LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The kids are home and teachers are trying to make sure students don't fall behind.
That's the reason why 13 Action News is committed to our 13 Connects community initiative called "Super Summer Rise."
We're focusing on our children's education and development as they stay home during the pandemic and into the summer months.
As many parents are learning right now, teaching their kids is hard.
The new demands being placed on parents now are unprecedented and so is the stress.
In this edition of our Super Summer Rise, anchor Todd Quinones learns how parents of younger kids can take the stress out of teaching.
"I think we're hanging in there. I think it's definitely been a challenge," said mom Kim Taylor.
Like a lot of parents, Taylor who is a family therapist is learning how to balance working from home with a full house.
In her case, she has a 20-year-old daughter and 9-year-old nephew living with her.
"I found myself struggling and stressed out trying to manage homeschooling with my nephew, whom we raised, and also dealing with clients," she said.
Taylor is not alone says licensed social worker Melissa Webb, who talked about some of the biggest mistakes parents are making.
"We are trying to maintain the schedules that don't matter. We are trying to say children get up at 7 o'clock they brush their teeth at 7:10 and breakfast is on the table by eight," Webb said.
Webb's message for parents is to just relax and keeps things simple and manageable...
It's a message Linea Westwood agrees with.
She is the principal of Wolff Elementary which is a 5-star rated school in Henderson.
"It's OK if they are not getting all this new information and learning a grade level above theirs. It's OK we are going to catch them up. If we can maintain what they already have that's really more than half the battle," Westwood said.
Principal Westwood recommends parents should keep in contact with teachers, make sure your kids read and stick with the basics while finding an educational twist.
"Watch your kids and see what they love. If they love a video game great let them play the video game and then talk to them about it and then ask him to write about it and then and draw about it," Westwood said.
"We're making history right now for years and years we're going to want to look back and remember this experience so encouraging your kids to keep diaries and even just writing down the things they do or writing about experiences they have," she added.
Social worker Melissa Webb says also keep in mind your kids are watching you.
"Mostly what our kids are learning from is us and how we deal with stress. So, if are screaming, yelling and being frantic than they learn when times get tough to do the same," she said.
Mom Kim Taylor has learned her limits.
"Definitely when I see him getting irritated or irritable we jump up we go for a walk that's one of the benefits of being at home," she said.
And the experts agree there will be plenty of time for classroom learning in the future. So parents take advantage of a new kind of education while you can.
