11 Tips and Hacks for Parents: How to Survive a Virtual School Year

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In this new learning environment, make time for family activities

1. Get involved in learning alongside your child.
A recent study confirms what many parents and educators have known all along; parental involvement has a significant positive benefit on student performance. The study results show that parental involvement positively affects student achievement. One easy way to be involved with your child in a virtual learning environment is to incorporate read-aloud time into your learning schedule. Read to your young child and read along with your older students as they work through their required reading lists.

2. Schedule in some fun.
Another aspect of virtual learning that often goes overlooked by parents is something remote workers and homeschoolers have been taking advantage of for years. Virtual learning and working from home doesn't mean you have to stay at home all the time. Some families are opting to get away from it all, even during the pandemic, by renting an Airbnb in the mountains or by the beach. In fact, resorts and hotels have recently begun offering ‘schoolcation’ specials. These special virtual learning packages provide families the fun of travel while still keeping social distancing and schoolwork at the forefront.

3. Get out in nature.
You don't have to travel to the ends of the earth to change things up. Take the learning outdoors and set up a backyard staycation learning environment, complete with tent, campfire, and sleeping bags.

Create a positive virtual learning environment

4. Less is more.
It's no secret that most of us perform better, think more clearly, and have a better outlook when our space is neatly organized and free from clutter. Dr. Sherry Bourg Carter makes the connection between clutter and anxiety and stress. "Clutter can play a significant role in how we feel about our homes, our workplaces, and ourselves," she wrote on Psychology Today. "Messy homes and workspaces leave us feeling anxious, helpless, and overwhelmed."

The same holds true for kids. If you've carved out a special spot in your home where they can do schoolwork, ensure that it is free from toys and extra clutter to help keep them focused, happy, and attentive.

5. Break it down.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management tool developed in the eighties by Francesco Cirillo. The technique encourages breaking large tasks into 25-minute intervals while incorporating breaks into those intervals. This method can help decrease your child’s stress when faced with due dates and deadlines.

6. Keep a consistent schedule.
If your child is missing the structure of their brick and mortar school, consider keeping a regular daily schedule. Implement set times for lunch, snacks, and outdoor time. This can help make the virtual learning environment feel as close to in-person school as possible.

7. Get by with a little help from friends.
Now is the time to start thinking about setting up virtual Zoom meeting playdates or making plans to incorporate some socially distant activities with your child's friends. Having something fun to look forward to can significantly improve mindset and attitude around virtual school.

8. Use methods familiar to your family.
Many families are able to successfully keep kids on a set schedule by implementing timer and alarm features on their AI home assistant.

Mandy P. uses Alexa to help guide her child transition from one task to the next. "My oldest is a perfectionist and likes to complete one task before starting another. We noticed his perfectionism peaked once his school switched from in-person learning to virtual last Spring, he wants to linger on one assignment rather than move on and get ready for the next class," the mother of three told Mom.com. "We began using Alexa to help keep him motivated throughout the day with reminders when the next class starts. He's more apt to listen to her over me nagging him so much."

9. Streamline meals and snacks.
Pack lunches the night before, just as you would during a "normal" school year. You could also have your child prepare their own lunch by creating an easy lunch-making station. Extend the learning with a culturally-based snack subscription box like Universal Yums.

10. It's not what you say, but how you say it.
There will be times you find yourself coaching your child and repeatedly reminding them to complete their assignments. Reframing how you see your child's actions or behavior will help you help them from a place of encouragement rather than negativity.

Virtual learning supplies for your home

11. Make sure you have the right supplies.
We’ve been homeschooling for a few years now and there are few things that make our homeschool space ideal. A quality printer, a whiteboard, plenty of dry erase markers and a wall map are staples. While you don’t need fancy supplies and technology for a successful virtual school year, the following items can help keep your child focused, on-task, and engaged.