Preparing for Online Learning

With daycares, preschools and schools returning to providing programing for children across the country families are faced with the choice how their children will be attending school. With COVID-19 precautions still a consideration, some families are choosing to keep their children home and attempt online learning for the school year. In a previous post, we talked about preparing your child and your home for the back to school transition, but here we'll talk about preparing if you are starting online learning.

Here are some key tips to help with making the transition to online learning smooth as successful!

Preparing Materials / Workspace

The organization of space and materials of your child’s new “online” workspace is key for success. This is important, not only so that they have everything with them, but so that they are able to independently attend their classes and do their work without needing you around. Checking in with the teacher when classes start might be a good idea - will they need a USB, certain computer programs to download? Are they working in a busy house? If so, would it be beneficial for them to have headphones? Your back to school list might look different and might change as the teacher figures out the best way to facilitate classes.

Learning the Online Program

With new online learning comes new computer programs to operate. When your child's school sends out information about the program they'll be using to teach, start learning how to operate the program so that you can teach your child and support them throughout the school year. Have your child practice logging in and out of the programs they'll be using, and putting themselves on and off of mute. If there is a designated space for them to type in questions or answers, have them get familiar with this so they won't be lost while the teacher is attending to the rest of the class. Figure out if there is a certain way to save and upload documents, and have them become comfortable with these processes - your child might still need your help doing these things for the first while of classes, but the more independent they can become, the easier this year will be on everyone. Remember everyone learns at different speeds (especially with technology!) so be patient with your child and yourself!

New Styles of Communication

Because your child is not in the classroom with their teacher, written communication skills will be more important than ever. Help your child set up a designated school email to ensure their emails don't get filtered to junk, and then teach your child how to send an appropriate email to their teacher. If you have a younger child, connect with the teacher at the beginning of the year to ensure they have your information along with your child's. You can also check in with the teacher about how deadlines and homework will be communicated - don't stress about knowing everything your child is doing in school, but check in at least twice a week with your child (not the teacher) about their deadlines. If you're concerned your child is missing deadlines or not writing down homework, you might reach out to their teacher, but remember teachers will be busy with lesson planning and communicating with all of the other parents as well, so please be patient!

Another great resource to keep in mind for online group work and communication with teachers is google documents. This online platform is similar to word documents, but work can be shared with your child's teachers so that they can give feedback for their work. Students can also work together on a document all at the same time for group projects.

Social Learning Opportunities

Being away from the physical classroom may mean missing out on meaningful social learning opportunities that students would otherwise be exposed to with their peers and classmates. Interacting with other children allow kids to learn social skills, chat about non-school related things, and share knowledge and information which can enhance their learning. Online learning, however, can still help facilitate these social connections if the opportunity is made. It might not be as organic as playing on the playground or chatting in class, but it still counts. Study dates can be set up for children to do school work via facetime or zoom, which can encourage the in class conversation. Setting up virtual playdates for younger children to watch a story being read together, or doing a craft or simple worksheet, can encourage storytelling and show and tell.

Encouraging Physical Activity

Another piece that might be hard to translate into online learning is gym class and the physical activity that children have at school. Whether you have a gym teacher deep down in your soul, are a basketball fanatic, or have no background in physical activity, you can help provide movement in your child's day. Not only is it important to move for physical health, but also to help with the quarantine phenomenon of "zoom fatigue". If you've taken part in any online meetings, courses, or "happy hours" during quarantine, you might have experienced the exhaustion from these experiences. Encouraging breaks between screen time can help your child combat "zoom fatigue" and focus better when they do sit down again to continue working. A small movement break can involve a walk, yoga movement, a dance party, maybe shooting a few hoops in the backyard. Pinterest is a great place to find some ideas for movement breaks!

Whatever your plan is, whatever this year brings, take some time to chat with your child about how they are doing and what kind of support they might need from you. If you don't think you can provide the academic support they might need, perhaps finding a tutor who can help with practice and homework can help! Remember, online learning in this capacity is new and challenging for our teachers too, so if something isn't working or your child needs extra support, please be polite in your communication and feedback to teachers! We are all learning together, be patient, be kind, and don't give up!

Written by: Kristina Marchiori OT Reg. (Ont.)

