Tips & Suggestions

Parents will need to think differently about how to support their children; how to create structures and routines that allow their children to be successful; and how to monitor and support their children’s learning. The ten guidelines provided below are intended to help parents think about what they can do to help their children be successful.

1—Establish routines and expectations

Mililani Uka encourages parents to set regular hours for their children’s school work. Students should plan to follow their regular schedule. Keep normal bedtime routines for students. (Don’t let them stay up late and sleep in!)

2—Define the physical space for your child’s study

Your child may have a regular place for doing homework under normal circumstances, but this space may or may not be suitable for an extended period of time. We encourage families to establish a space/location where their children will learn most of the time. This should be a public/family space, not in a child’s bedroom. It should be a place that can be quiet at times and have a strong wireless internet signal, if possible.

3—Monitor communications from school

Please listen to phone messages that come from school for the most up to date information. Teachers will communicate with parents through email. To contact teachers via email go to the grade level tab for contact information.

4—Begin and end each day with a check-in

Parents are encouraged to start and finish each day with a simple check-in. In the morning, ask what is your child learning today? What are their learning targets or goals? How will they spend their time? What resources do they require? What support do they need? This brief grounding conversation matters. It allows children to process the instructions they’ve received from their teachers. It helps them organize themselves and set priorities.

5—Take an active role in helping your children process and own their learning

Human beings learn best when they have opportunities to process their learning with others. Beyond the check-ins recommended at the start and end of each day, parents should regularly circle back and engage with their children about what they’re learning. However, it’s important that your child owns their work; don’t complete assignments for them, even when they are struggling.

6—Establish times for quiet and reflection

A huge challenge for families with multiple children will be how to manage all of their children’s needs, especially when those children are different ages and have different needs. There may be times when siblings need to work in different rooms to avoid distraction. Parents may even experiment with noise-cancelling headphones (no music necessary!) to block out distractions.

7—Encourage physical activity and/or exercise

Make sure your children remember to move and exercise. This is vitally important to their health, well-being, and to their learning. Encourage your child to be physically active for one hour per day. Think also about how your children can pitch in more around the house with chores or other responsibilities. Don’t let your children off the hook – expect them to pitch in!

8—Remain mindful of your child’s stress or worry

It is imperative for parents to help their children manage the worry, anxiety, and range of emotions they may experience. Although it may be difficult, do your best not to transfer your stress or worry to your children. They will be out of sorts, whether they admit it or not, and need as much normal routine as parents can provide.

9—Monitor how much time your child is spending online

Mililani Uka does not want its students staring at computer screens for 7–8 hours a day. Please encourage them to take breaks away from their devices.

10—Keep your children social, but set rules around their social media interactions

There’s always excitement and uncertainty when there is a significant change to a routine, like school. The initial excitement of school being closed will fade quickly when students start missing their friends, classmates, and teachers. Help your children maintain contact with friends and see them in person when circumstances permit. Please also monitor your children’s social media use, especially during an extended school closure. Older students will rely more on social media to communicate with friends. Social media apps such as SnapChat, Instagram, WhatsApp, or Facebook are not official, school-sanctioned channels of communication. Mililani Uka Elementary asks parents to monitor their children’s use of social media. Remind your children to be polite, respectful, and appropriate in their communications and to represent your family’s values in their interactions with others. A student’s written words and tone can sometimes offend or cause harm to others.