Parents are now facing a renewed challenge. American school districts are offering them a choice to return their children to in-person classes or opt to educate them at home through online resources. It is not my purpose to guide you in your decision in this forum. I want to recognize that either choice will present with challenges, risks, and, dare I say, opportunities. Your decision will depend on your community, your child’s needs, your work demands, your assessment of the health risks, and your personal resources. No matter which option you may choose for your child, no matter the age of the child, you may find yourself trying to fill a role for which you feel unprepared. I have been in close contact with colleagues who are working in public school districts at the elementary, Jr. High and High School levels. Although they are better prepared to provide on-line services to their students than they were when the pandemic hit, they are parents, too, and have many of the same anxieties that most parents are dealing with. How do you balance your work life and your home life when they overlap? How do you keep your children engaged and on track with their educational goals? What is your role in this? Are you Parent? Teacher? Nag? All of these? How do you keep your relationship with your child on a positive personal basis and at the same time encourage a life-long love of learning?
First, some ground rules: whether you opt for a distance learning program or an in-person classroom setting, you need to set some boundaries.
If you opt for distance learning, know that we all function better when we have a schedule to follow. There should be clearly set “school hours”. No snacks at hand, no tv in the background, no cell phones. Regular bathroom breaks should be in the schedule, for younger children more frequently than for older children who can wait until after each subject instruction. Bathroom breaks should last no more than 10 minutes. Too much time makes it more difficult to return to the work at hand. A lunch break, perhaps when the family can share the meal together, or shared online with a friend or two on zoom. Try to mimic the regular school schedule as much as possible. (Your child’s teacher may be able to help you with that). If you opt to return your child to in-person classes, you will still face the challenge of homework completion. I suggest an hour of decompression time after returning home followed by a set time for homework. All to be accomplished before dinner.
In either case you will need to provide a “study corner”. If you are fortunate enough to have a space you can dedicate to this purpose in your home, terrific. If your family already uses every square inch of your living space, don’t despair. Your “study corner” can take the form of a corner of the kitchen table, with materials stowed in a handy box so that “school” can be set up and organized for easy access and put away after schoolwork is done. (Here is an idea I found on Pinterest that uses an IKEA cart).
The important tools are good light, comfortable seating that gives your child a firm foot resting place and prevents slouching over a video screen,. and a dedicated work surface. The internet is bursting with videos and photographs that will give you creative ideas on how to set up the best environment for your family’s needs. If you treat the activity of learning with respect, your child will, too.
But…What about Games??
In my next Blog I will talk about using games and activities that parents can use to support their child’s academic goals without making everything feel like drudgery.