During the COVID 19 Pandemic social media has been abuzz with many topics from finances to management plans. One topic that creeps around, a little less prevalent but none the less there are the conversations surrounding the silver linings. Educators, teachers, playworkers have been seen to make remarks such as “the smaller numbers are actually quite nice”, “despite everything this is actually pretty relaxed and calm”, and even more interesting “it will almost be a shame when things return to normal”. These sentiments, despite being productive in the maintaining a positive mindset in a challenging time are flawed in the fact they suggest the new normal, will be less good.
What I propose to you now is… Why? Why do we make these statements like a decline in benefits is a given? Why does the new normal need to be less appealing. Why however can we not learn from what is working, bottle and distil the “good” and bring it into the new normal with us? Critical reflection demands of us that we at least try to capture the essence of whatever is working.
From a play perspective there are several examples of this I have heard from teachers, teacher aids and OSHC educators. For example:
Teacher aid: “The children have really been enjoying the lower numbers and playing with children in other grades”…
Teacher: “The conversations about what the kids are playing have been very interesting”.
OSHC Educator: “The relaxing of a lot of routines has been really nice. It feels like less pressure on the children which means less of the staff”.
OSHC Educator: The children have been playing in far more diverse groups than usual. Lots of mixed age groups. Almost feels like the packs of kids in the streets when I was a kid.
What I read here are several very realistic to maintain and bring with us into the new normal! Every persons unique circumstance and setting will differ but this is certainly a time to reflect, give thought to and strategize how to maintain a hold on whatever is working in these crazy time.
Angus Gorrie
