Pandemic pods (also called coronavirus bubbles, quarantine containers, and our personal favorite – quaranteams) have been popping up all over social media. Their popularity has grown as parents try to navigate + balance virtual and in-person learning.

If you haven’t heard of pandemic pods, they are a small network of people who limit their non-distanced social interactions to the members of their pod, or group. It’s kind of like a Myspace Top 8. Remember Myspace?

In terms of school during COVID-19, learning pods have become especially important for children who are acquiring a myriad of life long skills, including socialization, empathy, sharing, setting boundaries, problem solving, and more. Learning pods have even become a way to help small business owners during COVID-19, while giving working parents a place to drop their children off during the workday.

Here in Greenville + the surrounding Upstate, there is already an active facebook group, called Pandemic Learning Pods and Microschools of the Upstate, with over 300 members. The group is for parents to explore forming a learning pod, a microschool, or just getting information on a nanny share who can help to tutor your child during their classes.

Aside from the benefits of kids having a way to learn in a small socially distant group, having a tutor or a recently retired teacher in the room to help is not only a major help for the student, but also for the parents who are realizing very quickly that teaching is not for everyone.

Ron Swanson | Giphy

These pods are not limited to fulfilling the needs associated with learning. They have become a popular and effective way to meet our social, familial, and emotional needs, while also helping to limit both the size + spread of outbreaks.