Prisma is the world’s most engaging virtual school that combines a fun, real-world curriculum with powerful mentorship from experienced coaches and a supportive peer community
Remote learning caught a lot of families and school districts off-guard. When social distancing mandates shuttered brick-and-mortar schools at the start of the covid-19 pandemic in the U.S., parents had to supervise every aspect of their child’s education, from math and reading to recess and physical education classes.
Among the unexpected challenges of that abrupt switch: how to keep kids healthy and active during remote learning — even as screentime skyrocketed and worries over coronavirus strained our collective mental health. Parents suddenly were responsible for keeping children active and incorporating regular physical activity into their routine (on top of all the other obligations that come from supervising a child’s school day).
Today, even as millions of children have gone back to school in-person, online learning has established itself as a part of the education landscape: for many, it’s occasional, tied to weather-related school closures or temporary accommodations; for others, virtual learning is a choice.
But whether your child learns from home on a regular basis, or just a few days over the course of the school year, there are steps you can take to help them adopt healthy habits.
A 1% improvement sounds small, but over the course of a year, the benefits compound (much like interest in a bank). This concept, that we teach in our Prisma High school life skills course, is the foundation of James Clear’s Atomic Habits, a groundbreaking guide to automating the things in our life that contribute to the person we want to be — and disincentivizing the things that detract from our sense of self.
One of Clear’s core principles is the idea of starting small when you take on new habits: just do one, concrete thing, at a set time, every day, and you’ll soon be ready to take the next step.
No one would walk into a gym and expect to bench press 500 lbs on the first day, but sometimes these pie-in-the-sky expectations keep us from taking the step that would one day make that possible: lifting one pound. (Or, let’s be honest, for some of us, walking into a gym.)
Encourage your child to start with one jumping jack before breakfast and add another rep every day. Teach them to get into pushup position, and lift themselves one millimeter off the ground. (And get down there with them!) Have them take one gonoodle break halfway through their school work.
As the body adjusts to the new demand, the mind will start to respond by realizing what you’re asking it to do is actually possible. This positive feedback loop will end up leading you to go further in a year than you imagined when you were dreading that single jumping jack.
There are five recognized components to physical health:
1. Muscular Strength
2. Muscular Endurance
3. Cardiovascular Endurance
4. Flexibility
5. Body Fat Composition
The reason for this list is not to convince you to launch a comprehensive plan to attack all five areas tomorrow. (See the above section on starting small.) The point is that there’s a lot of choice in terms of what it means to be active — so let your child start with whatever is fun for them.
If they love running around, see if they can increase the amount of time they play tag, or create a speed scavenger hunt with the neighborhood kids. If they’re super bendy, incorporating yoga or gymnastics movements into play time could be a great place to start. For kids who are itching to audition for top chef, introduce them to healthy recipes. There’s no wrong point of entry when learning to connect to your body, as long as you do it under the supervision of a responsible, responsive adult.
When they get these small wins, it will help reinforce the idea that they’re capable, giving them a boost of confidence they can carry over into their next endeavor — perhaps in an area that feels just slightly out of their comfort zone.
Is it cheating to make a habit fun? We don’t think so. One technique that James Clear recommends is to bundle habits to make them more attractive.
Temptation bundling pairs an activity you don’t want to do with one you do want to do: for example, walking on a treadmill for an hour while having screen time, which helps you associate exercise with pleasure. (Bonus: you’ve accomplished the cdc’s physical activity recommendation for adolescents, without exceeding their screen time limits).
Ritualization uses positive motivation to encourage a challenging initiative. Think of it as a ‘pre-game’ routine, like listening to your favorite song before stepping up to the plate. Choose your ritual, experiment as needed, but then set it on autopilot: the idea is to make it easy on your brain, so there’s no chance it throws any objections in your past.
Humans are social creatures: If we commit to an activity with someone else — whether we choose to do the activity with the buddy or just promise to share our personal progress — we’ll be more likely to follow through. And, when we experience setbacks, we’ve got a cheerleader at the ready. As our Prisma learners go on their habit-building journey, their coaches serve not only as cheerleaders but also sounding boards who can help them reflect on wins and challenges, developing a growth mindset as part of the ride.
You might encourage your child to pick a peer as an accountability buddy, or an adult mentor, or both. The more the merrier. In addition to the increased likelihood of actually achieving your goals, an accountability partner can be a great social connection, ensuring distance learning isn’t isolating.
