Throughout 2020, we have looked at the ways the pandemic has affected our lives and the lives of our children. Now we face the return to school, primarily in virtual form, as we continue to avoid the spread of the novel coronavirus. There are additional concerns with preparing your girls for a virtual learning environment, specifically the psychological effect. How can you help your girls, and yourself, get through the school year in these unprecedented times? 

Prepare a School Schedule

Depending on how you choose to format your school year, whether you’re teaching at home or using the programs established by your school district, it’s important to create a schedule. Preparing a schedule for at-home learning, in conjunction with the remote school requirements, will help you and your child maintain a sense of normalcy. Your schedule may look very different depending on the age of your children, but it can also help you if you’re working from home and need uninterrupted time during the day. 

Establish a Sleep Routine

Just as important as their school schedule, a sleep routine will help keep your girls healthy and engaged. While we are all experiencing additional stress and overwhelm due to the pandemic, it’s important to maintain a good sleep schedule for optimal health. Establish a bedtime routine at the same time every night. Adjust the sleep routine based on your child’s age, but remain consistent. 

By the same token, if you’ve been staying up late and experiencing insomnia due to added stress, a sleep routine can help get you back on track. Other tricks to help with sleep include:

• Keeping the bedroom cool at night.
• Avoiding screens within 30 minutes of lights out. 
• Not eating within 3 hours of going to bed. 

Provide Solutions for Virtual Fatigue

With the addition of video interaction into our lives in a way we never really planned for, virtual fatigue is very real. You may hear it referred to as “Zoom Fatigue,” named after the most common video conferencing tool. To help combat it, try a few exercises such as: 

• Deep breathing or a light meditation before the meeting or class begins.
• Discourage multitasking – just like in a real classroom, your child should be paying attention to the speaker. 
• Take breaks between sessions – if you can, get physically active during these times. 
• Talk about the experience with your children every evening to see how they’re feeling that day. 

Stay Active at Home

Physical activity remains just as important now as it did before, but it might look different because of the pandemic and once summer is over. Earlier this year, we showcased a few fitness ideas you can do and remain physically distanced and safe while outdoors. As temperatures cool, consider bringing your physical activity inward by sharing yoga sessions with your kids. 

At Lady Bug for Girls, we know things may look different this year but we’re still here to support and encourage your girls’ sense of wellbeing. Contact us to learn more.