We love our teachers and we count on them to inspire our children - and us - with their magic. Now COVID has made us teachers too - and turned our homes into schools. We didn't sign up for this, but here we are. As days turn into weeks of learning and working from home, it's a good time to think about how fortunate we are rather than how burdened.

Even with my 40 years of experience as an educator, this situation is new to me. I've not dealt with a pandemic before, but I've orbited the sun enough times to provide a perspective that might help our amazing parents and carers through this time.

In no way do I intend to minimise the great stress and angst many of us are experiencing. Parents are juggling like crazy right now. So many of my fantastic colleagues are working full-time and schooling at home with babies, school-age children, and university students all tapping the WIFI bandwidth. Families whose students have special needs are missing the supports that schools provide for learning and social interaction. Many families have minimal access to technology, which hinders learning from home. And year 12 students are worried that their future options may be limited due to the time and space we are in.

While the struggles are real and the obstacles great, here are just a few thoughts to help us moderate our worries and notice the opportunities.

Human brain wiring includes more than 100 billion neurons, which, especially in young people, can be changed by stimulation - good or bad. The unanticipated time that we now have with our children is tough and stressful, but it is also amazing. We are there to see them struggle, we are there to help them succeed. We can get to know them the way their teachers do - for their funny jokes or their unique ideas. And we can influence their wiring through positivity and gratitude. We also can share our appreciation for our teachers, first responders, health care providers and supermarket workers. Wonderful Aussies are doing amazing work every day to help all of us. Let's recognise and openly thank them in front of our children.

Many parents are worried that their children are falling behind. My reaction to that real sentiment is, 'behind what?' Yes, we are doing things differently but we aren't behind. Young people are resilient. We will be back in physical school in a few weeks. And our year 12 students will be fine. Based on last year's data, most will do about as well on their HSC as they would have without. There are many pathways to TAFE and university, so we shouldn't treat the HSC as the be all and end all.

Kids also need what we call "future-focused skills" such as dealing with ambiguity (we've had a lot of that in the last 18 months), critical thinking, owning their own learning and seeking to serve the greater good. We can practice all of these right now.

Many of the lessons teachers are designing can be accomplished in multiple ways at home. Young people love games, puzzles and using their fertile imagination. Turn a review into a contest between sock puppets. Have your child explain a concept to her dolls and film it as evidence of her own learning. Turn a geometry lesson into a search for rectangles and triangles in the house. Learn fractions by counting skittles or marshmallows, then eating them. Build a reading "tent" with sheets and pillows and add a torch for a bit of adventure.

The latest research recommends that we try to walk at least 6000 steps per day. How many of us have met that goal this week? It's early spring in Newcastle and the perfect weather to get out and breathe. Build outdoor activity into the daily schedule and even use it as a chance to 'do school.' Some assignments might be accomplished by naming clouds and photographing them or measuring tides at the beach or looking for five purple things along your route. In the normal rush of our pre-COVID world, a mid-day break might have been impossible. Let's take advantage of that now.

Events in Afghanistan remind me how much I take for granted our freedom and privilege. We are used to being an on-the-go society. We miss our weekend plans, events and travel. But our kids grow up fast. Our daughter turns 30 in two weeks. She was just a primary student five minutes ago it seems in my head. Spend extra time with your kids. Take the pressure off. Laugh, play and breathe. Enjoy the precious present. Our kids deserve for us to be the best versions of ourselves right now, and we can be. Even if we do all need a haircut.

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