Helping Your Child Become Comfortable Wearing a Mask

As an occupational therapist, I work with children and families to help them find success in their meaningful occupations (which is what people want and need to do). Occupational therapists work with children to help build a variety of skills needed for their meaningful activities. Some of these things are fun like learning how to move your body so you can jump and play, while others are things children may not want to practice, such as getting dressed, handwriting or tying their shoes. Often times, children may have sensory sensitivities which make these activities extremely uncomfortable (ex: a child might refuse to wear a certain type of clothing because of the sensation of the fabric on their skin). As occupational therapists working with children, we try to come up with some fun and creative ways for families to help their children build these skills. 

One of the big things that will be new for preparing for back to school this year, is the Ontario requirement for children grade 4-12 to wear masks in the classroom. Wearing a mask seems to be a bit of a challenge for some adults, so one can only imagine how challenging it might be for a child who is sensitive to new experiences or certain fabrics to cover their mouth and nose for a full day.

With research and knowledge about COVID-19 changing daily (as science often does), some parents of even the younger kiddos might want to get their child prepared to wear a mask if they’re returning back to in person schooling in September.

• Use simple words to explain masks! – With school still a few weeks away, start explaining to your child WHY we wear a mask, why it’s important to keep it on, when we can take it off (especially what those rules might look like at school). Answer their questions honestly, and give them support; help them with deep breathing if they are feeling nervous about it and gently remind them “it’s ok”, to help them relax.

• Lead by example – one of the best ways that kids learn is by seeing the behaviour the adults in their lives are modelling. Be sure to wear your mask when heading out to public places and keep as much positivity around wearing the mask as you can. If your child sees that it’s not a big deal to put on your mask, they will be more willing to try wearing it vs if they overhear you complaining about the fabric or about not being able to breathe. Children are sponges, remember they will adopt the behaviour and attitude of the adults around them!

• Start practicing NOW – If it took you awhile to adjust to wearing a mask whenever you went into public indoor spaces, imagine how long it might take a child to get used to it. Take this time with weeks before school starts to have your child start wearing a mask a little bit each day. Gradually increase the time they need to wear it as the days go on (ex: first day just wear it for a couple minutes, then a little bit at the grocery store, and then maybe an hour or two on errands). Gradually practicing wearing the mask more and more will be an easier transition compared to never wearing a mask and then wearing a mask for the whole school day come September.

• If they are connected to a stuffed animal, get a mask for their stuffed animal too! – Sometimes children learn better if they take on the role of a teacher to teach their toys, the role of a doctor to take care of their toys, etc. Perhaps when practicing wearing a mask, include your child’s favourite toy! (ex: Ok Sarah can you help Teddy put on their mask before we go to the shop?) And then you can always ask them why the stuffed animal is wearing their mask and see if your child understands why it’s important.

• Find activities around the house where you can practice wearing the face mask! – connecting positive and calm experiences to an object can help a child become more willing to practice using it. Perhaps having the child use a mask to cover their face during a game of peekaboo can help them get used to the material against their face. Taking funny selfies/photos with the mask on can bring some laughter, or even wearing masks with your child while doing calm activities like colouring or screen time for a few minutes at a time. Just like practicing getting dressed, and practicing handwriting skills/grips, kids are more likely to participate in something if they can have a little bit of fun too.

• Get fun patterned masks! – From my experience working in a daycare and at camps, kids LOVE dressing up, especially if they can compare and share their costumes with their friends. Buy or DIY masks (or have your child help you DIY and decorate a mask!) that have your child’s favourite cartoon characters, superhero logos or even just their favourite colours/patterns, and get them EXCITED about showing their friends their masks.

At the end of the day, we are all worried about what is going on in the world, but we have to make sure that we are compassionate and understanding. If your child is upset by their mask, accept their feelings and comfort them. Give them the information they need to understand, and be patient with them. Be a role model, an emotional support, and make learning to wear a mask fun!

Kristina Marchiori OT Reg. (Ont.)

For more great content check out her blog at https://beyourownsunshinee.ca/2020/08/11/getting-back-to-school-helping-your-child-become-comfortable-wearing-a-mask/

Return to School - Be Kind

As September is around the corner, the discussion of school starting again is most likely on everyone’s minds. After finishing the last school year virtually, will you be sending your child to school come September or keeping them home to attempt virtual learning once more? There is no right or wrong answer here, but no matter what your September looks like, it will most likely look and feel a lot different.

Putting aside precautions that now need to be taken due to COVID-19, and the arrangements families are taking to keep themselves safe during the school year, there may be other issues that come up as we come close to the school year. Some children may feel anxiety about going back to school, about seeing friends and teachers, about leaving their parents’/caregivers’ sides (caregivers, this might be something you’re feeling too!). There might be a loss of routine/schedule that needs to be rebuilt before heading back to school, and for some children who might have additional needs, this might mean connecting with teachers to remind them of the accommodations they need.

