This post is sponsored by Sivan Social. All comments and opinions are my own.
School is back in session around here, and it’s been a lot to get used to. In addition to Shane starting middle school and having to navigate that, we’re one of the millions of families nationwide who is doing virtual learning.
While we’re new at this too, I’ve already figured out a few things over the last couple of weeks that the kids have been in school that have helped our days- during and after school- run smoothly. It’s a bit of a process getting used to a major change like this, but doing these things has made the transition a lot smoother.
If you have kids started virtual school, or if they’ve already gone back but you’re still struggling with the change, I encourage you to try some of these tips that have worked well for our family!
Get outside and run around. There’s a reason kids get recess time in traditional school- they need to burn off some of that energy! If your kid has a break between classes, try to get outside for even just a few minutes to let them get some fresh air and get some wiggles out. Depending on how much time you have, you can ride bikes or scooters, go for a walk, or even just play a quick round of tag in the backyard. Zac’s favorite way to spend quick outdoor breaks is jump roping!
Make reasonable lunches. Having the kids at home opens new possibilities for lunches- everything doesn’t need to be made ahead anymore, and it doesn’t have to sit in a room temperature lunch box all day. That said, I suggest trying to still make lunches they could have reasonably eaten at school. Small swaps like giving them fruit that wouldn’t fare well in a lunchbox is one thing, but don’t expect them to eat a huge meal- they’re still in the middle of a school day. Even if they don’t have a live class to get back to, they have work to do!
Give them an area to work in. Kids work so much better when they can focus on the task at hand without a lot of distractions. {I mean, who doesn’t??} No matter the size of your home, you can make a private study area with some small adjustments.
If you don’t have room for a full desk, get one that folds out and then folds back up against the wall when you’re done. Or if cost is an issue, just grab a trifold board from the store and use it as “walls” at the kitchen table! It’ll keep your kiddo from seeing every family member or pet that walks past, every light that turns on and off, and anything else that can be distracting.
Headphones work wonders. When your child wears headphones, not only does that keep you from having to listen to every math lesson but it also helps drown out distractions for your kiddo, especially if they are noise cancelling headphones. Plus if their headphones have a microphone attached, it’ll make it easier for your kid’s teacher to understand them. {Also look into blue light glasses like Zac’s wearing here if your child has trouble looking at the screen all day.}
Give them something to look forward to that’ll calm them down. Especially on super busy days, I like to build in time for the kids to relax and decompress. It can be easy to forget that the kids get stressed too, but this is new to them too and they’re having to relearn how to do school. Just like with adults, those days where you don’t feel like you have time to relax are the days you need to relax the most. Zacs favorite way to relax is with bubble baths!
We use Baby Magic Calming Baby Bath for bubble baths because it makes lots of bubbles, smells amazing, has ingredients I can trust, and is super affordable! Baby Magic makes a lot of great products that are great for the whole family- even my 11 year old still uses their products!
Baby Magic has been loved by parents for over 65 years because it nourishes skin with wholesome ingredients and is free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates and dyes. It’s dermatologist recommended for baby’s delicate skin- but is great for older kids and adults too! You can explore more Baby Magic products here on Amazon.
If you want to try Baby Magic Calming Baby Bath {or any of their other products!} for your own family- and I highly suggest you do- be sure to click the link above to download a printable coupon for $1 off 1 Baby Magic product! AND be sure to check your Valpak envelope that comes in the mail because select households will receive an additional $1 off Baby Magic coupon in there!
GIVEAWAY!
Baby Magic is giving you the chance to enter to win one of TEN $100 Visa e-gift cards! Just click HERE to enter by following the directions below:
- Enter the giveaway by heading to the Grocery page on Savings.com and submitting your email address on the form on the page.
- The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Thursday, October 1st via the email address they used to enter.
- See complete Official Rules for entry instructions, full prize descriptions, restrictions and other important details.
Good luck!
What tips have helped you ease the transition to virtual learning?
Leave a Reply