Lessons Learned in COVID

Charlie has been part of programs since 1st grade and he is now in 3rd grade. He loves trying new activities and is always the first one to suggest cops and robbers during gym time at KIC. Charlie is usually the kid who often speaks out because he gets too excited to answer questions. He loves answering math problems and finds it exhilarating when he gets to compete against friends in a math battle during EPIC.

Because of COVID, we have had to switch to online programs via Zoom. Charlie often gets frustrated during programs because his internet is slow and causes lag during programs. When he gets frustrated, he often does not want to participate anymore and starts yelling at his brother or to the screen.

However, through the time of the pandemic, we have seen a difference in his behaviour. When his internet freezes now, he stops and waits till he can hear us or till he thinks we can hear him. Or he’ll type in the chat and say that he can’t hear us, and we communicate in chat till his internet no longer lags. Charlie has been handling slow internet a lot more calmly now, compared to when we first started programs online. While he may not be patient every single time, this is normal behaviour that should be learned at his age. Typically, the classroom setting helps in building the patience of a child (learning to share toys, waiting their turn on the playground) but because of the pandemic, children are learning this life skill online. Learning patience is a continual practice and sometimes hard to do but we know that Charlie is starting to understand that.

While COVID has taken away a lot from us, it’s taught us quite a bit. For kids, it has taught them skills like patience, responsibility, and grace. It’s taught them to share spaces they have with their siblings and family. We are seeing resilience, creativity, and knowledge of technology. We often focus on the negative things that COVID has affected that we hardly mention the good things that are happening. It’s easy to get lost in the bad, in the seeming hopelessness that is around us. But, it’s also important to highlight the wins, even if they’re small. For the kids, it’s important to highlight how they have been dealing with COVID. For Charlie, he’s learning how to be patient!