As the 2020-21 school year begins, many students, have no option but to learn at home as the pandemic continues. Although this can be a difficult adjustment, there are things parents and guardians can do to make learning at home a little easier while addressing the mental and physical needs of children.
- Establish and stick to a daily routine. This is the number one tip to remote learning success. Children thrive mentally when a routine is put into place. Routine nurtures discipline and lays the groundwork for responsibility.
- Get enough sleep. Don’t let young people continue their summer sleep schedules. Children and teens should get at least 10 hours of sleep per night. It may help to have children wake up as if they are going to school to get in the “school” mentality.
- Eat nutritious meals and snacks at designated times. Breakfast and lunch are essential for getting the brain ready to learn. A hungry child is distracted and can’t focus on learning so make sure your student is able to eat meals.
- Drink water. Hydration is also important in preparing the brain for learning. Ditch the sugary drinks and sodas that can cause a student to lose focus.
- Prepare a space for learning. Set up a mini-school room or a designated area at home for learning. Stock the area with school supplies such as pencils, paper, books, a laptop and other tools. If possible, separate this space from where the child sleeps to establish a clear “work” and “play/relax” area. Make the area comfortable, inviting and full of good energy.
- Set start and end times for learning. It may be helpful to follow regular school hours to avoid overworking and stress.
- Take several breaks to refresh when needed. It’s never good to work for hours on end. Give your child a recess. Let them take a walk or play when the weather is nice, or even do some yoga or a short meditation session to reset.
- Keep distractions out of reach. No gaming. No phones (if not being used for school work.)
