To help contain COVID-19, many schools are shifting kids to online studying at home. Similarly, many mothers and fathers are being requested to work at home. These types of social distancing are needed to help slow the spread of the virus.

But, many families now face new challenges: how will we care for our children while working? How do we ensure our kids are learning well from home?

The first step: take a deep breath. Know that we are all in this together. And,  together we can get through it.

It can be tempting to get children together for play dates or sleepovers, but this ought to be prevented. Social distancing works most effectively if all of us take part.

And, slowing down or stopping the spread of the virus will save lives. It is also no longer the time to go to grandparents or ask them to help out with child care responsibilities.

Here are some tips for online learning for kindergarten kids.

Keep social distancing.

Those who are over age 60 are at higher risk of severe infection with COVID-19.  They shouldn’t  increase that risk by being around children who can be sick with mild signs.

However, they will feel alone or disconnected at some point of social distancing. One tip for online learning for kindergarten would be to involve grandparents by way of Zoom or Facetime or Google Meet. They can read stories to students and help with online learning.

Make a daily routine.

It will be beneficial to speak with your kids about why they’re staying home and what your everyday structure will be during this time.

Let them help create an everyday time table which can hang on the refrigerator or someplace they can see it each day. Make sure to include breaks from schoolwork to relax and connect.

Here are a few ideas to help you create a daily schedule to make the most of online learning for kindergarten kids.

• Wake up, dress and have breakfast at the usual time.
• Start online classes for 20 minutes to 35 minutes.
•  Determine where everybody can do their work most efficiently and without distractions.
• List the times for studying, exercising and breaks.
• For younger kids, 20 minutes of one online activity should be the guideline.
• Schedule time for nutritious lunches and snacks. Many schools are providing take-home school meal programs for students who need them.
•  Include afternoon breaks as well! Go Noodle is a great online physical activity.
•  Have dinner together with your family and talk about the day.
•  Stick with everyday bedtime routines as much as possible throughout the week to make sure each person gets enough sleep.

It is best not to have the news on while children are in the room as it could increase their worry and anxiety (and yours!). If they do pay attention to the information, talk together about what they are hearing and correct any misinformation or rumors.

Make the most of screen usage.

While limits are still necessary, it is understandable that during this stressful time, kids’ screen usage will likely increase. Here are some ways to use the screen media for your kids positively:

•  Contact teachers about academic online and offline sports your kids need to do. Preschool teachers might not have an online curriculum to share. However, good options consist of PBS KIDS who is sending out a daily newsletter with activity and learning ideas.
• Use social media for good. Check-in with your neighbors, friends and loved ones. If facilities are closed, find out if there are ways to help students who need meals or internet access for at-home.
• Learn together. It is a perfect opportunity to see what your children are learning. Kindergarten students need lots of assistance when it comes to learning. Taking an interest in the online programs is important for your child’s motivation and desire to keep learning while at home.
• Limits are still necessary. As usual there should always be limits for how much time kids can play video games as it is easy to want to keep them busy.
• Look for free resources for online learning for kindergarten. Most free kindergarten worksheets can be instantly downloaded and printed for your child.
• Online tutoring is also an option for struggling students.

Utilize effective apps and programs for online learning for kindergarten students. Here are a few favorites:

Starfall

ABCYA

Khan Academy

Staying at home may also feel like an inconvenience. However, it is an excellent way right now to protect our family, friends, and neighbors who may be susceptible. If anybody in your own home starts showing symptoms of COVID-19, call your doctor.

Author Bio

David A. Buhr has over fifteen years of experience in the field of education. He specializes writing articles on education-related topics on his blog. He is presently working at Smile-Tutor, a reputable presence in the education industry.