Supporting Parents in Online learning

One of the most surprising results brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic was the significant investment that institutions worldwide committed to online learning. It was an incredibly challenging time for children, as many were stripped away from their friends and established routines. Still, we have learned—and, in fact, continue to do so—to support them as their education grows more and more virtual.

Supporting a child’s education is a joint effort between the faculty and the family. This is especially true when discussing online learning, as each child is set in a unique environment that directly affects their understanding, capacity, and performance. Changes as significant as this represent an important set of challenges for the students, as well as for the parents, who now have to juggle childcare, work, and supervising their child’s education. Consider the following strategies as you set up an online learning environment.

Since every home faces its own difficulties, remember that the following ideas are only suggestions, and it’s up to you to pick those that best suit your own case.

Set Up a Space

Similar to working from home, one of the most crucial ways to make the best of online learning begins with the right space. Distractions are very common in the home, as it is usually set up to encourage rest and leisure, so be sure to clean up and limit future distractions. Furthermore, establish a space that is only used for learning, like a desk or a nook, so that the child learns to identify the spot with the mindset. Ensure you can also supervise this place, keeping doors open in case your child needs any assistance.

A Solid Routine

Established routines are bound to change when you change from on-site learning to virtual learning. Lacking the need for transportation schedules can make it very easy to forego routines, but you can’t let that happen. Routines help your child develop healthy habits and encourage them to become self-sufficient as they learn to meet daily expectations. This can boost their confidence, allowing them to focus on the day’s lessons.

Partner up with the Teacher

Education takes a village. Establishing a strong partnership between you and your child’s teacher is an excellent way to ease the process. It allows you to understand the study plan and prepares you to help your child engage with the content. It also gives you an ally in facilitating solutions to the challenges your child may face with the study materials or the technology they use.

You can also use this opportunity to reach out to the school and see what tools they have available for you. Explore any available libraries and resources the school may have available, as they can lead you and your child to a better understanding of each lesson.

Master the Technology

Digital literacy is essential. Though kids these days are capable of understanding and keeping up with the constantly evolving technology in their lives, they are much too young to navigate it independently. You don’t have to become an IT professional, but putting in a few hours a week to learn the tools your child will use. This way, you’ll be prepared to help them in case of technological difficulties.

Embrace the Struggle

Struggling is an important part of learning. Remember this as you supervise your child. Encourage them to find the solutions to lessons themselves and only jump in when absolutely necessary. Review their work when they’re done, but the work has to be their own.

Stay Active

The lesson plan will probably include varied activities so that the online learning experience doesn’t solely consist of staring at a screen. Still, children need to move. Take advantage of any breaks and lulls to encourage your child to move, play, and soak in sunlight. They may become distracted by this, but with the right guidance, they can return to their seat when the class needs them to. You can go a step further and take the chance to join in.

Online learning can be daunting. It comes with new challenges that we are still discovering to this day. We hope these tools help you and your child strike a better balance as they continue to learn and grow from home.