marchmarch30–april30–april12,12, 20202020 | new| newyorkyork 3131
helps me be active online for
work when I need to be.”Instruct in
small bursts.
“The rule of thumb is
attention spans are between
one and two minutes per
age of your child,” says
Julia Hainer-Violand, an
elementary-school teacher
and curriculum consultant.
“Teachers have a concept
called a ‘mini-lesson,’ where
you try to be as focused as
possible for between five and
ten minutes of instruction,
then they do the practice.”
Instruction can be spread
out in bite-size morsels over
the day or week. “One lesson
of the day might be talking
about a story. Then the next
day, we might draw our story.
Then we might come up
with some sentences. This
can be a weeklong lesson,
instead of trying to tackle an
entire story all in one day.”Don’t overdo it.
“If kids are getting frustrated,
they’re not going to be able
to learn. Take a break and
return to the activity later,”
Hainer-Violand says.Teach what
you know.
Likelifeskills,which
provideplentyoflearning
opportunities.“Nowis a great
timeforteachingthemyour
grandma’s spaghetti-sauce
recipe(andindoingso,
math,science,andreading
fromfollowinga recipe),”
saysSusieAllison,whoruns
thepopular@BusyToddler
Instagramaccount.Orhow
tocleanthebathroom.Don’t for getdowntime.
“Havinga scheduleis nice,
buttherehastobebalance
forkidsandadultsto
breathe.If spaceforplay and
downtimeis notprovided
foreveryone,”saysSims,
PHOTOGRAPHS: CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT, CHRISHON SIMS; LINDSAY POWERS; SARA KRAMER; KRISTIN KAYE; SUSIE ALLISON/BUSY TODDLER“kidswilleventuallyrevolt.”