For tons of children and parents across the country, school this year looks a lot different. Instead of preparing students for full days on campus, some parents have to navigate the world of virtual learning.

Goodbye shopping for new school supplies, poring over new class schedules, and mapping out bus routes. Hello installing new computer software, planning lunch meals at home, and googling “what should my __ grader learn this year?”.

Today families have two advantages to prepare for virtual learning that they didn’t have earlier this year. Experience and time. If your child’s school is continuing virtual learning, start preparing your kids for another year of learning at home. Here are 5 ways to get started.

Set Aside Time to Discuss What Worked and Didn’t Work with Virtual Learning Last Year

By now, you and your family will have a good idea of what in virtual learning worked and didn’t work. Throughout this semester, sit down with your kids to talk about their virtual learning experience. Evaluate what they need in order to learn. Talk about what you should and shouldn’t do to help their learning. And collectively decide what the whole family’s schedule needs to look like in order for all of you to stay on track with your own work.

Lastly, have every member of the family create a list of what they like and don’t like about virtual learning. Give them enough time to talk about their own unique challenges and accomplishments during this semester.

Set Up More Social Distancing Learning Opportunities

Now is the time to start brainstorming how your child can get more support during this new school year. The first place you can go to for support is their school. While all schools are under pressure right now, some are offering extra tutoring classes and organizing study groups.

Next to seeing what extra help your local school has, think about networking with your inner circle. In between your friends and family, you can set up your own virtual learning support group. Organize a group study date with other kids in your child’s class. Or ask a family member if they’d be willing to study over FaceTime with your little ones.

Lastly, if you’re set on your child catching up on a subject they fell behind in last year, or you want them to advance on a certain subject, sign them up for an outside tutoring class like our Think Academy October Basic Math Class. With curriculum and courses that meet the common core math standards, all our October Basic Math students will finish their classes prepared for advanced coursework and standardized tests!

Create a Designated Workspace

One way you can help your kids separate “hangout at home time” to “learn and study time” is to help them create a designated workspace. Creating a separate workspace for your children will help them stay focused and present during the school day. Having a designated workspace for everyone in the household is also especially helpful when both kids and parents are working from home. . Once you’ve finished setting up your kid’s designated workspace, learn how to create the (almost) perfect study environment.

Prioritize Physical Activity

Research shows that kids physical activity and physical performance can improve academic performance. And if your child is virtual learning, they might experience a low amount of physical activity compared to past school years.

So this semester, take matters into your own hands and get your kids outside.  Now is the time to take advantage of the warm weather and plan family walks, hikes, or outside yoga time. It’s also the time to start brainstorming inside weather physical activities.

It’s tempting to let your kids spend hours watching tv or YouTube so you can focus on other priorities. But make the decision to rally your family up and start moving.

Spend Extra Time Practicing Math

Daily math exercises build critical thinking and logic skills, and prevent the summer slide, which a ton of kids will most likely experience this year. To keep your kids up to speed with the work in their new grade, spend some time each day solving different math problems together.

One easy way you can practice math with them is by working your way through our Think Academy Spooky Season Challenge. Click here to get your first full week of our Spooky Season Math problems.

Want to discover more ways you can prepare your child for the new school year? Sign up for our Think Academy newsletter!