Home schooling causing extra stress for parents

CALGARY (CityNews) – As of Friday, school playgrounds will be empty as new restrictions in Alberta move elementary school children to online classes until at least May 25.

Some Albertans are preparing for a rollercoaster of energy in their homes and backyards.

“I do want to acknowledge the tremendous impact that these changes will have on all parents, particularly those with younger children,” said Education Minister Adriana LaGrange. “I understand that this may require adjustments to schedules and creative solutions for some families.”

But some parents say the education minister doesn’t appreciate the dilemma this puts them in.

“Having to worry about not only keeping them entertained outside of the school hours but also assisting them during school hours, there is no mental shut down for us, there is no break from it,” said father and realtor, Marty Weishaupt.

“My five-year-old has so much energy, it’s hard to keep him occupied even during the weekend. So, for three weeks, what I am going to do with him is stressing me out and keeping me up,” said mother and accountant, Rosheen Hayat.

“The childcare element, and all the parents that need to be working outside of the home or that have other things going on, they rely on kids being gone during that part of the day, makes it really hard,” explained Spencer Bennett, a father and student at the University of Alberta.

Psychologists are anticipating parents will struggle, with balancing work and helping with online classes, but they say parents need to be realistic and most importantly be easy on themselves.

“Just knowing you are doing the best you can, your child may not be able to keep up with every assignment and everything that is happening, either because that’s not possible or they don’t have the right technology, your child can’t sit and do that but you know your child best. And right now the focus is keeping them safe and healthy,” explained Deinera Exner, assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.

Psychologists also say the pandemic has hit everyone differently and it’s affecting the mental health of parents, especially the working ones.

Adding, the solution lies in working with the children and making the most of outdoor activities, during the summer season.