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Back to School Prep for Distance Learning This has been the hottest topic of the week and so I've compiled a list of key points for you to consider as you prepare for distance learning with your children. Below are some recommendations to make the transition a little smoother: Attitude: You set the tone for this experience, so be careful how you present it to your kids and watch what you say about it as well as your body language. If they hear you groan when the topic comes ...up or roll your eyes, they will too. Celebrate: Make sure to hold onto your "First Day of School" traditions (new outfit, First Day Photo, etc). This can create a sense of normalcy and familiarity for your children. Supplies: You may want to rethink your typical back to school supplies. Even though you might be holding off on that back pack, you may want to explore other office organizers or desk supplies to help your child in their work space (file organizers, small drawer set, white board, etc). Routine: Kids THRIVE on routine, even though they may push back some. Establish your daily routine and stick with it: wake at the same time, hygiene, dress, eat, etc. Avoid Technology Before School: It's tough for kids to transition away from fun and highly stimulating activities and into a non-preferred activity. Skip the battles and save tech for after distance learning. Set a Place: Part of prepping your child's brain for school is creating an environment that ques them to learn. By using the same space every day for class, your child's brain will associate this area with learning as opposed to game play or other fun. So if you allow game time on the same device as learning, have your child move to a different space for gaming. Try to avoid your child's room as a work space, or other areas that may be distracting. Bringing work into the bedroom makes work time less effective and sleep time more difficult. Outdoors is also an option worth considering, as the environment often provides more stimulation without being distracting for some kids. Go Easy on Yourself: Remember that you are not alone. Your child is not going to be any further behind than all of the other kids in the world right now. No one is perfect and some days the best you can do is just hold it together long make it to lunch, or dinner, or bedtime. It's okay, you will also have good days too. Support: It's helpful to reach out to other parents to hear how they're handling things. It's nice to know what has worked for others and what hasn't. It's also nice to have a social connection of some type and to be able to know that other's are having the same struggles. Leslie Baughman, LMFT Connect-Counseling.com See more

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