The Gist: 

• There is a lot of information out there

• You have some options, but not all of them are perfect

• Do what is best for you and your family

Read more…

There is so much information out there that supports both sides of sending your child back to school in the fall. 

It’s overwhelming, I know.

Some of you have already made up your mind about this and other could still be on the fence. Either way schools that are allowing virtual learning instead either requiring it or not offering it are looking for answers, and soon…

I’ve heard many different plans in the past few weeks when continuing learning in the fall, and they all have their own perks and downfalls.

Strictly home learning offers the parents to continue to only expose their children specifically to those they are comfortable with. No sending them off to school and keeping your fingers crossed that they are safe.

You are able to manage emotions around what is happening in the world right now and how they, as little learners, are reacting and dealing with it.

Of course you don’t get that ever important social learning that they receive for 4 - 8 hours a day at school. Making up for that missed learning time is then on you. You also get to carry the pressure of keeping them on track, making sure they understand the lesson, getting them in their online meetings on time, ect. 

For most parents, this can be stressful.

I have also heard shortened weeks of in classroom learning and added home learning time to supplement. This would most certainly keep a lot more responsibility on the parents in organizing the family schedule to suit yet another change. 

Which days do my kids go? Will my work be okay with part-time? How do I keep them on track with their homework if I can’t even be there? Can I figure out rides to and from school on the days that they have to go?

On the plus side, this would limit the contact your child has with others to about half. With half the in-person responsibility teachers could better focus on helping keep everyone safe and following whatever rules your district, county or state has set in place for handling kids going back to school amongst COVID. 

Then of course, business as usual. Everyone heads full time back to where we were before the outbreak. Of course this would bring some normalcy back to life for you and your kiddos, but it does release your control of who your children are exposed to and how often. 

Teachers would have more responsibility and stress enforcing social distancing and masks rules, causing their ability to educate our kids to be less effective. 

I can see the perks and downfalls of all the options. 

What is the most important thing to think about is your child and your level of comfort. Which decision is going to be best for your child’s physical and mental health? Which will keep your family secure and with limited stress? 

I would love to hear your opinions on the matter. Please comment below to let me know of your worries in sending your child back to school this fall.

Stay safe!

All my best-

Gabriele