Preparing For Virtual School during the 2020-2021 School Year

Let's face it, COVID-19 has turned what we know as school upside down. We must begin to prepare ourselves and our children for the new normal for school. In today's blog post, we give you a few tips that will help bring normalcy to an abnormal school year.

Set up a school day routine for yourself and your child. Your school day routine should mimic the routine you and your child(ren) followed last year. Stick to giving yourself and your children a wake-up, bedtime, breakfast, and lunch schedule. Use your grade level virtual learning schedule to pick times for your breakfast and lunchtime.

Connect with your child(ren) emotionally. Understanding how your child feels during this time is critical. We recommend connecting with your child during class breaks to ensure they are comprehending the lessons taught. Also, take 30 minutes before bedtime to discuss the day. Talk about what went well and what did not. Conversation before bedtime allows you to understand your child's needs during the day and helps you to identify any needed modifications to their virtual learning day.

Reconnect with friends. Most kids enjoy school because they can connect with their friends and meet new friends. Virtual learning has cut their interaction with their classmates, which may cause your child to feel lonely, especially if he or she is an only child. To help with this, contact your child's teacher to find out how you can use virtual meetings or Facetime to allow your child or children to meet their classmates. Also, set up social distancing playdates with your child(ren)'s friends.

We understand that virtual learning can be stressful. If you are a working parent who does not have the time to help your child or children with virtual learning, we can help. Enroll your child into our Virtual Learning Care program. To find out more about our virtual learning care program, click here.