By Emma 
This school year, many parents are choosing to homeschool their children or sign them up for virtual classroom instruction.
While some families were already considering this based on their children’s needs, the primary reason for the surge in homeschooling this year is the coronavirus pandemic.
New research suggests that four in five parents have seriously considering homeschooling their kids for the upcoming school year.
According to an OnePoll survey in conjunction with Crispy Green involving 2,000 parents of school-aged children revealed that 43% are thinking about homeschool for the 2020-2021 school year.
One-fourth of these parents stated that if the decision to re-open school was up to them, they wouldn’t allow their children to attend this fall.
Eighty-one percent of parents have considered homeschooling because they are concerned about their children’s health, and 82% of the parents polled said they’ve never been this concerned about sending their kids back to school.
What Are Parents’ Specific Concerns?
About 75% of the parents polled stated that they are worried about keeping their children healthy.
Sixty-one percent of these parents are concerned that their kids won’t thoroughly wash their hands, which is particularly scary due to the pandemic.
Due to this concern, 49% of parents said they plan to teach their children how to properly wash their hands.
Parents also shared that they are spending much more time discussing safety precautions with their kids and reiterating the concept of personal space.
It’s no secret that we’re all adjusting to a “new normal” when it comes to schooling, technology, and work schedules, so 49% of parents have shared that they provide their children with assistance and educational resources to help them complete academic assignments. This can be in the form of tutoring, workbooks, learning games, or signing up for the Best online courses to help master a particularly tricky subject.
Despite taking the necessary precautions, nearly 80% of parents still don’t feel that their children will be fully prepared for the school year.
It’s also likely that getting children out the door each morning for school will take considerably longer than in previous years.
Parents also worry that their children won’t be able to participate in their normal social activities like playing on sports teams, participating in school plays, or playing in the band.
There’s also a chance that children won’t get the education they need in a traditional classroom setting because they’ll be too anxious about keeping their health intact.
The Cost of Traditional School vs Homeschool
Parents have to spend more on school supplies to prepare for an online school or a “conventional” classroom setting.
Mothers and fathers will likely spend about $150 more to buy supplies like masks, sanitizer, and face guards to ensure their children are safe at school.
Parents also want COVID-19 tests and temperature checks to be administered on school grounds to monitor students‘ health. Many schools are mandating smaller classrooms so students can adhere to social distancing guidelines.
A spokesperson also asserted that whether children are learning online or going back to a physical classroom, parents will be intently focused on their children’s immune systems to prevent all illnesses, especially COVID.
Resources for Parents
It’s important for parents and children to eat a nutritious diet. This means moms and dads are packing lunches filled with fruits and vegetables and providing healthy snacks throughout the virtual school day.
It’s important to stay away from excessive sugar to boost the immune system and help prevent childhood obesity.
Although some parents are sending their kids back into the classroom, they will still need online resources to provide additional academic assistance.
The reading tutor program Frisco TX is a viable resource for kids who need assistance with reading comprehension and pronunciation. Some libraries are also providing virtual storytime for children to encourage reading and creativity.
Even though parents are fearful and cautious about the new school year, over 70% of them stated that their kids are handling the pandemic significantly better than they would at their child(ren)’s age.
This provides some hope that children will adhere to regulations put in place to protect their health throughout the year.
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