Two years ago, most families wouldn’t have dreamed of pulling their kids out of school. But nearly 38 million COVID cases later, the safety of schools in the U.S. is hardly a guarantee. Data from last school year suggests that schools are not a major site of transmission, particularly when precautions are in place. But with mask-wearing waning and the Delta variant on the loose, it only makes sense to be worried for kids who aren’t yet eligible to get the COVID vaccine. There are just so many factors to consider. So, how do you make an informed decision? Here’s what to know.
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There are rarely risk-free decisions or one-size-fits-all answers, but this risk assessment matrix and decision tree can help parents make the best one.
How to Talk to Kids About Their School Day
It’s easy to fall into “how was your day?”-mode with your kid. That is, you ask them vague questions about school, few of which inspire them to share much. You can do better.
When starting up conversations about school, it usually helps to be transparent. It’s helpful to segue into conversations with kids with a similar story of your own. If you want to ask about their teacher, you can say something like: “When I was in elementary school, my favorite teacher would always tell us stories about the moon. What do you like about your teacher?” Sharing your own story breaks down the wall and makes kids more comfortable to have difficult conversations they may have previously put off.
That said, here are a few back-to-school conversations starters to have with kids.
- Where do you play most at recess?
- What did you make at school today?
- Did anything make you sad today?
- Did anything make you happy today?
- Who is your closest friend at school?
- What do you like about your teacher?
- If you could have a class pet, what would it be?
- Who makes you smile the most at school?
- Who gets you the most upset at school?
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3 Simple Time Management Strategies Working Parents Swear By
These tactics helped parents manage their time better during the pandemic months. Maybe they can help you, too.
1. I Do “Homework” With My Kids
“My job requires a lot of work off the clock. So, I make a point to do it at the same time my kids are doing their homework. We all sit at the kitchen table, they do their schoolwork, and Daddy does his work. It’s been a great way to keep myself honest in terms of dedicating and managing my time with work, and it seems like it’s setting a good example for my kids. If I finish early, I stick around and help them. Then we all get to relax together. It’s a great system.” Michael, father of two, Pennsylvania
2. I Live by the Before-Bed To-Do List
“Before I go to bed, I look back on the day and write down the five most important things that come to mind at that moment. I’m usually pretty sharp right before bed, so I’m able to think back and remember, ‘Oh, yeah, I forgot to email so-and-so.’ So that’ll go on the list. ‘Or, I need to order more supplies based on sales today.’ I limit it to five so it’s not too overwhelming, and then I know exactly what I need to knock out when the day starts in the morning, and before the house starts stirring with virtual classes, my wife also working from home, and just the general chaos of everyday life. Waking up with a purpose helps me manage my time.” — Darryl, father of three, Ohio
3. I Use a Virtual Assistant
“Sort of. It’s an app called Focus Booster. At the office, I had an assistant who would remind me of meetings or, better yet, pull me out of meetings when I needed to be. Since we’ve gone virtual, it’s a little trickier to organize a schedule so precisely. This app is basically a virtual assistant that sets timers, starts meetings, and tracks my productivity throughout the week. So, I schedule my work stuff, but also alarms for breaks, lunch, checking in with the kids, etc. It’s been really interesting — and surprising — to see how much time gets devoted to certain things, and it’s been incredibly helpful in helping me manage my time better.” — Brian, father of three, New York
Here are some more work-from-home strategies parents swear by.
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