CHARLOTTE, NC – Many children will start this school year virtually or with a blend of in-person and virtual learning. As families begin to navigate the unique challenges of online learning, here are a few tips to help make this school year a successful one.
Get dressed and ready to learn.
Although hanging out in PJs all day is certainly tempting, encourage your child to get up and dressed just as he would for a normal school day in the classroom. Be sure to stick to your child’s regular morning routine—get dressed, eat breakfast, brush teeth, etc. Going through the motions of their usual school morning routine can help your child wake up and be ready to learn.
Create a learning space.
Whether it’s a desk or the kitchen table, designate a place for your child to do school work every day. Be sure that it is a place where distractions will be limited so that your child can focus on school tasks. Keep school supplies nearby where they are easily accessible. It may be helpful to purchase a few bins to keep supplies, assignments, and books neatly organized.
Build brain breaks into your school day routine.
Taking a few short brain breaks during the school day can help your child stay focused better than trying to plow through all of their work without stopping. Some children are able to focus for longer periods of time than others and may only need one break halfway through the school day while others may need a break after every assignment.
A brain break should be short, just five minutes or so, and should get your child up and moving. Here are some brain break ideas: dance to a song, run two laps around the yard, jump on a trampoline, do 20 jumping jacks, stretch, play Simon Says, or sing a song with movements such as “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”
Communicate with your child’s teacher.
Be sure to stay in communication with your child’s teacher throughout the school year. As students and teachers dive into virtual learning this year, let your child’s teacher know what is working well and what is not working for your child.
