How do families stay on track in a pandemic?
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This is a guest post from Jenna Sherman of Parent-Leaders. We love Jenna's recipe for keeping a family healthy, happy, and forward-moving while navigating the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Image: Ceres Chill
Post by Jenna Sherman
As a parent, we know you’re navigating all kinds of hurdles created by this pandemic, whether you're anticipating the birth of another baby or trying to make it through a few months of homeschooling young kids. It’s clear that the coronavirus has caused some significant disruptions to children’s education. While we all wait for schools to reopen or to choose our own adventure, let’s take advantage of the following tips and resources to help our kids keep learning and prepare for another school year!
Keep your kids engaged in learning
After a few months of at-home learning, your children’s (and your!) attention spans may be wearing thin. Find ways to keep summer learning fun and exciting! Or at least a little interesting and less battery-powered.
- Encourage your kids to set personal learning goals that they would like to accomplish.
- Supplement academic learning with lessons in key life skills.
- Take a virtual field trip or head to the backyard for a different learning experience
Stick to a family routine
Our best bet is to try structure kids’ days to make at-home learning easier and help them transition back to school in the fall — or whenever.
- Create a daily calendar so your kids always know what’s on the agenda.
- Set up a space in your home specifically for studying.
- Incorporate daily exercise and movement activities into your routine.
Continue to follow the COVID-19 guidelines
Even as states begin to reopen, it’s still important to practice social distancing and keep your home clean.
- Follow the CDC CDC deep cleaning guidelines to keep COVID-19 out of your home.
- Use green practices such as minimizing clutter and changing air filters.
- Consider enhancing your sanitizing with some DIY cleaning supplies.
- Know what precautions to take if you’re returning to work and need to hire a babysitter.
Children’s education in the time of the coronavirus is a learning process for all of us — teachers, parents, and kids.
We all look forward to the day when our kids can return to school and get back to their normal routines. In the meantime, let’s do our best to be in this moment, make the most of this time and prepare ourselves for the transition by keeping up with their learning and making the most of our time together at home!
We all look forward to the day when our kids can return to school and get back to their normal routines. In the meantime, let’s do our best to be in this moment, make the most of this time and prepare ourselves for the transition by keeping up with their learning and making the most of our time together at home!