problems-with-virtual-school-and-how-to-fix-it-1 Does your child hate virtual school? Yea, we get it. We think it’s safe to say that online learning isn’t going anywhere for a while. So, we should make the best of it and help our children get the best education they possibly can. For some people, online learning may have some drawbacks, and we want to help you address those potential issues. Online learning can be fun and fulfilling for you and your child. Some students may even grow to prefer it over in-person classes for a number of reasons.

Problem #1: Socializing

While it may be difficult for students to make new friends, there are plenty of safe ways to maintain and enjoy the company of old friends. Playing outside is probably the safest way to enjoy the company of others. Children can enjoy outdoor sports like community basketball or tennis courts, or they could go on nature walks and hikes.

If you’re comfortable with it, you may be interested in enrolling your child in an extracurricular program. There are various types of classes like karate, taekwondo, yoga, pilates, and more that offer in-person classes with extensive safety protocols.

Problem #2 Kids are finding new ways to cheat.

Most parents don’t want to consider that their child may be cheating in school. Often, kids may not even realize that they are actually cheating. Practices like asking Alexa for help or reading the captions on Google Meet qualify as cheating. We wrote an entire blog on what you can do to stop your child from even thinking about cheating. Check it out here.

Problem #3 You don’t have a lot of technology to suit your child’s academic needs.

Don’t worry, a simple Chromebook will do the trick. Some of the cheapest Chromebook computers cost as little as $50. Another inexpensive solution to help set your child up for success is to invest in a pair of headphones. This will help them remain focused on their class and will remove any distractions happening around them. The point is that you don’t need expensive equipment to provide your child with the quality education they deserve.

Problem #4 Kids feel self-conscious when they see themself on a video call. This is a very common problem among children and teens and is sometimes very hard to deal with. If your child is using Google Meet, one solution is to pin the teacher to the screen so the student cannot see anyone else. Another solution is to talk to your child about their feelings and what exactly is causing them to feel this way.

You can practice looking in the mirror with them and reciting positive affirmations. Maybe they don’t like the way they look. You can help them get ready in the morning and help them pick out a great outfit for virtual school. You can even do their hair for them and help them feel their best. This will increase their confidence and strengthen their self-esteem. Perhaps they will be more comfortable with seeing themself on video after that.

Problem #5 The concept of time doesn’t feel the way it used to.

If you and your child spend the most time at home like most people are during Covid, then the days may start to blend together. When the days start to feel boring or drawn out for your child, you can’t expect them to be excited to sit down at a computer and learn. While parents are doing the best they can to entertain and educate their children while they work from home, there are a few solutions that work when used together.

Routines- They give the illusion of having more time and allow your child to get more done in one day. Routines can include setting aside small amounts of time for various activities. This will help your child to be less bored and feel more productive and fulfilled.

Set Alarms- This goes hand in hand with routines. Use alarms to schedule in free time for your child or to designate how much time is spent on a specific task or activity per day (like homework or studying.)

Enjoy Variation- Try your best to make each day different in some way, even if it’s small. Give your child a new breakfast, carry out tasks in a different order. Do things differently than you did yesterday. This can be as small as listening to different music, adding a new activity into the day, or styling your child’s hair differently than they normally would. Small variations within the day help stagger time and make us appreciate the small nuances in life.

Get Moving- If I have said this once, I have said it a million times. Nothing breaks up the day like making time to go outside and play. Fresh air and exercise will work wonders for your child’s retention when it’s time for academics. It will help keep them grounded and calm, and even reduce rates of anxiety.

Online learning may not be perfect. After all, is anything in life perfect? At Math Genie, we believe that every child has the capacity to be a genius.

We offer online learning and in-person classes here at Math Genie.

-The Math Genie Team