Check requirements – for online classes

Parents, be sure that your child has access to the materials and supplies that he or she will need for his virtual classes.

The list includes: Device – Computer/Laptop/Mobile phone, working internet, headphones; a wired/wireless mouse if he or she will be working on a laptop; and plenty of paper, pens, and stationary.

Read the school's circular/email listing down the login instructions. Will the learning be conducted on a specific app? Install it!

Once the basics are in place, you would want to help them with setting up a study space that will improve your child's focus and help them study better.

Set up a designated study space

For each one of us, surroundings make a huge difference in one's mindset and ability to focus. Likewise, for children, it's easy to get distracted in a room filled with individuals doing their chores. Here are some quick tips

1. Find a good desk (or table) and chair – Children should be comfortable, but not so comfortable that they tend to lose focus or fall asleep. Beds ideally are not being the best option.
2. Ensure adequate lighting – A study area should not be dark or too bright. Dark rooms put a strain on their eyes.
3. Gather supplies and materials – Make sure all the materials your child needs for studying are close by or are on the table.
4. Eliminating Distractions – Block out distracting sounds. Turn down the volume from surrounding devices- kitchen/living room. Inform the adults in the house of your child's online lesson schedule.

Help Your Child Build a Schedule

Before your child's online classes begin, sit down together and think through what he or she is responsible for accomplishing in his or her online courses on a daily or weekly basis.

Don't forget to include the non-academic commitments like sports, arts, work, family engagements, etc. which also need to be considered. Once you get a gist of your child's tasks, help him or her write out a weekly schedule with designated work time.

Hang up these schedules on the refrigerator or pinboards to help keep your child accountable and establish an effective routine.

Familiarize yourself with the virtual learning platform

Highly Recommended! Parents, take out some time and get familiar with your child's e-learning tool and help your child navigate through too, so they also feel comfortable using it.

Do a role-play with your children on guiding them on how to ask questions via chat/microphone, take notes while listening to their teacher.

A lot of e-learning tools share learning resources required by the child to go through either prior to the online session or an assignment to be completed post the online session.

Build a relationship with your child's teachers

Virtual teachers are teachers like any others – They're qualified, dedicated professionals who want to build strong relationships with their students. Except for this time, it's Online in a virtual classroom!

Parents, you have to understand that for many teachers virtual classrooms, online video classes are new just like you. Some might struggle at the start, but eventually, they will also be learning new techniques every day.

Most importantly, if you have a query, wait until the class concludes and then ask your questions just like you would do in a traditional classroom.

Encourage and motivate

Last but not least, encourage and motivate your children. While they might have used electronic devices for recreational purposes, e-learning is new to them too.

Praise sincerely and honestly (after their class ends) when they complete their first online class session.

Give them constructive feedback if any on what they could do for their next online session, as to tell them to not to touch their head, nose, eyes etc.