The new school year is just right around the corner, and our Occupational Therapy Department is here to help concerned parents adjust as many school districts make the decision to transition to online school. Being a parent, worker, and now full-time teacher can be challenging, so here are some ideas for easing the transition:
Create a detailed schedule
Developing a school schedule for your kiddo will help maintain consistency. This also helps your kiddo know what is expected of them each day. Your schedule should include:
- The time they start school
- What time each class transition is
- Breaks (lunch & time to relax)
If you like an extra detailed schedule you can also include details from when they wake up in the morning to when they go to bed.
Set structured breaks
It is important for every child to have breaks in between work. Homeschooling is a huge change for most kids, not only are they entering a new grade but they also have new expectations in a new environment. Breaks allow them time to adjust. Some break ideas include:
- Walking around the house
- Getting a drink of water
- Starting a stretch routine
- Breathing exercises
- Swinging on a swing
- Pressure vest
- Decompressions
Each break should have a set start time and end time and last 5 to 10 minutes. Remember that each break looks different for every kiddo!
Assign a designated space
To have a successful school day set up a comfortable space for your kiddo to work. Each space will look different for each child. Here are some questions to ask yourself when setting up a designated space:
- Does my child have all the equipment needed for the day?
- Have distractions been limited?
- Does this space have enough lighting?
- Is there a stable table or desktop for my child to work on?
- Is there a comfortable chair for my child to sit on? This could include a dining room chair, bean bag, couch cushion, or big ball.
- Some kids enjoy the transition between different sitting styles so you can switch it up throughout the day.
To make an easier day for the kiddo, make sure that their school life is separated from home life.
Familiarize kid’s schedules
Be one step ahead! Try to get the topics that will be covered the week before. Email the teacher and ask for a schedule of the whole week including lessons that will be covered and any worksheets that may be assigned. It is a little extra work, but will be very beneficial when your child has questions over certain topics. This may not be possible for every parent, but if you can familiarize yourself with your kiddo’s schedule it can be very useful.
Ask for help
It is more than okay to ask for help! This way of learning is new for many kids, parents, and teachers. Reach out to friends and family who may be in a similar situation to share your thoughts, ask questions, and exchange advice. Check with your child’s teacher to find out if they have office hours that could be utilized to contact them with questions or concerns.
Be flexible
You may need to be flexible with your kiddo’s schedule as every child has different needs and various learning styles. Monitor your child, ask how they are doing and offer breaks when needed. You know your child best!
Set aside time to meet with your child
Periodically checking in with your kiddo lets you know how they are doing with their school work. This is a good time to ask them how they are feeling, identify any issues, and make adjustments to their schedule or work space.
Lastly, we want to remind you that you are great, you are amazing, wonderful, resilient, intelligent, fierce, extraordinary, and you and your family can get through this time. So please remember if you need any ideas or assistance, we are just a call away!
Thank you for reading!
–Occupational Therapy Department