We all need great flexibility and adaptive skills to get used to dealing with the confinement we have been forced into.For most families, it is a big challenge to juggle teleworking, household chores and obligations, kids’ online school and their homework… it can all become extremely complex. And the isolation at home happened overnight, with no time to prepare. Also, managing one of the biggest challenges of this situation, 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 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 conditions that the present may require of them” (Maria Montessori).

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

However, from our current surroundings and environment, and from this historic and tremendous situation that humanity is experiencing together, we can take extremely valuable lessons and insights. I am not referring to academic content – ​​which is naturally important and must be taken into account – since education should not be the only objective during this momentous time, because 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. Helping them express their feelings and give them a name, being right there with them in their anger, frustration and fears… where being with them means listening to them and validating them (I understand what you feel). However, we should not try to solve your problems or accommodate your every request just because we believe it is best.

Communicating and talking to them, giving them the space and time to tell us about it, doing tasks and household chores together that they can help us do and feel useful, letting them solve small everyday difficulties on their own, make their own decisions, make mistakes and accept them, create or negotiate new solutions to problems, and tolerate boredom. Nothing will happen if a child is bored, and this can even put him in the right frame of mind 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. In this moment, when the only thing we can control is our home and those who live in it with us, I invite you to think about what is most important right now to 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.