As more and more people get vaccinated, schools are relaxing their remote learning policies and inviting kids to come back to in-person classes. But for many schools, remote learning may be a semi-permanent part of your child’s curriculum. If you are looking for ways to make the learning from home experience easier on you and your child, we’ve got some advice to help you keep your head on straight.
Maintain Your Schedule
You may not have the ability to plan a set schedule for the entire week like you used to. Instead, try talking with your kids about their school tasks for the day. A good time to have these conversations is during breakfast when they are gearing up for their online learning. Make sure you emphasize when they need to accomplish their schoolwork so your children are aware of your expectations, and then they can practice setting some of their own. This encourages stability and regularity, two things many of us are struggling with since the start of the pandemic.
Be Aware of Distractions
You remember when phones weren’t allowed during class? That rule hasn’t gone out of style. In fact, maintaining boundaries with your children and their technology is a great way to help them understand the difference between school time and social time when they are learning at home. While they are doing their homework or completing lessons, implement a no-phones policy. Then, you can use screen time as a reward for getting their work done!
Check In with Your Kids
Many of us are struggling with an increased workload during our work-remote period, and our kids are feeling similar effects as well. It can be difficult to try and learn everything on your own, and teachers can only dedicate certain amounts of time to specific topics, especially when they are on a tight zoom schedule. Pair that with an increased amount of homework every night, and that is a recipe for an unhappy child. Make sure you take time to check in with your children and ask them how they are feeling. If you notice a significant change in their emotional wellbeing, it may be a good idea to talk to their teachers and see what can be done to improve their mental health.
Networking With Parents
If you don’t talk to someone who understands the stress of at-home learning, you might just lose it. Connecting with other parents who are experiencing the same issues you are is a great outlet for you to share your struggles and learn new ways to improve your situation. You can always plan virtual gatherings to talk with other families and share with them how you are making it through this time.
This pandemic has made everything so much more chaotic, including going to school. As parents you are often under a lot of stress to maintain calm-headedness, and that is becoming difficult for many families. If you are finding it tough to balance your child’s remote learning schedule with your work/other responsibilities, you are not alone. These tips will help you set boundaries with your children and also show them how to prioritize their learning and mental health.
Comments