How to NOT feel like your child’s assistant? Tip #1
It may feel as if you are currently your child’s personal assistant. You have a Zoom meeting at 10 and then again at 1, virtual ballet at 4 on M and W, karate in person-don’t forget your mask and belt! Uploading digital copies of their work, endless list of passwords, and websites to keep track of, and the list goes on and on. While trying to juggle your child’s (children’s) schedule and your own, use this as an opportunity to, through modeling and some helpful tools, develop skills that will not only lessen your assistant role but create future CEO’s in your children.
Check out our first tip below! And stay tuned for more tips from us.
What the heck am I going to do all day?!
Our routines and days have been turned upside down since the pandemic hit and as many of us are into the school year, again, virtually, you might find yourself asking, “how do I use my time now that I am home all day, and so are my kids?” Schools are still learning how to best instruct their students in the virtual world and amid this craziness, we’ve probably found ourselves with a lot more unstructured time than we’re used to with too many things to do and not enough time in the day to get it all done.
So much of our child’s day at school is planned out for them and their routine is quite clear: school, homework, play, eat, rest, sleep! Whether your child is still in remote schooling, hybrid, or in person, it helps to get our days planned out in order to create routine and structure for everyone in the family.
Tip #1: Map out weekly routines
Use a big visual weekly calendar to plot out your routine for each day of the week. Make it colorful and fun! Model this for your child to help them then map their week out. Color code classes, activities, breaks, and fun activities so that it is eye-catching and visual appealing to refer to on a daily basis! Incorporate things like your typical wake up time, school starting, different class times, hours to get your homework done, and mostly importantly breaks whether they are for food, movement, transitions or just some much needed relaxation!
Outlining your daily routine together will help your child know what is expected of them during the day. They have a place to refer when they have some “unstructured time” and know when they should be doing homework or when they can do an activity of their choice so that you have some freedom to get your work done They can also easily see the upcoming days and what will be ahead. This will help with prioritizing when it comes time for them to do their homework.
This beautiful acrylic weekly schedule is from Etsy!! Go heck it out.
For young kids (K-2nd)
Write out on magnets or laminated cards with velcro the elements of your child's schedule and put them into a “bank” (this can be a basket, ziplock bag, or wall pocket)
For example, Zoom call, PE, Recess, Lunch, Free time, Homework, etc.
The night before, allow your student (with your help) stick each of these onto a physical visual timeline
The practice of visually moving the pieces of their day created connection to their schedule
Create a piggy bank of options for their “unstructured time.” (can be written on popsicle sticks, paper, etc.) Include some productive games, reading, arts and crafts, exercise, or whatever else your child likes to do! when you hear, “I’m board” you can have this as a go to.
For older kids (3rd-high school)
Print out a weekly calendar (can use a template from google or passion planner https://passionplanner.com/ or this freebie from freebiefindingmom. Head over to shop and download! ) Tape it somewhere they can visually see. With highlighters, have them color-code their classes, breaks, activities, homework, and scheduled downtime.
You can also laminate or put the weekly calendar (before highlighted) into a sheet protector and use dry erase markers to write on it!
Buy a dry erase calendar from staples that you can change and decorate each month.
Use chalk or whiteboard paint and get creative in creating space that a calendar can be created!
