So there’s a pandemic brewing outside, you’re working from home for the foreseeable future, and your kids’ school has been cancelled for, at the very least, the next few weeks. A natural question many parents might have is: How on earth can we make this work?

A ton of parents, the world over, are now in the position where they effectively have to homeschool their kids, in most cases while dealing with their own adult responsibilities. That’s a daunting task, but there are ways to make it work. Well, try to make it work. And the most important component, experts say, is a schedule.

And plenty of parents are taking matters into their own hands, including HuffPost Canada’s editor-in-chief Andree Lau.

“Made this schedule to keep myself and my family sane through the unprecedented weeks ahead,” she wrote on Facebook. “Funny how everything works – it’s gotten picked up by behavior groups, doctors, teachers, and has been shared more than 10k times that I know of. I feel like I just got an official mom trophy ????”

Set a routine
Setting up expectations in the same way teachers do can be beneficial to kids and can help establish structure, Melanie Auerbach, director of student support at D.C.’s Sheridan School, told The Washington Post. So having rules, like telling them they need to get dressed every day (no pajamas!) and that they need to respect your authority in a school setting can help make it easier for everyone.

Use educational resources online
There are a ton of online educational resources for kids of all ages, including Khan Academy, Belouga, National Geographic Kids and Learning Ladders. And author Nir Eyal’s free schedule building tool is very helpful.

Generally speaking, sticking to a schedule that’s relatively similar to the one they have at school is probably a good bet, according to Time Magazine. If they’re getting up at the same time they usually do, and having lunch at the same time they usually do, it will feel more like their regular school life.

Use the info you already know about your kids
As a parent, you have an advantage on teachers, because of how much you already know about your kids. Think about how and when they learn best. Are they most alert in the morning, or do they work best in the afternoon? Is there anything specific that really motivates them to work hard? That’s all useful info to put into your schedule.

And while parents are clearly in charge of the schedule, it’s also a good idea to give kids some input, too. Spending a little more time on the subjects they’re most interested in can keep them engaged, and offer a ton of educational and social benefits.

Build in breaks, recess, and lunch
Kids need breaks. Make sure to factor in down time, alone time, and outdoor play (if possible) so that kids can recharge, chill out, and have fun. It’s also a good idea to build in a lunch break where they’re not working.

Be realistic
This is an unprecedented situation, and most parents don’t have experience doing this. So give yourself a break if you don’t stick precisely to your schedule.

Make it fun
There are actually some benefits to spending all this time together. Auerbach suggests finding ways to get creative with learning, like getting kids to put on plays, teach their parents some of their favorite subjects, or put their math skills to use while cooking. Lots of things that aren’t explicitly academic can be learning opportunities, like taking a walk and looking at the trees and flowers.

Alexandra Stockwell, who homeschools her four kids, recommends taking some quarantine time to do family activities you might otherwise not have time for, like making home videos or writing letters of support to seniors living in isolation.

Some more tips and resources
Make sure you talk to your kids about what’s going on. They might not fully understand what the coronavirus is, but they’re definitely picking up on some of the stress and anxiety floating around, and might have heard some misinformation from their friends. Make sure to talk to them about what’s happening in an age-appropriate way, and really listen to their concerns.

  • Look for summer reading lists. Many schools, libraries, book store or other online resources can suggest books for your child’s age group.
  • Check out this endless list of resources. There are dozens and dozens of educational tool online, many of which are free or are offering discounted rates during the outbreak. Check out Amazing Educational Resources, which is updated with new links every few hours.

 

 

This article originally appeared on HuffPost Canada.