This is a very special blog post, dear readers. It’s Immersed‘s 350th post, to begin with, which amounts to quite a repository of all the wonderful goings-on at The New Century School over the years. Felicidades and gōngxǐ (恭喜) are most certainly in order!

Then there’s the fact that this is the first Immersed post to publish since COVID-19 broke out in the United States with a vengeance, forcing us to institute social distancing, then more or less shelter in place where possible. With TNCS closed, however, Immersed nevertheless sallies forth!

And that brings us to the third reason this post is so very extra special—it was contributed by guest blogger Kathryn Hardaway! Ms. Hardaway is an 8th-grader at TNCS (and our first student contributor!) and has attended since the school opened its doors. If anyone knows TNCS, it’s her, so, without further ado, here are her words of advice for getting through with grace and making the most of this time.

Keep a Schedule

One of the things that has helped keep me on task during this whole crazy outbreak has been a daily schedule. It helps builds structure in a day and keeps everyone on task. If your kid needs supervision while on class-chats, you both will know when it’s time to go on, or if they’re learning a new subject in math, you both will know when it’s time for help. Try and make your schedule together, at the start of the day. If it helps to add specific times on certain activities, go ahead and mark it up.

Keep It Simple

The best thing you can do for your kid in a time like this is keep it simple. It’s okay if they can’t do everything they would normally do each day. Give them a little break, allow them to have free time, and, kids, same goes for you. Your parents are working harder than you know, so stay on task and don’t be too hard on them. Try meditating!

Get Outside

I consider going outside for at least a half hour each day to have been my saving grace. After spending a long day inside, with my eyes glued to a computer screen, it’s really important to get outside while you still can. It can help a lot if you feel confined or have cabin fever. Just taking a walk or a run helps you stay active and just getting those bits of fresh air are really important when you’re quarantined. Maybe even taking your mathbook outside and doing some work out there would be beneficial. Or build a fort!

Find Healthy Hobbies

Having a healthy hobby is something I’ve found really fun. If your child has an unhealthy habit, replace it with a brand new healthy hobby. Encourage them to spend time doing it. Whether it’s trying to do 20 pull-ups, or writing a book, it’s something to keep yourself busy with. If you’re bored, try and do something new. Read a new book series or set a new goal. Pick something that you genuinely enjoy doing so you’re motivated to keep on going with it.

Be Kind

Remember to always be kind. Everyone is having their own struggles right now, so don’t be too hard on anyone. Parents, remember to keep structure, but also don’t be too harsh if your kid makes a mistake. This is a stressful time for everyone, so try and ask people what’s going on; see if you can chat about things that are bothering you so you can try and fix them. Give constructive feedback, but don’t be too harsh. Kids please, please remember how hard your parents work each and every day. They’re having to adjust to this new lifestyle too. Try to be independent, but don’t be afraid to ask for help, or even offer to chip in a little more than usual. All the little things mean more than you can know.

Next week, see more of the online school Ms. Hardaway refers to . . . plus lots of adorable photos of TNCS students happily at work!