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Setting your student up for success with school "at home" learning and/or homework, can be an exciting and rewarding process. The journey however, may come with significant struggles, challenges and maybe even tears. You are not alone!
Setting your student up for success with school "at home" learning and/or homework, can be an exciting and rewarding process. The journey however, may come with significant struggles, challenges and maybe even tears. You are not alone!
Please note: If your questions or specific challenge areas are not addressed here, please reach out to your class teacher. A referral for Occupational Therapy may be indicated.
Please note: If your questions or specific challenge areas are not addressed here, please reach out to your class teacher. A referral for Occupational Therapy may be indicated.
Routines
Routines
Whether learning from home or at school, establishing strong routines and good habits are essential to creating successful school days.
Whether learning from home or at school, establishing strong routines and good habits are essential to creating successful school days.
Strategies to help support student routines in the home include:
Strategies to help support student routines in the home include:
- Consistent wake-up times
- Morning routine including breakfast and getting dressed
- A pre-established desk or work space (that does not change)
- Pre-organized snacks and lunch
- An environmental review to identify and minimize distractions
- Pre-discussed and regularly scheduled body and nutrition breaks.
Desk positioning
Desk positioning
When completing table top tasks, it is important to ensure that your desk and chair are the correct size and that the body is properly supported.
When completing table top tasks, it is important to ensure that your desk and chair are the correct size and that the body is properly supported.
Tips:
Tips:
- Watch to see that your child's feet are supported (use a box or stool if helpful).
- Support your back with a pillow if sitting too far forward on the seat.
- Choose a chair with armrests if your child slips and slumps.
- Remember to take breaks! Get up and move as needed. Consider alternative seating, for example standing stations or sitting on a physio ball.
Eye Health
Eye Health
Eye health is always an important consideration when ensuring students are set up for learning success .
Eye health is always an important consideration when ensuring students are set up for learning success .
The online platform which has become the foundation for distance learning requires consideration for how eye health is directly affected. We need to ensure that our children's eye health is monitored and taken care of.
The online platform which has become the foundation for distance learning requires consideration for how eye health is directly affected. We need to ensure that our children's eye health is monitored and taken care of.
Yearly eye exams are recommended for all children and is a service offered at no cost for children under the age of 17.
Yearly eye exams are recommended for all children and is a service offered at no cost for children under the age of 17.
Please watch Dr. Scott on Global news via the provided link (beside) and learn about the 20-20-20 rule for screen time and eye health information.
Please watch Dr. Scott on Global news via the provided link (beside) and learn about the 20-20-20 rule for screen time and eye health information.
Distractions
Distractions
Is it the puppy that wants to play, or bark or eat your slippers in front of you?
Is it the puppy that wants to play, or bark or eat your slippers in front of you?
The whirl of the washer or the knock at the front door?
The whirl of the washer or the knock at the front door?
Distractions at home can really be anything that is interfering in your ability to attend, focus and participate.
Distractions at home can really be anything that is interfering in your ability to attend, focus and participate.
Have a conversation with your child about what helps then focus and what is distracting. Make a plan and minimize the distractions.
Have a conversation with your child about what helps then focus and what is distracting. Make a plan and minimize the distractions.
Consider all of the senses. Are there smells, or noises that are interfering with learning? Is the environment visually distracting or too busy? Is the temperature too hot or too cold?
Consider all of the senses. Are there smells, or noises that are interfering with learning? Is the environment visually distracting or too busy? Is the temperature too hot or too cold?
Regulation
Regulation
Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and manage your energy states, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that are acceptable and produce positive results such as well-being, loving relationships, and learning.
Self-regulation is the ability to monitor and manage your energy states, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in ways that are acceptable and produce positive results such as well-being, loving relationships, and learning.
Children require support balancing their physiological needs, i.e. nutrition, rest, activity and emotions.
Children require support balancing their physiological needs, i.e. nutrition, rest, activity and emotions.
In order to create an atmosphere where your child may be available for learning, consider:
In order to create an atmosphere where your child may be available for learning, consider:
Regular body breaks
"Tools" to maintain one's attention (stress ball or small fidget)
Nutritional snacks that are alerting (i.e. crunchy, cold, sour)
Plenty of water
Balance school tasks with other fun and engaging activities that relax the body, mind and eyes, i.e. being outside.
Continue to be mindful of screen time access and amount of time on screens
Screen Time Guidelines
Screen Time Guidelines
Find current guidelines for how much is too much screen
Tips and strategies to support an environment of less screen time
Be a screen time and device use role model for your child
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