Help with Distance & Hybrid Learning
This is a challenge for everyone. We have connected with experts, teachers, parents, counselors and administrators to offer some helpful ideas!
IT STARTS WITH US
ATTITUDE - Keep negative feelings about distance/hybrid learning to yourself. If you embrace it, they will too!
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF and if there is a way to make your life easier, do it! Have your groceries delivered, carpool, ask for help
HELPFUL IDEAS
DAILY CHECKLIST - have them help design it with fun colors and pictures.
WHITEBOARD with their schedule.
SCHEDULE BREAKS between tasks. Try to coordinate your own breaktime so you can join them when possible. Get them up and moving. If you are able, join them for Just Dance, Hide & Seek, Nerf Games, etc.
COMMUNICATING PROBLEMS WITH TEACHERS
Be sure to let them know when your child is struggling.
Use their preferred mode of communication whenever possible.
Try offering solutions/ideas instead of just coming to them with problems. Consider these ideas from parents/teachers we’ve spoken with:
Print out homework to turn in rather than doing it online
Ask for a math packet to handwrite the problems and solutions
Read regular books instead of electronic books and do a short book report for the teacher
WHEN THEY ARE STRUGGLING
YOUR CHILD IS NOT ALONE - Whether they’ve struggled in the past or not, they are not alone - be sure they know it!
ERR ON THE SIDE OF ENCOURAGEMENT, UNDERSTANDING, AND PATIENCE whether it’s getting homework done or getting out of bed.
CELEBRATE THE LITTLE VICTORIES - Recognize this is difficult. Acknowledge when they do well (get up on time, work independently, seek help when they need it, etc.) and let them know how proud you are of them!
GET HELP whether it is academic or emotional. Check with your school or district as they have great resources.
HOMEWORK ISSUES
YOUR ROLE is emotional support, help with organizational skills, creating check lists, have their supplies, water, etc. ready for the day.
AVOID A POWER STRUGGLE - Take the homework burden off of yourself and make them accountable to their teacher, not to you. Discuss with their teacher if there is a problem.
DON’T HOVER over them and stress about their homework. Tell them to let you know when they are done and then you can take a picture of their homework and send it to their teacher every day.
LUNCHTIME FUN
SNACKS - Have a basket of snacks they can choose from - super fun!
JOIN them when you can and make it special. Maybe Door Dash once a week.
CREATE A LUNCH MENU for the week that allows them to make choices.
HAVE A CHANGE OF SCENERY - Try eating outside, in a different room, or play music.
EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
ACKNOWLEDGE their feelings, encourage them to name and work through anger, sadness, fear, etc. Remind them this will not last forever.
CONSIDER what adverse behavior is telling you - we are all experiencing a major lack of control so children may attempt to gain control where they can.
KEEP THEM CONNECTED - Zoom with friends, Facetime with family, have dinner together has often as possible, laugh and have fun!
KIDS DON’T ALWAYS REMEMBER what you say. They don’t always remember what you do, but they DO remember how you made them feel.
Sometimes it takes everything we’ve got just to get through the day - and that’s ok. We are ALL having plenty of those days! Stay well!
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