In the GTA, another round of school closures are requiring parents to not only figure out how to balance working, parenting and housekeeping, but also how to teach. Remote learning presents myriad challenges from access to devices and Wi-Fi to mental and emotional instability as kids respond to the reality of missing their friends and routine.
We've done it before, but here is a reminder of how to manage multiple schedules and demand for devices with multiple children in varying grades
Set a schedule each week
Develop a schedule each week that takes into account each child’s schedule, assignments and your own workload. Work with the youngest child in the morning while the teen sleeps in. Then, while the youngest is doing independent work, help the teen as needed.
Engage the children in the planning
Work with each child to plan out a schedule that works best for them. Do they want to get all the work out of the way at one time, or do they prefer to space it out and take breaks? Empower the child to own his or her schedule. If the curriculum is broad, use the opportunity to explore a child’s interests – go outside, try a new project, find creative ways to incorporate science and math into an activity the child is eager to try.
Use technology to your advantage
There is a plethora of free, online resources from reading tools and science experiments to videos and creative physical education activities. Let kids take a break from assignments and get creative to learn something new. Check with your school for recommended resources, web sites and activities.
Be flexible
Your at-home schedule does not have to mirror a traditional week. If a parent has work that needs to get done during the week, schoolwork could be pushed to the weekend. Or the parent could adjust his/her schedule to work later in the evenings to accommodate the children’s schedules during the day. It’s okay to take a break from a rigorous schedule.
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