At the end of the day, there are certain habits that experts agree are beneficial for all people. But whatever activities your child chooses to adopt, keep in mind that one of the most valuable lessons that can come from the experience is how to build healthy habits and break ‘bad’ habits, in general. That skill will pay dividends throughout their life. As they grow and change, they’ll be able to be in control of their well-being, by starting new healthy habits and letting go of old ones that no longer serve them.
Want to learn more about how Prisma can empower your child to thrive?
Talk with usWith adolescent mental health in crisis, here’s how to support your high school student’s well-being.
At its core, creativity is the expression of our most essential human qualities: our curiosity, our inventiveness, and our desire to explore the unknown.
The concept of critical thinking can seem vast and abstract. But one of the most meaningful ways you can start to tackle it is by rethinking the role of the teacher.
Imagine your child exploring new countries, meeting people from different cultures, and gaining a deep understanding of the world in a way that simply isn't possible in traditional education.
Unstick your child’s creativity, stretch their thinking, and improve their writing skills with topics that tap into their passions.
I never expected to find a family within my child’s school, but the leadership, teachers, parents and kids have become friends for life
Homeschooling can be overwhelming for parents. Here's how to recognize the signs of burnout & concrete solutions.
What’s behind your child’s complaint — and what to do about it.
If building social skills has been a bumpy road for your kid, here’s how to help them form healthy friendships.
The homeschool day can be quite efficient, compared to a typical public school day. Then, their school work completed, kids have plenty of time for extracurriculars, hobbies, unstructured play and generally... fun.
Possibly. But here’s what to do first.
To instill life-long healthy eating habits, take a hands-on approach
Distance learning doesn’t have to be a drag. Here’s how Prisma creates a community-centered online learning environment.
Distance learning is gaining popularity. Here’s what you need to know about online learning for high school students.
A bridge into high school, middle school is the time to prepare for independent learning. Here’s how to set the stage.
ADHD is only one reason for a short attention span. Find the cause, then try these tips for helping your child focus.
There’s no roadmap to develop a true passion — but here are ways to make the journey more fruitful.
Kristen Shroff is an experienced educational leader who has been with Prisma from the very beginning, first as a Founding Curriculum Designer & then as Head of School. Now, as CEO, she will lead Prisma into its next stage of growth.
Meet Claire Cummings, our Head of Middle School. Claire started out as a beloved Learning Coach in our middle school program before transitioning to the Head of School role in January 2023! She is based in Detroit, Michigan.
From making a meal to balancing a budget, here’s how to help teens learn to thrive in the real world.
In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Emily Veno, one of Prisma's Founding Curriculum Designers. After two years focused on building Prisma's middle school curriculum, in her new role as Head of Learning Innovation she works across both the middle & high school programs.
In our Meet the Team blog series, you’ll get to read more about the innovative thinkers behind Prisma. Next up is Leena Williams, the Lead Coach & Curriculum Designer in our new high school program.
Get to the bottom of your child’s apathy and help them find their ‘why.’
At Prisma, we believe the families and learners who like to call themselves Prismarians—are our ‘secret sauce’! Here we highlight one of our favorite stories from the Prisma community
From national parks to beach vacations, design an in-the-field learning experience the whole family will enjoy
Online learning takes many forms. Decide why you want to go remote — and the rest will fall into place.
Here’s how parents of ADHD children can set themselves up for successful learning at home.
Online learning doesn’t have to be distracting. These tips can prime your child to thrive at home.
From early childhood through high school, homeschooling provides the ideal setting to facilitate a gifted child’s learning. Here’s how.
And how can you support them in the classroom?
From fostering a love of learning to developing problem-solving skills, child-initiated learning is a pillar of a successful homeschooling journey. Here’s how to get started.
Focus on number sense and you’ll help your child add math skills to their toolkit.
Kids need to develop their own world as they mature. But the stereotype of the zip-lipped pre-teen doesn’t have to be your reality.
It’s not easy to juggle full-time work and homeschooling — but it is possible. Here’s what we’ve learned about how to thrive.
Learning languages opens doors, offers connections and inspires new ways of thinking. Here’s some advice about which one(s) to pick.
Critical thinking matters for academics, work and relationships. Here’s how to lay the foundations at home.
Read about the hands-on learning opportunities one Prisma high schooler tackled in the Secrets of the Biosphere theme
Creative thinking is the key to problem-solving. Here’s how to foster creativity at home.
Traditional four-year college is only one option. Here’s how to inform your decision.
The Montessori approach focuses on early childhood. Here’s how the popular pedagogical method can lend itself to home-based learning for all ages.
