Many children are beginning the school year, in the same manner, they finished it: on a computer monitor. And the majority of them aren't happy about that. They crave their friends and the regularity of mainstream school, and they suffer from Zoom fatigue, just like most of us. Much of this makes encouraging students to give their all in online classes one of the most difficult challenges for teachers and parents.
The scenario of distant learning isn't wholly new at this moment. We now have a better understanding of what works and what doesn't for children. And the aim is that we, as parents, caregivers, educators, and school administrators, are now better equipped to support children's social, emotional, and intellectual development during the pandemic. Families are taking on far more duty for their children's education than they have in the past. And, for distant learning to be effective, parents and caregivers must be supported.
Parents are being asked to be more active now than ever, especially for their younger kids and those with cognitive impairments. Even seasoned adult learners may find it difficult to maintain active engagement. The word "engagement" relates to how much and how well students spend their time on distant educational activities. Distance learning activities can operate simultaneously, where students have some form of organized online engagement with an instructor or class, or they can take place at their own pace, where students engage with online materials at their tempo. Regardless of the method of delivery, many students are required to participate in ways that are unfamiliar to them. Teachers may deliver live or video-recorded class lectures or exercises or provide parents with online learning materials to work through it with their children. Families can readily become disconnected and dissatisfied if sufficient support for children from parents and teachers is not in place at home.
Here are some pointers to assist parents and caregivers keep their children engaged, attentive, and balanced while they learn from a distance:
Give them a workspace for learning and studying.
Allocate a particular time with your children to buy new school items or design a specific workstation for them. Students become considerably more interested and delighted when they may choose how to configure their desk or workspace. This could also be an excellent opportunity to experiment with the most recent learning and workspace innovations, such as height-adjustable standing desks or standing desk risers. Many children can better concentrate on work when they are standing, so try placing their computer or tablet on an elevated platform so that your child can stand and wiggle when they feel the need arises. This helps them refocus and get their attention back to the tasks at hand.
Below are some suggestions:
Discover which activities are most appropriate for your child
Your child may favour certain sorts of distant teaching strategies over others. For instance, your child may prefer simultaneous activities in which they reply to a live instructor, or they may like sitting one-on-one with you. Determine which learning methods appear to captivate your child more than others. This information can help you and your child's instructor arrange for learning situations that are most beneficial to your child.
Create habits and expectations
Make a flexible routine and discuss how it is working overtime. Break up your days into manageable chunks. Assist students in getting up, showered, and ready to learn on time. Everybody makes their bed. Maintain usual nighttime habits, including appropriate digital device rules. Change schedules to accommodate everyone's requirements, but don't fall back on staying up all night and sleeping in.
Utilize a checklist for focus
A simple physical checklist of actions required for a specific task will be helpful. For instance, if the child needs to attend a class, read a prompt, and then comment on the prompt, the checklist might include keywords for each of these tasks: watch, read, write. As each activity was performed, the child would sign it off with you and get some praise and encouragement or another treat.
Assist students in taking ownership of their studies
Give your children your support and guidance, and encourage them to do their share. Struggling is expected and allowed. Don't be too helpful. It takes a lot of work to become self-sufficient. Your child may interact with other students and teachers multiple times every day, even virtually. Much of these social contacts will continue from afar, but in a new way. You won't be able to replace them all, and that's fine.
Reduce distractions
Reduce distractions as much as possible when your child is working on schoolwork. This involves both auditory and visual noise or clutter. This is also why having a separate workplace for your child that is comfy for them will be beneficial. While we encourage standing, you may get them a desk chair with back support to ensure that they won't feel uneasy while sitting. You may check FlexiSpot for desk/office chair options that work both for your child and you.
Keep in touch with the teachers
Teachers will primarily communicate with one another via our digital platforms and online learning environments. Ensure that everyone knows where to go to get the support they need to succeed. Maintain communication with the classroom and support teachers, school administrators, and counsellors, but keep in mind that responses may take a day or two. Inform someone if you have any concerns.
Coordinate your schedule when necessary
If your child is discouraged — or, on the other hand, if your child is especially active in learning – adjust your schedule to accommodate a break or to spend time exploring further into the subject. Some learning tasks will be more difficult to complete than others. Try staying with your child on more challenging subjects or subjects during the times of day when your child is most attentive and engaged. Learning content that is easier for a child to understand and thus move through more rapidly can be finished later. It's also a good idea to tell your educator what works best for both you and your child.
Boost exercise and physical activities
We'll all need some space to let off steam if we're living and working from home. Moving alone and as a family is critical to one's health, well-being, and learning motivation. It's an excellent opportunity to exercise 'alone together' with online workouts and virtual trainers. Establish new fitness objectives and design hands-on, life-ready exercises that will keep your hands occupied, your feet moving, and your mind stimulated. You might want to consider how your children can help out more with housework or other tasks around the household. It's a perfect moment to consider taking on more personal accountability and chipping in.
On that note, you may make use of exercise equipment as well that are portable, compact, and safe even for young people to use. Desk bikes such as these from FlexiSpot are great for doing schoolwork or work while cycling, to keep the body engaged:
Monitor online/on-screen time
Online education does not simply look at a computer monitor for six to eight hours per day. Instructors will strive for variation, but it will take trial and error before everyone finds a happy medium between virtual and in-person offline learning opportunities. Collaborate to identify strategies to keep "free time" from becoming "screen time."
Give yourselves a break
It's best to stop an activity and give your child a breather if it's too challenging or if they've reached a point of frustration. It is also acceptable to slow things down, allowing your child space to think and assimilate information. It also entails partaking in learning parts one by one time rather than attempting to complete an entire session in one sitting. You can permit yourself to return to that subject at a later time and on another day.
Connect and remember to always be kind
Assist your children in staying in touch with friends via social networking sites and other internet applications. However, keep an eye on your child's social media usage. Remind your child to be nice, considerate, and appropriate in their interactions with others, as well as to obey school guidelines. Inform others about rudeness and other issues so that everyone can keep healthy relationships and positive conversations.
