Now that we’re at least a month
into the 2020-21 school year, one thing is clear: remote learning is the new
normal for the foreseeable future.
Even the majority of Hudson Valley schools offering on site classes again are
also requiring at least partial distance learning, particularly for older kids.
Given that option, some wary parents are still choosing to keep their kids home
for all classes.
Since
plunging into this new – for most – mode of teaching and parenting, families
have been on a steep learning curve to try to discern how to make the most of
it. Fortunately, some “best practices” have arisen.
Behavioral
pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr.
Nerissa Bauer, advises parents to “designate your child a
workspace they can customize as their own to help get them
excited for the day.” Whereas in the shutdown chaos of last spring, many families
just placed kids at the kitchen table or on their bed, Bauer says it’s much
better to create a personal space, and give the child ownership of it. If the
home doesn’t have a lot of square footage, she suggests a portable trifold
project display board that can be customized.
READ MORE: Set up a study space your child will love
Dr.
Laura Phillips, a clinical neuropsychologist at the nonprofit Child
Mind Institute, strongly advises limiting screens. I.e., keep a child away from
anything other than the screen on which they are learning. That means
television, iPad, and definitely cellphone. Also, close those multiple tabs.
If
at all possible, both Bauer and Phillips say parents should check in at
regular, pre-determined intervals, rather than leave a child to their own
devices for hours. The regularity will also offer a sense of structure.
Not
surprisingly, experts also stress the importance of getting away from these now
even-more-omnipresent screens, also in a structured way. Make time for recess,
a walk around the neighborhood, to the backyard (if you have one), or just
stretching. Kids will return to their workspaces refreshed and more focused.
Parents, too.
For more information click here.