Online learning is one sure way to get your child busy during this lockdown. Even though the lockdown in many countries is easing off, we do not know how soon regular schools would resume or if things would ever get back to normal. More so, a lot of parents testify that registering their kids for online classes saves them some time and they don’t need to get frustrated explaining difficult topics since they can easily get an expert online. There is, however, a growing concern about getting kids, aged 10 years and below, to focus on what they are being taught online. So here, I have outlined six tips that would be helpful.
- Spend quality time with your child
I know some parents might not completely agree with this, but the best way to get your child to do anything is to earn their trust. To achieve this, you need to spend time with them and always keep your word. Spending quality time with them might be a thirty minutes’ bedtime storytime or an hour afternoon playtime or a morning prayer time. And during this period, actually, listen to them, let them tell you their imaginations, wildest dreams and even their fears. So when it’s time to do some difficult tasks (such as studying, for most), they trust you that it’s for their good. When it’s time for study, let them know that it is time to focus on themselves. Teach them that there’s time to play and time to learn. Also, help them understand why learning is important to them. Please, share your stories with them. Try as much as possible not to give them too much academic work to do. Learning is not only about academics, but you can also teach them baking, gardening, cleaning and when it’s time for academic work, they will settle in.
2. Feed them well before the class
I remember teaching an eight-year-old, halfway into the class (at 30 minutes thereabout), she wasn’t paying attention anymore which was rather unusual. Not long after, I heard her stomach growl, and I asked if she had taken dinner. Obviously, she hadn’t taken dinner and it was one long day for her. An experienced tutor knows not to continue after that growl and to close the class there or soon enough. Better still, the tutor can save the unused time for the next lesson. So as parents/guardians, you want to make sure your kids are well-fed, not stuffed up though, so they can give their full attention. If possible give them some treats before the class, that might help them look forward to “lesson time”.
3. Ensure they are not tired
I remember teaching an eight-year-old, halfway into the class (at 30 minutes thereabout), she wasn’t paying attention anymore which was rather unusual. Not long after, I heard her stomach growl, and I asked if she had taken dinner. Obviously, she hadn’t taken dinner and it was one long day for her. An experienced tutor knows not to continue after that growl and to close the class there or soon enough. Better still, the tutor can save the unused time for the next lesson. So as parents/guardians, you want to make sure your kids are well-fed, not stuffed up though, so they can give their full attention. If possible give them some treats before the class, that might help them look forward to “lesson time”.
4. Close other tabs on the laptop/iPad and remove all other devices
It is no longer news that the new generation, even at the age of three, can handle these devices so well. Despite the numerous advantages attached to their use, these devices can serve as a source of distraction if not well managed. So you need to close all YouTube tabs, games tabs, etc. Also, make sure to remove all phones and other devices that are not needed for the online class.
5. Have a separate space for online lesson
Even though your child is not in school, make a space in the house that gives the “school-feel”. You don’t need to have a library at home, it might be the dining table or a special reading desk and a sit. This puts the child in the atmosphere of learning. In that upright position, the child would focus more on the task at hand. Also, parents, try to keep siblings away during the lesson/learning period. We know how much of a handful of siblings can be, so please keep them engaged.
6. Try to be consistent with a tutor
Getting tutors online is now so easy. There are many websites where you can get tutors, and even experts at particular subjects like Languages, Maths, Science, Music and so on. You can find online tutors now in just two clicks. Before contacting a tutor, make sure you trust the site. But you need not worry, most tutoring websites run background checks on their tutors and for tutors who run their individual business, you might want to run a check on them. It is important that your child is comfortable with a tutor because it affects how fast and how well they learn. When you sure get one that your child is comfortable with, try to be consistent with that one. Statistics have shown that children are more settled in a familiar environment and might show signs of withdrawal when too many changes happening around them.
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