How to Help Your Kid Study Online? | AD

*This is a collaborative guest post

Online education saw an increased adoption during the pandemic – and it has changed how students and institutions look at learning online. Post-pandemic, many institutions continue to offer students access to online education. Online courses are also becoming more popular these days. 

And parents know what to expect. While online learning can mean the need for access to a reliable internet connection, there are also several other benefits. For instance, most parents agree that having recorded lectures can help their kids reference information and make studying easier. Additionally, the ability to live chat with teachers can help in easier problem-solving. 

Add to it the fact that computers are the future. Over 1 in 4 parents want their child to learn code, and if they have to be comfortable with smart devices, they need to be comfortable with working on a computer. Or, learning from it. 

Top Tips to Help Your Child Study Online Better

Here are a few pointers and suggestions if your child is having problems transitioning to online schooling.

1. Reduce Unnecessary Distractions

Kids today interact with technology from a young age. But mostly, it has been for entertainment purposes, such as playing games or watching movies. We must assist our children in reconsidering how they use these devices now that online learning is the main focus here. 

If your child is using an android device, you can use “Focus mode” to restrict access to specific apps during specific hours. Similarly, on Apple devices, “screen time” can be used to limit the amount of time spent using apps.

Besides smartphones, there are numerous other distractions while learning from home. Your dog’s barking sounds from your kitchen, all can distract your child. So, remove as many distractions as possible to help them concentrate on their schoolwork.

2. Provide a Comfortable Learning Space for your Child.

You don’t have to drop your kids off at school or pack their lunch in the morning. If your child has a designated learning space in the house, they will be more focused. It could be a rarely used or empty room in the house away from TVs and other distractions. It’s also a good idea to designate a portion of your child’s room as a study space.

There is no one way to design a child’s study space that is correct. Just make sure it’s a functional and comfortable space. If they like to study later in the day, provide a consistent light source. In addition, if possible, insulate the space. If you have more than two older children, you can even attach desks behind a wall bookshelf so that the books and documents are only within easy reach. The goal is to provide a study environment that is comfortable but not so relaxing that they are constantly tempted to nap.

3. Use a Screen Recorder

Sometimes your kids’ mind might wander away during online lectures. We can’t really blame them; we all have had our share of boring lectures, haven’t we? When this happens, a screen recording tool might come in handy. Students can replay the lectures and revise important points while studying. 

So, make sure that your kid has a good screen recorder for recording Zoom meetings and lectures. Since online classes can stretch awhile, it’s a good idea to use a screen recorder.  It can be a great parent support for online learning. You can teach your kids in their own time, and they can catch up on lectures online anytime they want. 

4. Utilize Google Forms

Google Forms can be great parent support for online learning. It’s more than just a tool to help collect online responses. 

You can use Google forms to help your kids prepare for online tests! You can also use different themes and backgrounds to make it more interesting for kids. Make your kids practice long answers, fill in the blanks or MCQ’s. Create a sample question paper for them and check their answers.

5. Reduce Background Noises (Or not!)

Many believe that to learn properly, you need to maintain a silent environment. This isn’t always the case. Some students prefer to study in complete silence, whereas others find that white noise, music, or even background films help them concentrate.

Inquire with your child about the environments in which they believe they perform best. If they are unsure, try experimenting for a few days in different environments. Create the ideal working environment for them by noting the background noise levels at which they perform best.

Keep in mind, however, that lecturers prefer silence in the classroom. This usually necessitates a child muting their microphone. However, if your child needs to speak, they must unmute themselves, so make sure the background noise is turned off now.

6. Take Breaks

Increased screen time has a lot of side effects. Depression, anxiety, and obesity are some of these. So, parents should make sure that their kids take screen breaks after lectures.

Sitting still for the duration of class may be difficult for some children. Some children may require more frequent breaks than others. Generally, a young child may require a brief break after focusing on an activity for five to 25 minutes.

Allowing your child time to exercise before expecting them to concentrate on studying can be a good idea. Regular physical activity throughout the class may improve children’s attention. Exercise is one of the simplest ways to reduce stress and avoid worry. Consider placing the computer on an elevated surface, as some children concentrate better while standing.

The Bottom Line

Simple actions and modest gestures can significantly impact your children’s academic performance. To help your children succeed in school, follow our recommendations. Don’t ask your kids to study all the time – or be in front of the computer. It’s important that they are able to manage what they learn, as well as try out other things they like – like playing computer games.