Even though it may feel like we’re still getting over the stress of back-to-school during a global pandemic we experienced back in August/September, that stress might be making a reprisal in January.
The Challenge
With a new semester always comes changes, but this year could be more than ever before:
- Your child’s school day schedule is probably changing.
- New subjects might be added to their curriculum.
- Teachers might be adjusting their approach to remote learning.
The Upside
But there’s good news! You have two major advantages on your side right now:
- The ability to plan ahead.
This isn’t like April, or even September. You know what’s coming after winter break and you have time to prepare for it. - You’ve got experience.
We didn’t know what this school year would be like, but that experience (as exhausting as it has been) can help you make choices to support your family better.
By taking some time to fill in your child care gaps, everyone just might feel a bit more prepared this semester.
Child Care Options
There are a lot of different types of child care options out there. The key is to think about what exactly you need, decide what you’re comfortable with, and find the type of help that’s the right fit.
Nanny
A nanny is an option for parents who want the most flexibility to personalize and individualize care for their child.
Schooling Pod
Similar to Family Pods or Quarantine Bubbles, a Schooling Pod pulls together collective resources to address the new hurdles COVID has presented for families with school-aged kids.
Tutors
A private tutor for a specific subject (or that new kind of math) can help both you and your child feel more confident about their education.
Babysitters
Having a go-to sitter to spend time with them outside of educational hours is great for them and gives you time and space to have to yourself.
Homework Help Sitter
Their responsibilities are to assess what work the kids need to do for the next school day, help them finish it, and make sure their backpacks are packed and ready to go.
Virtual Sitting
This can help parents who are working from home when their kids just need a little help working through their schoolwork while they sit on the other side of the room on work calls.
We’re still in the long haul of keeping life going while we battle this pandemic. The promise of a vaccine is on the horizon, but there’s still a lot of life between now and “returning to normal.” Whatever it is that your family needs to take care of yourself and keep everyone sane, take the time to figure out how to do it.
