DESPITE the various challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with the start of the new school year approaching, Marion le Roux, an educational psychologist based in Jeffreys Bay, encourages learners to use various methods to excel academically.
Le Roux, who has her own private practice and forms part of a support team at Global Leadership Academy, said since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the challenges faced by learners included anxiety, falling behind in school, not coping with the challenges of technology during online school and not having access to Wi-Fi and enough data.
In addition, she said there were various financial stresses in the home, all the sudden changes learners must adapt to and the fear of catching the virus.
Le Roux who works with learners at numerous schools throughout Jeffreys Bay, Patensie, the Langkloof and surrounding areas, to evaluate learners and help them with various aspects in their lives, with the help of their parents and teachers, said despite the various challenges faced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were ways for learners to combat those challenges, to ensure that they succeeded in their academics.
“Learners should try to keep a daily routine; this will help them to be more productive and focused on what they have to do,” said le Roux.
“Planning is essential to help learners to be organised, but they should not stress when plans change suddenly.
“They should also have clear goals on what they want to and have to accomplish each day,” she said.
Le Roux further said learners should also spend quality family time, playing board games or helping their parents with a project at home.
She said it was also important for them to be physically active, have some healthy social interaction with their friends, learn a new hobby, spend time in nature and so much more.
When learners are struggling to adjust to the ‘new normal’ methods of education, Le Roux said they should try to see the positive side of situations and be thankful for what they have.
Furthermore, she said, they should not listen to negative and depressing topics on social media and instead they should try to look for the good in each situation and accept that things are not the same as they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Learners should talk to their parents or a trusted teacher about their feelings and they should not think that their feelings are not important,” said Le Roux.
“If learners find that they are feeling depressed or very anxious most of the time, they should make an appointment to see a professional person and get help.”
She said, going into a new school year, she hoped children would be able to socialise more, play some sport, be active and enjoy their school year.
“I really hope that we, as teachers, parents and professionals, can find innovative, interesting, fun and more effective ways of educating the learners, so that they can face the future with confidence, hope and big dreams,” said Le Roux.
“We have entered a whole new realm of learning, which opens up lots of possibilities for the future, but we have to be open minded and willing to adapt to changes.”
For more information contact Marion le Roux on 082 607 0081 or visit www.hearts4jbay.com.
