Does the fact that Nursery children can talk to their teachers via Zoom help them express their feelings in this period? How can Avenor Nursery provide opportunities for children to further develop relationships with peers, even online? How does Avenor Nursery offer support to parents in the virtual learning new era? These are the questions that we have asked Ioana Botez, Avenor Nursery Counsellor, in order to offer us an overview over the importance of further developing relationships and feelings through various online learning tools.
Avenor College: Does the fact that Nursery children can talk to their teachers via Zoom help them express their feelings in this period?
Ioana Botez: Emotional expression, especially during the times we are all currently living in, is essential for our well-being. In the absence of face-to-face contact and social interactions, we are quite fortunate to benefit from a variety of apps that help us connect. Because connection is the key to coping with the waves of uncertainty coming our way. And, I am not talking only about children, but about all of us.
The communication within the entire Avenor community can be continued with patience, support and empathy through the use of technology. So, whether we are talking about using a smartphone for video calls or specific communication apps, (such as Zoom), if you feel it helps, then it helps. The longing that teachers have for children, the children for their teachers and the parents for going back to a routine in which the balance between parental involvement and nursery school support is restored are just some sensitive topics that can be explored during Personal Social and Emotional Development lessons via Zoom.
I do believe that we, as educators, should support families using all of the technological tools available in processing strong emotions, but also be mindful of finding a healthy combination between online and offline activities in order to avoid overexposure to screens for all of us.
Avenor College: How can Avenor Nursery provide opportunities for children to further develop relationships with peers, even online?
Ioana Botez: As building relationships is not only one of the three main objectives of Personal Social and Emotional Development, but also one of the main reasons for which parents introduce their children to a nursery school environment, Avenor Nursery is continually thinking of new ways of connecting children, parents and teachers. We started off by messaging each other via WhatsApp with updates from our time spent apart. Then, we moved on to sending learning recommendation in paper and video formats via email to connect even further and nurture all the areas of development of the children.
We then talked over the telephone to collect feedback and suggestions from the people who are facing the greatest challenge: parents. This week, we are testing Zoom Circle Times with children and parents and, after having two trial sessions with Nursery Blue and Year 1 Blue, I can tell you that part of the joy that everyone expressed was related to seeing and talking with each other again. We are considering small group Zoom meetings with children in order to allow children to further develop their relationships and are in constant dialogue with parents, because only together can we find the best solutions for the Avenor Nursery community in terms of socialising.
Avenor College: How does Avenor Nursery offer support to parents in the virtual learning new era?
Ioana Botez: Supporting parents is one of our priorities during this period, because we are aware that a great deal of the things we do in the nursery school with the children – care, supervision, educational activities, managing daily routines, is now handled by these real-life heroes, who have to juggle jobs, children, households, and personal lives. It is truly a time that requires a lot of flexibility, understanding and patience, because it is not easy for any of us, even as adults. One way in which we support parents at Avenor Nursery is by thinking through weekly learning recommendations that fit with the educational objectives of each age range in order for them not to drown in the ocean of free educational resources available on the internet.
Another way in which we help parents cope with the existing situation is by keeping communication alive during telephone conversations, WhatsApp messages, video calls, Zoom sessions and personalised approaches to meet their particular needs. Feedback is essential in identifying the needs of each individual family in order to make their lives easier. Because it all comes down to this: making parents lives easier during the period of self-isolation.
We are carefully planning practical activities that do not require screen time and build on children’s independent life skills. In the future we are considering Support webinars with parents and many other practical activity packs designed by our team in order to support children’s education and parents’ well-being.
