After ‘spring break,’ Manitoba parents tackle teaching kids at home

Families in Manitoba are settling into a new routine: kids learning from home.

Monday was supposed to be the first day back to classes for children following spring break. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened.

Winnipeg mom Erica has two kids aged eight and five, and said the novelty of being home with mom and dad has worn off for the kids.

“They were excited at first, but it’s been a struggle,” she said.

Like other Manitobans, Erica is expected to teach her kids the province’s education curriculum from home.

School boards and teachers have sent parents packages of information to help teach from home, where they can find resources to help, but more day-to-day guidance is wanted by some parents.

“I would like some help on how to structure our day, considering that my husband and I are working full time,” Erica said, “and how many hours we are supposed to be working with the kids.”

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Chandra Bolianaz, who has three kids at home, said she also wants help with scheduling her kids’ days.

“It was great that there was so much information, but now you have to actually go to these sites, actually pull everything out, figure out what you’re going to use,” Bolianaz said.

“I’m working with two totally different curriculum with kindergarten and third grade.”

The two parents say they’re in survival mode, trying to balance working from home and teaching their kids from the same place.

“I am concerned that she’s not going to be prepared to go into a full-day learning situation next year,” Bolianaz said about her five-year-old.

“But again she won’t be the only one, so hopefully they come up with a plan to manage those kids transition out of kindergarten and into first grade.”

“I’m terrified, it really overwhelms me to think past tomorrow,” Erica said. “Just because the kids, they need to get out and do something.”