For the parents: How to navigate virtual learning while working from home

Do you find yourself wondering how you are going to make virtual school work this year while also working from home? If so, then the time is now to create a plan that will allow for a healthy environment conducive to both remote working and doing virtual school. We put together a few tips to help you along the way:

• Become an early bird (early bird gets the worm right?)

If you aren’t an early riser already, you could start working on becoming one. If you get up a couple of hours before your children need to wake up, you can use that time to get some work done before the day even starts!

• Set up separate workspaces in your home

Setting up separate workspaces for you and your children should be the top priority. It is ideal for everyone to have an established workspace with as few distractions as possible.

• Take time for lunch

Try to use this time as a check in to discuss what resources your children need to be successful for the day, for the week. You could also use this time to squeeze in a ‘recess’. Step outside and get some fresh air, it will do everyone some good!

• Debrief at the end of the day

This can take place perhaps at the dinner table, when all family members are present and away from their work/school for the day. Some questions for discussion could be: What did you learn today? What did you get done? What worked well and what did not?

Balancing remote work and virtual school might appear daunting, but it does not need to be. Taking simple steps, like the ones outlined here, will hopefully make this challenging period go much more smoothly for you and your family.