We all need great flexibility and adaptability to get used to facing the confinement to which we have been forced.For most families it is a great challenge, combining teleworking, household chores and chores, children’s online school and their homework… everything can become extremely complex. And home isolation happened overnight, with no time to prepare. Also, managing one of the biggest challenges of this situation, that of not being able to spend time with friends, kiss and hug our loved ones, share laughter and walks and go out with friends and loved ones… How do you explain to a child who finishes a normal school day on Friday afternoon that he can’t go back to school on Monday to see his teachers and classmates, that he can’t go play in the park on the weekend and that he can’t have lunch with his grandparents on Sunday?

“The essence of Montessori education is to help children develop and help them adapt to any condition that the present requires of them” (María Montessori).

Today this phrase came to mind because it perfectly summarizes what we as parents – as educators – have to do to help our children adapt to the situation that we all have to go through.  

However, from our current surroundings and environment, and from this tremendous historical situation that humanity is experiencing together, we can draw extremely valuable lessons and knowledge. I am not referring to academic content – ​​which are naturally important and must be taken into account – since education should not be the only objective in this transcendental time, because right now we can teach our children things that are much more important for their future.

Now, more than ever, as parents we can educate our children for life. Help them express their feelings and give them a name, be with them in their anger, frustrations and fears… where being with them means listening to them and validating them (I understand that this is how you feel). However, we should not try to solve their problems or accommodate all their requests just because we feel it is best.

Communicate and talk to them, give them the space and time to tell us, do chores and household chores together in which they can help us and feel useful, let them solve small daily difficulties alone, make their own decisions, make mistakes and accept them, create or negotiate new solutions to problems and tolerate boredom. It’s okay if a child gets bored and you can even put them in the right mood to come up with a brilliant idea.

All of this will make them stronger and more resilient human beings, with the ability to overcome adverse circumstances. Resilient people recover faster from difficulties and are more emotionally balanced in stressful situations. At this time when the only thing we can control is our home and those who live in it, I invite you to think about what is most important right now for you as a family. Often – as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry said in his book The Little Prince –only with the heart can one see correctly; what is essential is invisible to the eyes.