Parenting? Not so easy.

Same as 2020, right? All I need to do is install Zoom and spray alcohol everywhere! 

Not so fast.

Whether parents are in the trenches of training babies to potty, instructing kids to be empathetic, or tutoring teens about quadratics that they have not touched for a good two decades, 2021 might be a different year for even these basic activities. 

2021 may be a continuation of 2020, where everything is done at home, it has been way too long for not only younger children, but teens as well, to be unable to socialize outside their rooms. 

Humans are social animals, and science says that the experiences and lessons we learn during our early stages of life can shape physical and mental development down the road. This is why it is important for a younger child, especially an only child, to be in contact with other children. Interacting with other children will boost their confidence because they learn in a classroom environment and communicate with people who do not have half their faces covered. Dr. Robert Cushman, Renfrew County, Ontario’s acting medical officer of health, stated on CTV Ottawa with regard to the importance of returning to school: “They need it for their education. They need it for their mental health, [and] their social lives.” This makes sense, because as previously stated, humans are social animals, so children need to have social contact in order to develop into successful adults. This shows how important it is for schools to remain open, despite how students still need to wear masks and social distance but it is still better than staying home all day. 

As for us teenagers, it is true that our socializing strategy is partly based on Snapchat, Instagram, etc, but a full-scale lockdown is very different. Socializing is more than hanging out with friends on a Friday evening. It’s going to school, doing group projects, and talking to peers and teachers. 

With the ongoing pandemic, it is very hard for parents to assist in maintaining their children’s mental health. As of now, the best we can do is to try to stay away from screens when possible, to prevent children and teens from losing their sanity, because we know that too much screen time has negative impacts on everyone’s mental and physical health. 

It is also a good idea to start more family activities. Before the quarantine began, most of us were caught up in isolated, busy schedules. Since everyone is trapped in their houses anyway, why not do something fun! Although we may be around the same people every day, at least they are real, living, and breathing humans instead of a person projected on FaceTime or Zoom. Dinner games, snowshoeing, and many other outdoor, electronic-free activities are all great options to maintain a healthy lifestyle and have some family time during the lockdown. Nevertheless, still be cautious of crowds. UNICEF suggests that families should also check community guidelines and the number of local cases when deciding whether or not to go outside. 

2021 already had a rough start, so let’s not turn it into another 2020.