Social Learning During Social Distancing

It has been a while- over a year- since I posted to this blog! I have no excuse except that I have been fairly busy and stressed (just like everyone else right now). I am writing just about a week after the last day of my school year- a year that of course had a surprising and challenging shift to distance learning.

As an educator, if I have learned anything this year, it's that creative problem solving can help you wade through unforeseen circumstances. However, it takes a full on effort- a constant attention to everyone involved. You have to care- a lot- and make adjustments based on feedback.

As a parent, life has not been dissimilar. I know the stress and social isolation we've been experiencing isn't particularly healthy for us, but it could be a learning opportunity. This has been a tough problem to "creative" our way around- but not impossible. Plus, getting creative about social learning opportunities for our children right now is a good way to model flexibility and resilience!

Here are some options you may have considered to offer social learning opportunities for your little ones during social distancing:

• You and other immediate family members- your child's first teachers
• Interactive virtual (FaceTime, Zoom, etc)- can give your child a sense of cause and effect, develop social language, and can model participation in a community
• Non-interactive (children's media- TV, movies, books, music, etc)- allow your child to see/hear and learn about different social scenarios and develop empathy 
• In person (socially distancing with people outside on walks, or with extended family if you make that decision)- still available- just please stay safe (wear a mask, socially distance)

With safety first and foremost, opportunities for social learning will look different now, but they are still as abundantly available! Let's take a closer look at how you can offer safe social learning opportunities for your little ones during social distancing. Here are my recommendations:

Take an Online Class There are a variety of offerings for families with young children out there- the beauty of which is you don't have to live close to the teacher, and there is flexibility around the timing. For example, check out these online offerings from children's musicians.

Stay Connected With Playgroups Online This is a way especially for parents of babies/toddlers to stay connected (and sane)! Highly recommended. If you weren't in a playgroup already, try forming one online.

Listen to the Radio This time honored media source connects us to our community because it's  interactive. Try contacting the DJ to make a request! Here are some recommendations (in alphabetical order):

• Hilltown Family Variety Show (The DJs aren't live but may prompt listeners with questions or activity suggestions. Here's my empathy and imagination episode - you'll need art supplies)!
• Radio Active Kids
• Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl
• Sirius XM Kid's Place Live
• WEE Nation Radio (The DJ is Uncle Devin- a local (to me) children's musician colleague and drummer for my songs Sense to Me and Make Believe Zoo)!
• WXPN Kid's Corner

Learn More About Social Justice I recommend the Zinn Education Project. It has resources appropriate for Pre-K to adult. My son (11 years old) and I are using it right now to understand the history and continued effects of systematic racism in our country. Alphabet Rockers, Teaching Tolerance, and The Mosaic Project are all also resources I have used as an educator and as a parent.

Learn About Spirituality and Meditation With many places of worship offering virtual services, now is a good time to learn about different religions without the stigma of perhaps being an outsider to that community- or being that family with the kids who are maybe not that quiet. The more positive messages about universal love and helping those in need, and even the more controversial topics, are great talking points that may tie in to what you learn about social justice. Virtual services also usually offer positivity and peaceful meditation opportunities you can model for your little one- worth a try! (Or you could try the "Calm" app- I'm on the fence about this app. Will probably write a separate article about it).

Donate to Community Helpers As strange as it may sound to recommend watching a late night television host for ideas to donate to community helpers right now, I recommend watching Jimmy Fallon. As a parent of two little girls, he knows what's up, and his YouTubes usually have links to donate. So you feel a little bit more sane by laughing a bit, and then you get to feel like you are helping your community- a win win. How does this help your little ones, you ask? They get to see you in a better mood, and you can explain how you helped the community- you will be a model of resilience and empathy- go you!

Take Walks This is a way to stay connected to one's community that doesn't require a computer, doesn't cost a thing, and is a health boost in so many ways! I recommend saying hello to strangers, sharing or going off the path to maintain social distance, and going at around twilight- it's cooler, and where we live, we can walk with the fireflies!

Bond with a Pet Now is a great time to add a pet to your family, or pay extra attention to your pet(s). Pets can give that much needed unconditional love, develop empathy in your little ones, and can be genuine friends/companions! Have your little one help you feed, walk, or play with your pet- they will love it!

