Ouiam El Hassani tells us how to help kids thrive during virtual schooling
Virtual learning is the reality for many families right now, and the question most of us are asking is: How can we help our children thrive during virtual school? As you may know virtual school has some unavoidable developmental downsides for children, including less in-person interaction with teachers, a smaller range of visual focus (a side effect of increased screen time) and less physical movement throughout the day.
We know children need to move and play as part of their learning. Children can’t concentrate for hours on end in one position. So, what can we do?
We can introduce what I call: Screen Breaks – a way to fill the gaps both in children’s daily school schedule, and in their developmental needs.
Knowing what your kids need most can help you pick the right break time activities. Remember that kids, like adults, have good days and bad days, tired days and energetic days… and the weather affects everything of course, so needs will change.
However, here are some brain breaks that will help you and your child:
Movement Brain Breaks
To facilitate movement, you can plan an obstacle course using whatever you have in your home. Mark out the course with tape. Encourage kids to jump, crawl, spin, hop, run and roll. Jumping jacks, bear crawls and crab walks can help further challenge your child’s strength. Hide and seek, tag, races or dance parties are also awesome ways to get children moving.
MINDFULNESS BRAIN BREAKS
To help a child who has been struggling emotionally consider activities that help build them up. You can do mindfulness exercises where you encourage your child to be present in the moment, focus on their surroundings and feel some mental clarity. Sometimes chores for kids, like folding laundry or preparing snacks, can be restorative breaks and simultaneously facilitate fine motor skill development, provide sensory play and knock out some of a parent’s work.
Other more everyday activities like a snuggle on the sofa while reading a favorite book, listening to music or making some artwork may also fill your child’s cup.
BRAIN BREAKS THAT TEACH SKILLS
If your child is struggling academically to grasp key concepts, it’s important to still allow academic breaks. Children need time off to learn, just like adults do. But you can find ways to reinforce literacy or math skills in your play. Choose board games with number concepts. Send your child on a flashlight guided hunt to find letters or words in the house.
SCREEN-FREE BRAIN BREAKS
If children are negatively reacting to all the screen time of virtual school, they may be under- or overstimulated. Being bored or overwhelmed undermines learning. Some children may experience eye strain and complain of headaches, excessive blinking or rub their eyes. For all of these screen-associated problems, getting unplugged and outdoors is really critical. Going for a walk or bike ride, or gardening, can all be cures for too much screen time. If you’re stuck indoors, a sensory experience like working with playdough, kinetic sand or water play can help children recalibrate their level of stimulation.
Finally, let’s not forget that kids should be encouraged to have ideas and opinions about how they spend their off time, too. If you can, find a compromise where some of the breaks are used towards goals you think are important and some allow your children to choose. For example, if you want your child to get energy out, write down four active ideas and let them pick. When children get to decide, the activity will be more engaging and fun for everybody involved.
