5 Ways Parents Can Support Their Children in Virtual Learning

Although some schools are reopening in-person, many schools are continuing at least some of their courses online. For parents that are working from home, this situation can be challenging. Below are a few tips to help you make the best of this situation and help you and your child adapt to learning from home:

1. Address their workstation – Like many working from home professionals, children may also have a difficult time working in the same space they live. One way to manage this is to designate places that children feel comfortable working in. Make sure to include them in the process, so you can ensure the spaces will be productive for them. If your local stores are out of desks, you can get creative! Use tables you already have, buy a desk tray, check local social media pages and yard sales. If they’re working in a commonly used area (such as the dining room table) it may help to find a bag/folder/shelf for your students to put their things at the end of the school day. This can help them stay organized, as well as create a routine like an in-person school day. Every child is different but establishing work zones will help them stay focused.
2. Create a supply box – Some teachers and schools may provide supplies or tools students will need but parents may have to contribute too. Create a supply box or pencil case to keep things readily available and accessible to your children throughout the day. This can help them build independence and prevent them from interrupting you during the day. Make sure to check for items around the house before you buy new ones!
3. Post everyone’s schedules – Parents can’t always step in to check on students if they’re working too. One way to help children stay on track is to post their schedules in an easily visible location. For younger students that may struggle with reading, color coding the day can help them recognize where they need to be and when. This can help students develop healthy routines and good time management skills that they will take into the future. Siblings can also rely on one another, instead of parents, for help staying on task.
4. Establish boundaries – Another suggestion is to create a sign that unless there is a true emergency, they won’t interrupt the adults working in another room. This could be a hand signal, shutting the door or a sign on the door telling children when they can and can’t come in. Make sure you’ve discussed your situation with your supervisors and if all else fails, the mute button is there for a reason.
5. Work through technical issues – Since most parents and students haven’t had extensive training in online learning, these new platforms can seem overwhelming when something goes wrong. One way to help children overcome these obstacles is to allow them to play on their devices outside of school hours to get them comfortable using them. Additionally, it can help to write down all their passwords and codes and put them in an accessible location. Stay in contact with teachers if there are further issues as other students may be struggling too.

Working from home can be stressful but especially so when your children are working at home too. If your employees are struggling to balance things this year, please fill out the form below to learn about our wellness and employee engagement solutions: