Your child’s education now features more screen time, more remote learning, and more opportunities to be tripped up in our online world. The good news is that you can still make a difference in your child’s life as they continue their journey from elementary school through high school. Here are some ideas to help your child thrive this school year.

• Design a workspace tailored to your child. Now that in-home learning is part of the normal routine, creating an environment tailored to your child’s learning style is key. While a separate room with dimmable lights and an air purifier might be ideal, a designated spot at the kitchen table with noise-cancelling headphones might just do the trick. The goal is to make a space that feels natural, with as little distractions as possible to encourage focused attention.
• Set them up for sleeping success. A good sleep routine is important for everyone, but it’s even more vital for kids’ cognitive development. According to the Mayo Clinic, kids ages 6 to 12 should be getting between 9 and 12 hours of sleep a night while teenagers need 8 to 10 hours. Count backwards from when they need to get up in the morning and add an hour to those ranges to allow for some downtime to help them transition their brains into sleep mode.

  Downtime should consist of lighter, more relaxed activities like reading or reflecting on the day and avoiding using electronic devices if possible. Well-rested kids are better able to concentrate during the school day and handle the additional distractions that come with the hybrid approach.

• Teach them the good – and not so good – of AI. Plagiarism and artificial intelligence (AI) are major topics in schools. With AI now built into every search engine, creating what seems to be new content and ideas is easier and faster than ever. Because of this, schools have implemented AI-identifying software right into their grading systems to allow teachers to catch plagiarism as soon as assignments are submitted.

  Talk to your kids about the importance of using AI simply as a research tool rather than a way to cut corners on an assignment. Like all new technology, there’s a learning curve associated with it and the quicker they can master the positive aspects of it while avoiding the negative, the better off they’ll be.

Every new school year is a new opportunity for new memories for both you and your children. By leaning into these and other ideas, you can help your kids thrive this school year.