Mail a Letter/Gift! This is a great way to remind those family and friends you are close with that you are there for them. My son has really enjoyed getting letters and gifts in the mail- and it's an opportunity to show gratitude/reciprocate.

Be Real/ Feel Your Feelings As someone who experienced a crisis situation during their child's early childhood years, I was coached to be real and not to hide my feelings from my little one. Our instinct may be to shelter our little ones from any feelings that aren't happy. It's actually a better idea to process the whole range of emotions whether or not you have space apart from your child. It's not easy, and it isn't always pretty, but weathering those storms is a good opportunity to model how to process those feelings and still be okay- to be resilient and forgive ourselves and others. The operative word here is that these emotional storms are temporary- never lasting/harmful to our little ones- but learning opportunities. For example it may be okay to cry in front of your little one, self-calm, and make amends, but never okay to to direct inappropriate physical anger their way. For more information on how to prevent/report domestic violence, check out the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

FaceTime or Socially Distance In Person With Close Family and Friends In addition to connecting through FaceTime, my family has chosen to meet in person for special occasions. We wear masks inside and are considerate of each other's space and health needs. (Please keep in mind the health needs of your family when making this decision).

To anyone who comes across this blog- I hope this was helpful! Feedback is welcome: margotbevington@gmail.com. Or comment below.

Play and Early Learning- Part I

Today we talk about the importance of play based discovery in early learning! Observe a young child at play, and it is almost palpable the amount of energy and inner workings behind it. A young child's brain is busy developing and myelinating- this is the process where neural pathways are strengthened with a myelin sheath to promote faster travel of neural impulses. When children play, they are learning from their environment in a way that promotes myelination. So, whatever children are exposed to repeatedly, through play or otherwise, the brain responds by building a neural pathway for quick response to that stimulus.

So- why is that important- and how can play help with this brain development? Play can especially help with the development of the cortex- that's the part of the brain that is the least developed at birth. That's also the part of the brain that helps us do things like process sensory information and language, and decide things. It's the part of the brain that helps us control our impulses. When children are at play, the cortex has a chance to myelinate- or "wire up"- pathways, within the cortex and to other important parts of the brain, that will enable them first to perform these important functions- then be able to do them more quickly and easily.

Here's how- give children the chance to play on a playground, for example, and they have many choices to make. Will they swing, climb, slide? How high will they climb, and how do they need to balance to do that safely? Will they do these things with other children at the playground? Will they share the equipment? Will they be sensitive to the other children's space and desire to use the equipment as well? Will they play pretend- pretend the play equipment is a ship for example- and ponder any problems that may occur- pirates, sharks, or crocodiles, for instance?

As a parent who was a teacher first and observed many children at play- I have to admit, sometimes when I observed children struggling to make good decisions to keep themselves or others safe on the playground, to "use their words" instead of violence to express themselves, to control the impulse to keep something to themselves rather than share it, I thought to myself, "When I have my own child, they won't be this difficult." The truth is- ALL children go through this important brain development. And yes they will make what we perceive as mistakes along the way. That's how they learn!

Here's how you can help with your child's brain development through play:
1) Provide play experiences with other children- the more chances they have to play the better!
2) Provide feedback for your child to help promote good decision making- When your child is in need of assistance- with making a safe choice, using their words, sharing- help them out. Just remember, patience and practice. That's what your child needs to develop- however frustrating their behavior can sometimes seem as a young child. Also, be mindful of what your child is capable of figuring out without assistance. Sometimes doing something "all by themselves" is what a child needs to take ownership of their new skill.
3) Play with your child- channel your inner child and rediscover the world with them anew! Have fun!

Here's some other articles you can read about play and brain development:
Scientists Say Child's Play Helps Build A Better Brain
Childhood Stimulation Key to Brain Development, Study Finds
The Cognitive Benefits of Play: Effects on the Learning Brain

Since we focused on mostly the science behind the the importance of play in early learning this time, next time I'll make some recommendations for providing varied and rich opportunities for your child to play- stay tuned!