Confronting the Adverse Academic Repercussions Encountered by the Kindergartens Brought by the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This study focused on the pandemic stories of parents dealing with their children's challenging behaviors during the pandemic. Using a pure qualitative research design, an in-depth interview was conducted to generate qualitative data from the fifteen (15) parents who enrolled their children in Wesleyan University-Philippines Elementary Department, Cabanatuan East Central School (CECS), and Lazaro Francisco Integrated School, respectively. Thematic analysis was utilized in emerging the themes, namely: (1) adverse repercussions encountered: early exposure to gadgets and the use of online and modular learning, and (2) confronting the challenges which include self-made strategies of parents used in handling children's challenging behaviors during this time of the pandemic. The findings of the study uncovered the changes that took place in the exhibited behaviors of young children before and during this time of the pandemic, its causes and effects, the adversities faced by parents in dealing with children's challenging behaviors, and the self-discovered ways and strategies utilized by parents in dealing with these behaviors as well. Based on the results, the researcher developed instructional reading material in the form of a brochure designed to guide children's behavior for a smooth transition back to face-to-face learning, which parents and teachers can use in handling children's behaviors, especially in the 'new normal.'