If your foster or adoptive child is struggling with at-home learning, know that they are not alone. There are many children across the country who are having a hard time paying attention and keeping up with remote learning right now. While you can’t prevent every single issue your child will encounter, you can make online learning less stressful for your foster or adoptive child and even yourself with the following recommendations from the Madison County Foster & Adoptive Parent Association.
Invest in Some Reliable Tech
Giving your child an old laptop or tablet for their online lessons may be an economical choice, but it may not be the most effective one. That’s because many of the programs and tools that keep your kids learning at home require the latest operating systems in order to work correctly. So if you want your child to get the most out of their online lessons and projects, you should consider investing in some new tech tools.
You can start with a reliable and fast laptop that won’t break the bank or have you stressed about your child breaking the new device. A new Chromebook, for instance, could be the perfect option, with user-friendly features your child will love and durability you will love as well. Plus, Chromebooks tend to come with low price tags that are friendly for your family’s budget.
Once you have a new laptop picked out, you will also want to invest in a few extras. While headphones and workstations can make life easier for your little student, it’s also pretty important to have the right connection for your home internet. With so many educational programs using games, virtual reality(VR) and other innovative technologies, having a dependable and quick internet connection is more essential than ever before.
Provide Plenty of Brain Breaks
Does your brain get foggy after hours of Zoom meetings and remote work calls? If so, you could be suffering from Zoom burnout. No, seriously, this is a legitimate issue affecting kids and adults who have been logging more hours on this and similar video conferencing services. So if you or your child feel more sluggish or less focused lately, it may be time for more breaks.
In fact, most experts recommend scheduling frequent brain breaks for your child whether they are learning via Zoom or other online tools. Brain breaks can also keep you productive when you are working from home, so pencil in some time each day for your child to get away from their screens and engage in other activities.
Movement can be especially good for breaking up the monotony of online learning and even improving your child’s overall performance in school. You can get your child outside for some exercise or try following along with some family-friendly workouts indoors instead.
You could also fill some of that free-time with backyard educational activities and projects that are so fun that your child won’t even realize that they are still learning! From creative projects like making their own sun prints to learning about regional wildlife to science experiments like mixing up bubbles, there are endless ways for your kids to take a break while still building their brains.
Ensure Everyone Gets Good Sleep
Zoom can definitely zap your energy, but if you and your child have been feeling extra sleepy lately, a lack of quality rest could be more to blame. Pandemic-related sleep issues have been on the rise these last few months, so this is another struggle your family may share with others across the country. Even so, you all need better sleep to stay healthy and stress-free.
The steps you take to improve sleep quality for your family can depend on several key factors, including the age of each family member and any potential health or life changes. For older children and teenagers, shutting off electronics during the evening hours could lead to better sleep, while creating bedtime rewards can help toddlers drift off to dreamland faster.
While learning online can be convenient and safe, it can also lead to boredom and other issues for your family and especially your foster or adoptive child. So try to supplement those online lessons with the right tech tools, brain breaks, and most importantly, a good night’s sleep.
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