The Covid-19 pandemic has introduced challenges to households across the country. Daycare centers and most schools faced shutdowns, leaving parents and guardians who needed to continue working. Throughout quarantine, high school students assisted their families by watching their siblings during or outside of online classes. Waterford High School students explained how they dealt with watching their siblings while in online school. 

Last spring, Maddie Myers, a junior at WHS, helped watch her two younger sisters Lauryn (5) and Aly (10). Now, during the hybrid set up, she only watches Aly. She needed to feed them, watch them, and ensure they were completing their schoolwork while she finished up on her own as well. Her biggest challenge she realized was, “staying focused while having to watch them.”

Pankhuti Gupta, a senior, ended up watching two siblings (brother and sister) after her mother’s friend requested an extra hand. Throughout quarantine she was able to help out five times for a week, encountering minor difficulties, including keeping them on task with assignments. Despite these obstacles, Pankhuti reports thoroughly enjoying watching after the kids: “I got to connect with the kids on a deeper level. Just playing games and coloring made me happy,” she says. Since the beginning of the school year, she has not watched after them, however, she looks forward to watching them again later this year. 

Emma Beardsley, a senior at Waterford High, watched a three-year-old, a six-year-old kindergartner, and a nine-year-old third grader over the course of quarantine, for three days per week. The experience itself helped her familiarize herself with staying organized and manage her time wisely. “The hardest part was getting my schoolwork done while watching the children, making sure I was logged onto my Zoom calls when I needed to be, making sure they were logged onto their zoom calls when they needed to be,” she explains. Emma reports she is glad to be able to continue watching the children over the weekends. She also explains that “It showed me that I wanted to be a teacher because it was very rewarding being able to help them with their schoolwork.”

Wasiq Namwar, a senior at Waterford, watched after his nephews often over the lockdown and has continued to watch them over the weekends if needed. Luckily his schedule has not been affected by babysitting, however, he remembers that “The hardest part was definitely getting them to listen. Kids are very wild, and it’s impossible to get their attention.” Eventually, Wasiq was able to adjust to his nephew’s character and appreciate the chance to spend time with them. “I got to show them more of what life has to offer. I get to connect with them more and that’s the best part,” he says. Wasiq is more than happy to spend time and help his family.

Whether it is getting involved with your community, or helping out close relatives, Waterford students were able to help others as much as possible over the coronavirus lockdown. During these dire times, it is important to help your neighbors, loved ones, or whoever it may be.