If you’re like most parents just trying to do their best for their children in these difficult times, faux experts have increasingly flooded your social media feeds with anxiety, fear, and deliriously false information as the weeks leading up to the start of school fly by. As you begin to make the difficult decision about whether or not to let your favorite student return to a traditional school, the deluge of information—both accurate and false—can seem overwhelming.

Even before the current issue of the pandemic loomed constantly in the background, there have always been reasons to consider whether or not non-traditional education would be best for your student. In order not to get completely lost in the noise of the moment as you decide what’s best for your family, try to remember these considerations while you assess your situation.

Accentuating the “Normal” in “The New Normal”

As you speak to your favorite student about their own desires for the future, you might hear this refrain: “I want to go back to school.” Although of course, you’d like to consider this request, be sure to assess the underlying issue: that your children might actually just be asking for a return to some semblance of normalcy. When weighed and measured against their health, that desire might not stack up: but, there are still options available that might make the transition into the next year easier. Returning to school online does not necessarily have to mean a diversion from their typical life—instead, schooling online limits the potential for infection, which actually promotes the chances of further normalcy in the future. Meeting up with friends won’t happen at all if we can’t stop the spread, and socially distanced visits and activities can continue. If you are leaning towards online schooling while your child argues to return to a traditional school, let students know that their health is important above all else.

Socialization Salvation

You might be thinking that getting back to traditional schooling is important for your student’s successful socialization—but, what does socially-distanced schooling look like? There shouldn’t be any lunch table groups, any lockers, any recess games, any study halls, any sitting next to friends, any talking to people in the hallway, or any dances—even though, most likely, non-distanced slip-ups will occur. So, although you’ll want your children to benefit from the social experience, a return may hinder those activities in the long run. A non-traditional, online school will ensure that your student is progressing academically, and will make expanding a safe social “bubble” a reality—by controlling what can be controlled, it will allow you and your student social “options” with valued friends that will benefit them emotionally and developmentally in the long-term, rather than risking their lifelong health for a short-term goal.

Stop Treading; Start Swimming

You might be afraid that your child will be “left behind,” but by whom? The entire country is grappling with the same issue, leaving all children in the same predicament. The right online school can support their academic goals in a low-stress, physically safe environment, as your student connects with the very best educators available. Treading water in fear—and diving into the deep-end with hands tied—might actually be holding your child back in the long run. Consider prioritizing their safety while maintaining their sanity: and encourage them to not only keep their heads above water, but to swim to shore. If your student is still unsure about attending online classes, take time to assess our curriculum, both academic and social. Maybe then, the decision will be simpler to make! And of course, we’d love to talk to you about how Mountain Heights Academy is changing the online schooling system. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to us.