As Cyrus heads back to school tomorrow (Monday 8th March), it got us thinking about what we have learned as parents during the last 12 months.
New research from early years expert, Busy Bees has revealed the importance of family is one of the most valuable of life lessons that has come out of the pandemic. Almost half (46 percent) of those who took part in their recent poll claim they appreciate their kids more than before.
Other findings reveal that it’s OK to value the simple things in life (37 percent), the importance of nature (29 percent) and that it is also OK to ask for help (28 percent).
Almost a quarter of the parents surveyed (24 percent) agreed that they now appreciate just how hard teachers and nursery staff work. While more than half (57 percent) were happy they had got to know their children better during lockdown.
With the end of lockdown restrictions in sight, the research reflects upon the lessons we’ve all learned over the last year. We have spent more quality time together, and we have rediscovered that it’s the little things in our daily lives that count.
From baking to getting back to nature, we’ve done so much together over the past 12 months, including home-schooling Cyrus for the first time and the challenges that have come with it.
As a family, we can’t wait for tomorrow and C is so excited to be heading back to school. We are also hugely relieved that we have just got through this period together. The support and structure that school gives to young children cannot be underestimated.
Below are some of the lessons we have learned during the past 12 months in pictures.
The importance of family
Never take anything for granted
Appreciate the simple things in life
Kindness goes a long way
Kids are so much more resilient than we give them credit for
The importance of freedom
The importance of nature
It is ok to ask for help
We can get through anything if we stick together
A cup of tea really does make things better
So primary school maths is harder than it looks!
The importance of telling people you love them
Saffron and Cyrus is a Newcastle-based family lifestyle blog, covering diversity, self-care, days out, travel, reviews, recipes and more from our family life.
The blog is written by new mum over 40, Aranda, with input from hubby H and four-year-old Cyrus.
This was a lovely read. And especially the idea of resilience so important as a life skill!
That was so beautiful! As a preschool teacher the time off during quarantine was so also new lessons I needed to learn to appreciate a new silence I had not heard in year’s. I missed the voices and perspectives of life from my kids. I learned about appreciating so much that when pre-school kids ran into my arms I knew I was where I was meant to be ❤️