Here’s what parents need to know about the popular social media network.
Here’s what every parent should know about facilitating a routine that works for the whole family.
Hands-on learning benefits all students. Here’s how to incorporate it into your homeschooling.
There’s no evidence to confirm the validity of these popular labels. But here’s how auditory learning strategies can benefit everyone.
Although no studies link these popular labels to academic achievement, here’s how visual learning helps everyone.
Here’s what parents need to know about the free, popular chat app.
Incorporate these reading tips into your routine, and you’ll be on your way to fostering a love of reading in your child.
Ready to Deck the Halls? Here are projects to engage kids of all ages—and tackle your seasonal shopping with DIY keepsakes.
More than just asking questions in the classroom, the Socratic Method helps learners test their own ideas in a real-life context.
Here are some guidelines to help sift through the infinite options.
When students set the conditions of their learning experience, they show more creativity, passion and sticktuitiveness.
With built-in lesson plans, educational tools, and endless problem-solving opportunities, Minecraft: Education Edition can help motivate kids in coding, science, language arts, and more.
Get into the spirit of gratitude with these easy Thanksgiving crafts for kids.
Teach children gratitude and they’ll experience better mental health, well being and social connection.
8 tips to ensure learning disabilities don’t get in the way of building reading skills.
Why does your child dread Mondays? Once you know, take these steps to help them (re)discover their spark.
To stop bullying behavior, educate yourselves and your children.
Bullying is about a power dynamic between peers. To interrupt it, first understand why it happens.
Children’s Mental Health is in Crisis. Here’s How to Help Develop Your Child’s Self-Esteem.
To reach their high potential, twice-exceptional children benefit from a flexible learning environment.
The holiday season is the time to get your hands dirty with these Halloween craft ideas - candy corn optional.
Dyslexic kids often lose their love of learning. Here’s how parents can help them rediscover it.
The challenges of adolescence can be magnified for LGBTQ kids. Here’s how to help them thrive.
From bullying to finding a safe bathroom, LGBTQ students navigate a tough landscape at school.
What we know about the relationship between ‘hard fun’ and learning. (Hint: It’s not about playing games in between worksheets.)
Here’s what we mean by ‘success’ at Prisma - and how we use it to help kids thrive.
What parents need to know about socialization in—and out of—the classroom to help your homeschooler thrive.
Child entrepreneurship is trending. Here are three steps to developing an innovative business that stands out from the crowd.
A hands-on approach to develop real-world skills, resiliency and a love of learning — here’s how we practice it at Prisma.
A Shared Name and Diverse Strengths Led Two Bens to Build an AI Writing Business.
When traditional public school isn’t the best option, consider these alternatives.
Five ways parents can help their kids see themselves as a work in progress.
Gifted kids face unique challenges when it comes to burnout. Here’s how parents can help.
For travel-hungry families dreaming of school vacation, there’s much to celebrate about shifts in the way we live, work and educate our children.
To create a customized education for your child takes more than a checklist. This three-stage framework can help you get started.
If you’re homeschool-curious, here’s what 100 families have to say about the biggest advantages and disadvantages of homeschooling.
With homeschooling, the sky’s the limit – and there’s a lot on your plate. Learn about how to make this growing trend work for your family.
Learning how to use the internet safely, smartly, and creatively is one of the most essential skills for success in our hyper-connected world. Prisma learners just wrapped up their Cyber Citizens learning
A live learning platform purpose-built for kids. It's a new, fun and engaging way for kids to learn and collaborate together virtually.
Technology has completely revolutionized how we shop, communicate, entertain ourselves, and even how we work, but no such revolution has happened in education.
We’ve officially wrapped up our first ever fall session at Prisma and are excited to share our learnings and observations with you.
Starting today, families can apply to join Prisma from anywhere in the USA. Here’s how it will work. You can still apply to any of our five founding cohort hubs (Chicago, Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, or Tampa) if you live nearby.
Over the past week, as millions of parents have realized that traditional in-person schooling may not be safe or available come September, a new twist on an old phenomenon has emerged.
We're excited to announce the rollout of Prisma cohorts in 5 US cities: San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, Tampa and Salt Lake City.
We’re Prisma, and today we’re announcing the world’s first Connected Learning Network, a whole new category in education. We’re not a school in the conventional sense; we’re a locally-rooted, globally connected at-home learning network that gives kids the tools to live their optimal life, starting today.
First-time Poet Wins “Games for Change Student Challenge” with “Poem of PvZ”.