Last spring many schools shut down without notice, leaving parents and teachers to dive headfirst into remote learning. This new method of learning worked for some children while others suffered greatly. Parents and teachers were quickly trying to determine the best way to educate children in a remote learning environment.
With many schools over budget, they had to find an inexpensive way to connect teachers with students so that the children didn’t suffer during this remote learning scenario. Many parents had to stop working due to the pandemic while other essential working parents had to learn new ways to juggle children at home with remote learning and work.
This new lifestyle caused a lot of anxiety with children, parents, and teachers alike. Now that we’re heading into a new back to school season, it seems that many schools will opt for remote learning again. There is much debate over whether remote learning is the solution or not. Many feel remote learning will deteriorate children’s mental health while others feel their safety from the virus is more important.
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With much debate of remote learning, we wanted to share some tips on how parents can handle anxiety with remote learning again!
Acknowledge Everyone’s Feelings
The first step to handling anxiety with remote learning again is to acknowledge how everyone feels about this. Teachers and parents may be feeling the same about this option to educate in a remote setting, while children may be anxious about not seeing their friends or whether they’ll succeed this year. Sit down and discuss the feelings so that you can acknowledge what your family is feeling during this time.
Remember What Did Work
Surely you’re able to determine what schedules and options worked when you were thrown into remote learning last spring. Consider making a note of everything that worked during this uncertain time of online education. Try to recreate the environment and routine that worked for your children last spring so that you can replicate it this year during your second year of remote learning due to the pandemic.
Scrap What Was Typical
Now that many businesses have reopened, parents have ventured outside of the home for work. This may cause major issues with children who must remain home to attend remote learning sessions. It’s time to scrap what you thought was a typical work week and learn to adjust based on your current circumstances. Embrace this new normal and craft up a schedule that will help your children learn all the while allowing you to continue working to support the household.
Look for Resources
Being in the second year of remote learning you may have come across some resources that you were thinking about using last year. Make a note of every resource you can use during this second year of remote learning so that you can have more support. Consider asking friends or family to check in on your children during the day while you’re at work. Make a schedule or list of rules for the older kids to abide by so that you can make this a family affair.
There are many ways parents can handle anxiety with remote learning again, but the top four hacks we felt will get you headed in the right direction are featured here today. May this list of tips and tricks help you push forward during these anxious times.