Five Simple Ways to Optimize Your Child’s Virtual Learning Experience

It’s that time of the year again: back to school! For many families, this year is going to look a lot different than past years, and parents may be feeling overwhelmed by the thought of virtual learning. Here are five proven tips to help you and your child get ready for the school year and make a tough situation a little bit easier.

Keep it Consistent

Children thrive when given a consistent routine, and virtual learning is no exception. Do you need to keep things exactly the same as they were for in person schooling? Of course not — no one will miss getting up extra early to catch the bus! Come up with a new schedule that fits your family’s current lifestyle. Learning should start and end at roughly the same time each day. Additionally, establish a consistent workplace away from known distractors. Some kids do best at the kitchen table with their siblings all working at the same time, and some prefer to be in their room with the door closed to limit noise. Find what works best for your child and stick with it!

Make Materials Accessible

Now that your child has a dedicated place to work, have them gather necessary materials. What do they need? Where will they get it? Do they need to rely on anyone for help (for example, to drive them to the library to check out a book)? Collecting materials ahead of time will aid in productivity down the road; the workflow will not have to be interrupted to find a calculator, textbook, etc.

Ensure Proper Seating

Whether attending a virtual class or completing independent work, kids need a set up that ensures proper posture. The benefits are twofold: proper posture protects a child’s growing spine and joints, and it prevents excess fidgeting that may lead to distraction. The easiest way to do this is to have your child sit in a chair that is appropriate for their height. If you’re not sure what this looks like, follow the 90–90–90 rule. Elbows should be bent at 90 degrees when forearms are resting on the desk or table, such as when writing or typing, hips should be forming a 90 angle between the back and the thighs, and knees should be at a 90 degree angle with the feet resting firmly on the floor. If your child is using a computer, place it at eye level (to reduce strain on the neck) by putting it on a stand or on a pile of books.

Limit Distractions

The number of distractions a child may face can seem almost limitless, with digital distractions being the biggest culprit. Kids with phones should ideally leave them in another room. If the phone must be in the work area, it should be facedown and on silent. For children who are likely to log onto recreational sites instead of attending to the lessons, parental controls should be utilized on computers and tablets. Lastly, turn off the TV! Kids cannot do their best work while their attention is divided, even if it’s only on for “background noise”.

It’s important to consider the role that visual distractions play, as well. While it may be tempting to cover your child’s workspace in their artwork or buy them fun, new decorations for their desk, their learning would be better served by a more streamlined look. A research study funded by the Department of Education and Institute of Education Sciences examined academic gains in children who were taught in heavily decorated classrooms and compared them to the achievements of children whose classrooms were sparsely decorated. They found that children in highly decorated classrooms were more distracted, spent more time off-task, and demonstrated smaller learning gains than when the decorations were removed. In fact, children who were taught in the rooms with minimal decorations scored 12% higher on tests! That’s not to say that your child’s work area has to be bare, but moderation is definitely key.

Schedule Breaks

Lastly, don’t forget to schedule breaks. A child’s attention span is highly dependent on their age, so make sure that your expectations are developmentally appropriate. For example, a five-year-old is expected to stay with one task for 10–15 minutes, while a teenager is expected to focus for up to 30 minutes. Breaks don’t have to be elaborate or lengthy. A quick stretch and a walk around the room can be enough of a break, as can getting a glass of water. The trick is to keep breaks short so your child stays in “work mode”. Of course, longer breaks can be taken around lunch time or after a particularly tricky assignment.

Does your child need support with virtual learning? The Speech Studio can help! Speech-language pathologists are experts in language and literacy, and employ structured, hierarchical strategies to promote children’s language skills in all subject areas. For more information visit our website or call (914) 893–2223.