As with adjustment to anything, RE-adjustment after this disruption in our “normal” lives might take some time. Consider the things that you may have done to help transition your child into kindergarten, into a new school, or into a higher level grade. Whatever your strategy might be to help get ready to go back to school, remember to be patient and kind; to your child, your family, your school and yourself. Transition is tough for everyone – emotions might get high, things might seem overwhelming, and excitement that your child might have in going back to school to see their friends and teachers might change from day to day.

Here are a couple tiny tips to help start the transition back to school, whether your children are going back to in person school or into online learning.

1.     Start talking about going back to school

a.     Whether your child is going back to school in person or online, there still will be some anticipation into what September will look like. Children understand more than some people think, and can often pick up on anxieties or anticipation that comes with transition. Let them know what the plan is, even if that just means reminding them it is August and September means that they will be doing some school work.

2.     Talk about the different choices for September

a.     As a parent/caregiver, you are the one making the choices about sending your child back to in person schooling or keeping them home for online learning, but keep them up to date with what is going on. Let them know before September that they are staying home to learn, or that if they’re going back to school in person, some friends might not be there because they’re staying home. Let them know what the plan is, and that some friends might be doing something different because their parents made a different choice. You most likely will have to have this conversation at some point because come September, your observant child will start asking questions when things feel different.

3.     Start practicing being in a routine a few weeks before school starts

a.      Has your child been sleeping in way later than the time school might start? Or perhaps is eating later or earlier than school meal times? Or perhaps they wake up and stay in pajamas all day? While there’s no problem with that during the summer and while we’ve been home during quarantine (we all love a good sleep in or cozy PJ day), school starting means there will be more of a schedule. Start easing your way into that routine by perhaps enforcing a bit more of a curfew, getting your child to wake up a bit earlier each day, and practice getting dressed at least a couple days a week. A gradual transition back into a school schedule can be helpful for in person and online schooling, so that children are ready to focus on their learning.

4.     Talk about and practice COVID-19 protocols with your child before school starts

a.     With health information changing constantly, you might not have a finalized back to school plan to follow just yet, but there are some things you can start working on with your child to prepare them to head back to the classroom. Practice good hand washing routines at home and explain to your child when they should be washing or sanitizing their hands (entering and exiting buildings, before and after meals, if they touch their face etc). Talk about hygiene practices that are especially important during this time, such as not sharing a water bottle, keeping your hands out of your nose and mouth and not putting toys near your mouth. If your child will be wearing a mask in the classroom (some grades are required, other grades will be encouraged so it’s best to get them ready regardless), start practicing wearing a mask. If you haven’t been to a park or public place where other children are, and haven’t had to talk about physical distancing yet, talk about why that’s a new rule and how it is important to follow in the classroom and during playtime/recess. There are a lot of protocols and new rules to think about, so don’t worry if your child doesn’t remember them all right away. But remember that the sooner you start talking about these things, the easier they will adjust to being back to school when they are being reminded of new rules by their teachers.

This is a strange time for everyone, and everyone has been through different forms of anxiety and stress, whether they are parents or not, so please remember that when sending your child back to school you should be kind to everyone during this transition. Teachers, school administration and support staff are doing their best with the Ontario guidelines to make back to school as safe and beneficial as possible.

In the next few weeks we will continue to share more topics about going back to school – as a parent, caregiver, what do you think is important to learn? As a teacher, school administrator or therapist, what kind of tips or back to school skills do you think are important to talk about before September rolls around?

Feel free to connect with us at info@willowot.com or on our Instagram page www.instagram.com/willowot

August 2020

Kristina Marchiori OT Reg. (Ont.)

Willow OT is going ONTARIO wide!

Willow OT has expanded to provide VIRTUAL Occupational Therapy services and programming for families and clients across Ontario!

Families and clients will now have the ability to access assessments, interventions and other virtual programming remotely from the comfort of their homes. We have been working hard to design therapeutic approaches that utilize the best combination of technological tools and interactive, hands on materials.

Also, don’t miss out on our variety of unique Virtual Camps available for all ages and abilities! Our virtual workshops focus on foundational OT target areas such as school readiness, fine or gross motor skills, social skills, life skills and self-regulation)!

NEW REFERRALS WELCOME!

Email us at info@willowot.com or give us a call (647) 633-6515 for details!