Guest article Jenna Sherman jennasherman@parent-leaders.
Resources to Take the Hassle Out of Getting Kids Back-to-School
It’s been quite a year already, so if you are feeling overwhelmed know that you’re not alone. If the source of your stress is getting your family ready for a new school year, however, you may just be in luck. Because these resources can make transitioning your kids into either the classroom or learning at home so much easier.
Preventing Coronavirus at Home
So aside from the debate about how to reopen schools, keeping your home COVID-free is likely to be a top priority in the new school year. Which is why cleaning and sanitation is a must.
- Let’s start with handwashing because this will honestly be your best defense for keeping COVID-19 and other illnesses from coming home with your little ones.
- If your kids are sick of singing “Happy Birthday” a million times each day, you can also try an alternate hand washing song.
- To keep those little paws clean between hand washes, also be sure to send your children to school with plenty of reliable and safe hand sanitizer.
- Regularly cleaning your home will take care of any germs or viruses that manage to squeak past those hand washing sessions.
Getting Started With Online Learning
Okay, now that you know how to prevent and eliminate coronavirus in your home, let’s move onto other topics that may be causing you stress. Like getting kids set up for online learning.
- Letting kids learn from the kitchen table can work in a pinch, but if your kids will be taking online classes this semester you should really consider setting up a study room.
- If budget is a concern, you can outfit your kids’ new study room with DIY furniture, including a desk, to cut costs.
- There are also affordable laptops and tablets you can pick up to help your kids make the most of their online lessons.
- Last but certainly not least, make sure your kids’ online learning experience is safe.
Finding Safe Opportunities for Socializing
If your kids will be learning online this year, you may be concerned about keeping them connected to friends. But socializing and social-distancing can exist in harmony.
- Setting up Zoom playdates can be a safe and fun way for your kids to catch up with friends without breaking social-distancing rules.
- Of course, Zoom burnout can also be a thing so you will want to have some backup plans for keeping your kids connected.
- It may sound zany, but online gaming can have some serious benefits for socially-distancing kids, especially when it comes to staying connected.
- Stay safe online with digital security measures.
- If you’re really serious about keeping your kids social, you can always organize with other parents you trust to set up a homeschool pod for your children.
Shopping for Back-to-School Essentials
Finally, no new school year would be complete without a little bit of back-to-school shopping. Thankfully, you can get just about everything your kids need for school online.
- Finding killer deals on school supplies is really easy when you shop online with retailers like CVS, Walgreens and even sites like eBay.
- Check out your local stores for deals on back to school supplies; most small shops have pricing similar to the big box store but also offer personalized service.
- Don’t forget to shop for clothes that will keep your kids comfy while they learn at home.
- You can also find some pretty cute masks for kids that will be learning in classrooms.
Even with a few extra challenges, getting your kids back into school doesn’t have to be overwhelming, especially when you have the right resources and tips. So stop stressing and start enjoying the rest of your summer!
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