What if you have to work when distance learning starts?
We’re all being put in a tough situation right now. Do we send our kids back to school or do online learning? Obviously in a perfect world you probably choose to stay home with your child, and let them learn online until we get control of this pandemic. However, a lot of us don’t have a choice. The bills have to be paid, so someone needs watch the kids. All of our families are different, and we all have to figure this out. Here are some ideas that can hopefully help you navigate this situation.
Where to start
If you haven’t already, start by talking to your work. Ask them if they’ll work with you and your schedule. I know you might feel like you already know what their answer will be, but it doesn’t hurt to find out for sure. If you work on a computer all day, you definitely have a shot of working from home. Even if it’s just a couple of days a week, it’s better than nothing. Chances are they’ll understand, and come up with a plan that’ll benefit you and them. If they say no, just put that in the back of your mind, so when the economy opens back up, you’ll know to start looking for jobs at companies who care about you. (Lol…jk…kinda)
Working at home isn’t possible. What now?
Alright, so working at home won’t work for you, but your student is being forced into online learning to start the year. What are your other options?
Summer Camps
Look into places who are offering summer camps. A lot of places are looking to recoup the money they lost out on in the beginning of the summer. There are several places extending their child care services for as long as school is out. Many are even offering to help your child with their online learning while they are there. It’s still somewhat like they’re going to school. Their teacher will be teaching them online, and they’ll be supervised in person by the adult that’s with them.
Daycare
There are a lot of daycares that are looking to recoup from lost money due to closures as well. Many of them aren’t at full capacity, and are offering to watch older kids who’s parents can’t stay home with them for their online learning. The concept is the same as above. You drop them off and an adult will supervise them as they get taught online by their school teacher.
After-school Care Programs
Talk to your school about who offers the after-school childcare program. Most of the time it’s run by a 3rd party that doesn’t have affiliation with the school or district. I know the YMCA and Boys and Girls Club are popular providers of after-school care programs. Speak with them and see if they are offering anything until school actually starts. Most of them are, because they don’t want to miss out on that money either.
Talk to your school
If none of the above is working out for you, talk to an administrator from your school. I guarantee that you’re not the first person to ask them what options there are for your child. I also guarantee that they’ve been planning for this, and should have a few viable options for you. If they don’t, then you need to find a new school for your child. (Lol. Just kidding. Kind of)
Start Now
If you don’t already have a plan, do yourself a favor and start now. The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be to find your child a spot somewhere.
This is a tough situation to be in, but you get nothing but RESPECT from me for being a hard working parent, and figuring this all out at the same time!
We’ll all look back at this someday and laugh without our masks on.
Hopefully.
