M Health Fairview Occupational Therapist Beth Fredrickson stopped by KARE 11 News at 4 to give families techniques for coping with this unusual school year.
Fredrickson gives three tips for families.
- Establish new routines and familiarize kids with safety precautions like wearing masks all day. (Kids are facing different scenarios every day so establishing routines can be a challenge.) Visual schedules can be very helpful.
- There are benefits in taking breaks. Create time for both free play and structure. Taking breaks improves attention to task. The typical in-school day includes a lot of opportunities to stand and move; families can create the same opportunities at home.
- Try something for a little while and see what works, and allow your family to adjust. Each child’s needs will be different; know your own child and adjust as needed