By Wendi Rank

I peeked in on my teenagers as they started their first day of virtual school last week. Did they need anything? Another notebook? My famous scones? A hug?

That check-in was more for me than them, a fact their rolled eyes and aggrieved expressions only emphasized.

Virtual schooling is a metaphor for parenting at large – there’s no instruction manual, and you won’t know if you’ve gotten it right until it’s all over. Befuddled parents often turn to professionals for help. That’s exactly what Victor Fiorillo at Philadelphia magazine did.

He spoke with Brandi Davis, a parenting consultant, for some virtual schooling tips. For me, the most salient suggestion was to refrain from helicoptering over my kids’ virtual day.

I tend to helicopter over everyone. Maybe because I’m a nurse. Maybe because I’m the oldest sibling. Maybe because I’m judgmental and think if you just let me help, you’ll do it right.

But Davis asks us to consider an in-person school day. Our kids manage themselves for eight hours. They make mistakes, break rules, and learn important lessons.

So no helicoptering. The Home Edit just loaded onto Netflix. That should keep you busy.

To that end, give the kids a workspace far from anxious parents and pesky siblings. When the space is inviting, with everything they’ll need for their school day, distractions and interruptions are minimized.

Davis also addresses screen time. School days spent in front of a computer tempt us to cut other screens from leisure time. Instead, reevaluate screen time. Make it shorter, or restrict it to certain days. An altogether ban may be a bit draconian.

Besides, if you blow through four episodes of The Home Edit in an afternoon, the kids will absolutely call you out on your hypocrisy.

Davis says the most crucial aspect of pandemic learning is your relationship with your kids. As long as you put that first, you’ll be in this mess together.

Although, if The Home Edit has its way, you won’t have a mess.

Find all of Davis’ recommendations here.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Wendi Rank is a Willow Grove native with a graduate degree from LaSalle University. She has worked as a school nurse, a registered nurse and nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She has previously written for the journal Nursing.

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