As we are all aware, COVID-19 is creating many new challenges for us as a society and for our economy. And, as of today, schools across South Africa have been given the go-ahead to close their doors to help curtail the spread of the virus.
But, while this may answer one question – how do we protect our kids and keep them healthy? – it also gives us parents an entirely new one: how do we make sure they’re still getting their education? How can we balance safety and knowledge when, in many cases, closing schools means that kids are left to their own devices?
Temporary social distancing makes sense, but our children’s’ futures have never been more important. Online learning is the logical alternative, and it is one that many schools are offering – but there’s a reason that our kids attend classes run by teachers. Because they need guidance, attention, and someone to make sure they are doing what they are supposed to. As parents, whether we continue to work from the office or from home, we cannot spend entire days for the next few weeks at our kids’ sides, making sure they’re learning, not watching Dora, or Minecraft videos.
We asked our au pairs, tutors and teachers how Au Pair Extraordinaire could help our parents during this particularly stressful time, and they came back with a solution that literally brought tears to our eyes. For the next two weeks, our (carefully selected, strictly vetted – the best in the businesses) au pairs, teachers and tutors will make sure your kids are safe, sound and still being schooled, and they will do it at cost.
The programme:
Our candidates will come to your house for a few hours in the mornings (this is the best time, as kids are most fresh, and candidates have most availability) depending on your needs. During this time they will:
- Carry out academically and developmentally stimulating, fun activities while the kids are on ‘holiday’, before the schools release their at-home learning materials.
- Once released, they will facilitate your school’s online/at home learning sessions/materials, tailored to your kids’ specific schooling approach. We know that every school has different learning and structure protocols, which we will follow as closely as possible.
- Reinforce learned concepts after each session
- Assist with all homework and project assignments
In certain cases (please speak to us directly) our candidates can also provide full day care, or even baby and toddler care, which includes developmental stimulation, gross and fine motor play and, yes, even some plain, good ol’ fun!
This is more than a business for us. We want to be part of the solution and make a difference, as do our candidates, in a way that few others can. Therefore, we have reduced our placement fees to cost for the placement of these candidates in your home during this challenging period.
If your children are in preschool, high school, or somewhere in between, we can help to make sure that, even though they’ve been sent home, they won’t be set back.
PLEASE NOTE: SINCE RESEARCH IS SHOWING THAT CHILDREN ARE ASYMPTOMATIC CARRIERS OF THE COVID-19 VIRUS, WE ARE MINIMISING THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS BY ENSURING THAT OUR CANDIDATES WORK WITH ONE FAMILY AND ONE FAMILY ONLY. IF THE INFECTION RATE IS NOT CONTAINED, WE WILL MAKE THE CALL TO MOVE ALL #SCHOOLATHOME SESSIONS ONLINE WHERE POSSIBLE, AND SUSPEND ALL PLACEMENTS WHERE ONLINE SESSIONS ARE NOT POSSIBLE. THE SAFETY OF OUR NATION AND THE CONTAINMENT OF THIS VIRUS IS OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.
Please contact charne@apeo.co.za, or call us on 010 612 0278 to take the next step.