Pandemic learning’s quandary



A review of key options for childcare

pandemic, learning, parents, kids, choices, review

As it becomes clear that, as parents, we will be needing to give our kids’ education more time this autumn, and possibly throughout the coming school year. The question may be, ‘how can I lessen the burden?’

In a recent report Anya Kamenetz reviewed childcare options to consider as you realize life is not changing anytime soon and begin to decide on your options as you move forward. Kamenetz whittled down the field of options to three.

The first resort for parents is working less to take care of your children. A recent survey from the Bipartisan Policy Center found that 55% of Hispanic and 44% of Black parents on unemployment insurance are not planning to or did not accept an offer to return to work due to caregiving needs.

Then there are those lucky enough to work from home but are finding they are getting increasingly stressed by the extra hours with everything that demands your attention.

The second option, in-home care, has been hit hard by lock downs and other pandemic restrictions. Kamenetz suggests looking for in-home childcare centers which usually offer small group settings. Check out Hudson Valley Parent’s Education Guide.

She notes, however, that health and safety remain a concern for in-home providers, as it is for anywhere people gather indoors during the pandemic.

Finally, there’s the idea of the "learning pod," or "pandemic pod." Generally, this means getting together a group of a few children to share the cost of a tutor, typically hosted at participating family homes. But accompanying these, she adds, are questions of affordability, equity, and hiring teachers away from public systems.

How to navigate such choices?

As we already know, the choices for parents are not easy

  1. Will you widen your family’s social circle
  2. Broaden your child’s horizon with a planned program
  3. Or just hunker down and shut out the rest of the world

Talk about a complicated future.



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