Nurturing the roots from which we grow Healthy families are the cornerstone of healthy societies, but the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a heavy burden on South African families who now require greater empathy from professionals.
Less instruction, more empathy
T
he COVID-19 pandemic has produced significant stress and anxiety for many families around the world, more so for families of children with special needs where boundaries between home and the outside world have become blurred. These families were left to manage unrealistic expectations while lockdown restrictions decreased access to essential support systems such as schools and access to therapeutic services. Parents who attended group therapy at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital explained that they were cut off from family support and had to take
8 TUKKIE | University of Pretoria
care of their children with no respite or support. Their other responsibilities did not stop, and they were exhausted at the end of each day. Mrs Mpho Masoga, who receives therapy for her son who was diagnosed with Autism at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital, described her challenges: “Our journey with my son was filled with ups and downs, we were coming right with him at some point, had things under control and he was getting used to a set routine. Then COVID happened. We started well the first few days, then he started having more meltdowns. His sleeping pattern also changed for the worse.”
Those of us involved in early child development and education need to ask ourselves if we are adding to the burden experienced by families by adding more to the already long to-do list. A mother of a child with severe cerebral palsy asked me a very sobering question after I explained everything that she needed to do at home to help her child eat better. She said: “I feed my child three times a day which takes over an hour at each mealtime. I have two other children and many household chores. When do you expect me to do more?” Learning and development can come from everyday experiences. We need to empower families with the competence and confidence to stimulate development through their routines and activities. We need to reflect for a moment and realise that families have a finite pool of time, space and finances. As professionals, we often place unrealistic demands on families and potentially hinder their overall wellbeing. Now more than ever, we need to support families with compassion and understanding. Families function as a system and our role as a society is to help keep that system whole and functional. Every family has a story to tell about how COVID-19 has changed them, redefined them and in many cases scarred them. Let us be understanding and compassionate in what we expect of them and from them. Author: Dr Sadna Balton
CONTENTS PAGE
