Should I send my children to school full-time or choose a hybrid model? Will my children be safe at school? Will they fall behind educationally if they stay home? If I keep them home during the day, how will I be able to work?
These are just a few of the questions that many parents are being forced to consider as the start of the new school year draws closer. According to a recent Washington Post article, 48 percent of working parents said they prefer a mix of in-person and online instruction, while 35 percent preferred all-online instruction and 17 percent preferred all in-person classes. Many were concerned about the logistics of having their children at home, though.
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is here for you if you are looking for guidance. In a webinar held on August 20, a panel of experts gave their opinions about the way parents should respond to the return to school, including the prospect of virtual learning for the foreseeable future.
“This is a time that is extremely unsettling,” said Carol Pratt of Independent Learning Systems. “If you can come up with structures that support a 24-hour day and you can begin to start replicating that system… you build a safe, marginally stress-free environment because you can refer to the system.” When asked how to build such a structure, Carol suggested creating rules that state certain activities need to be completed in the morning, other tasks need to be finished in the afternoon, and certain things need to be done in the evening.
As for the learning itself, Connie Hanel of Independent Learning Systems said that parents should not necessarily be concerned about particular subjects, such as history and science. “What’s more important at this time is teaching skillsets and the way you help your children navigate through this [school year],” Connie said.
Click here to find a recording of EAP’s webinar, “Empowering and Preparing Parents: Transitioning to School in Fall 2020.” If you have other questions and would like to reach out to EAP, please call 716-681-4300 or email contacteap@cfsbny.org.