s really been a challenge.
“This is like a wash of a semester, and it’s hard,” she added. “I have a six-year-old, and what I learnt is that when six year olds see other six year olds do things, then they do things. Like, they sit and they eat because there's 25 other ones doing it. They stay at their desks and colour because there's 25 other ones doing it.”
See the video here:
Even though home schooling is one of her least favourite things to do during quarantine, it’s not all bad. The actress is enjoying spending quality time with her kids.
“We have been making use of the time. When I'm not cracking the whip for school, we do have a lot of family time, story time and bonding time that we don't often get to have, so there is the silver lining,” the mother of two explained.
Read more: Halle Berry shares a natural face mask recipe
The Oscar winner has been documenting her family’s social distancing on social media, from trying on face masks and reading new books to some hilarious moments, including one in which her son walks up the stairs in pyjamas and white heeled boots which are almost as long as his legs.
See her post here:
Here are a few tips on how to keep your children motivated during lockdown.
1. Create a routine Since their routine has been disrupted, it is important to ensure that they still have some sort of routine they follow. Plan a rough daily routine with times for different activities, inlcuding schoolwork, exercise, chores, creativity or free play, and time on digital devices.
2. Make learning exciting For the young ones, make them learn things through their favourite jingles, use of visuals and demonstrations.
3. Offer incentives or rewards For chores they complete around their house, offer them a treat or even more play time.
4. Get involved Play with kids, spend quality time with them, watch their favourite cartoons with them and make things with them.
5. Be gentle Understand that so much has changed for them and yourself, so try to understand what they’re feeling. Create an environment where they will be able to talk freely about their emotions without being judged or shouted at.
