Online school is the norm for many students across America right now. Whether you’ve opted to participate in digital learning with your local public school, have enrolled your child in a full-time online educational program, or have some variation of the two, virtual learning is present in more homes now than it ever has been before. Online courses can be challenging to navigate and get used to at times, particularly for younger students, but the unfamiliarity shouldn’t dissuade parents and students from giving it a try and making the most of it.Online school has countless benefits, regardless of the format or the way in which the work is completed, and it’s important that parents understand their role in order to optimize those benefits. Here are eight ways parents can help their children succeed in an online learning environment. 

Offer Supervision

For children who are new to online learning, the lack of supervision can be disconcerting. Even older students who enjoy their freedom are used to having a teacher tell them what to do, schedule their time, and hold them accountable, and online school may look very different from that traditional school structure. Parents can and should offer supervision to all students, regardless of their age, to ensure the virtual learning experience is as positive and productive as it should be. Young students may need help logging on to specific platforms or submitting work digitally, and older students may need assistance with staying on task, waking up on time to attend live virtual lessons, and following through on assignments. The more a parent knows about what their student is learning and where they are struggling, the more beneficial their interactions can be.

Create a Schedule

Depending on what your online school situation looks like, you may be required to follow a specific schedule, at least to some extent. But if your child is enrolled in a completely online school, he or she is probably able to work at any time and for any length of time. If extreme flexibility works for your family and your child is able to buckle down and work when the time allows, embrace that. But for most kids, too much flexibility is problematic and can cause issues with motivation, focus, and work ethic. Creating a schedule to stick to will help everyone know what is expected of them and when, and it will give you some goals to work toward in terms of breaks, rewards, and completion of assignments. If setting up an ending time is too stressful or constrictive, consider just setting start times for different assignments or subjects, and let students get as much done in those blocks of time as possible.

Allow Flexibility

One of the best parts of online schooling is the flexibility. So while having a schedule can be hugely beneficial, as mentioned above, there are times to embrace the freedom and flexibility and just roll with the day. Sometimes, it’s more effective to set schoolwork aside and bake a cake, go to the playground, or play a game together. All of these activities can include teachable moments and life lessons that are important to kids’ learning and growth. If schoolwork is just wreaking havoc on everyone’s moods and relationships at any given moment, enjoy your ability to take a break and change things up.

Discuss Lessons

When students are in a traditional school, teachers will commonly refer back to previous lessons and bring up conversations that help reinforce what students are learning. If you are giving your students an appropriate amount of supervision and are aware of what they’re learning during their online classes, you can ask questions about their lessons and concepts that they’re practicing. At the same time, you can present situations where they will be able to apply what they have learned in order to get more exposure to the material. You can also have conversations over dinner, while driving, or when cleaning up the house that helps them see how the things they learn in class are applicable to real life.

Minimize Distractions

Students of all ages get distracted by their surroundings, and when they are at home learning, these distractions can be overwhelming at times. For younger kids, it might mean minimizing noise, removing toys from their learning space, and keeping siblings and pets out of the room they’re working in. For older students, technology tends to be the biggest distraction, so removing phones, disabling social media, and turning off the television will help them concentrate more effectively. While there is something to be said for working through distractions and learning to overcome external frustrations, helping students stay on task and focus on their assignments is more beneficial when they are school-aged.

Give Them a Study Space

When school, family time, relaxation, and play all take place in the same area, it can be a bit challenging. Giving digital learners their own physical space in the house to complete schoolwork can make a big difference in their focus, motivation, and work ethic. If you have an entire room or section of a room that can be completely devoted to a learning space, that is ideal. But if all you have is the kitchen table or another shared space, that can still work. Just be sure to clear off the area and transform it into a learning area each day during work time. This might mean putting all educational books and materials right on the table or utilizing some sort of moveable storage bin for pencils, paper, and other supplies. Just be sure to designate a certain area for school work to be completed so that your children know that when they sit down in that area, it’s time to get to work.

Get Them Moving

Being active has countless benefits, including increased focus, improved mood, and decreased stress. It can also help your kids get their wiggles out and use some energy so that they are able to sit still and concentrate for longer during designated school work time. Getting your kids moving could be a family activity, as in a morning walk, living room yoga, or some jumping jacks and calisthenics after breakfast. If a family workout isn’t doable, have your child play some basketball on the driveway, jump on the trampoline, or even just run a few laps up and down the stairs each morning. Getting them involved in organized sports is also great for their mental, social, and physical health, and allows for some much-needed socialization during their online school experience.

Be Encouraging and Positive

Almost every situation in life is what you make it. More often than not, your responses and attitude about a circumstance will direct those around you in how they view that same circumstance. So even if online learning isn’t your first choice or you’re downright devastated that this is what your family needs at this time, do your best to remain positive and see the good in it. Find all the silver linings and be sure to share them with your children. Be encouraging, even when your child is frustrated or exhausted, and show them that you believe in their ability to complete their work and make the most of their online school experience. Stay optimistic about what they’re learning, how they’re learning, and all the growth that is sure to take place while they learn digitally. Whether you are doing online schooling temporarily or for the long haul, remember that your outlook, perspective, and dialogue about it will likely shape your child’s outlook, perspective, and dialogue, so be sure to stay positive and encouraging as much as possible.