How to Help Children Concentrate in Online Classes
These days many children are doing their classes online, mainly due to the exceptional circumstances we’ve been experiencing for the last year. This is posing a challenge for children who sometimes find it difficult to concentrate in their online classes.
Having to transfer educational activities to the digital realm has been a challenge for everyone. It hasn’t been and it still isn’t, easy to adapt to this type of teaching that many children are forced into. And we’re sure that many parents are worrying that their children aren’t concentrating in the same way as they would in a classroom.
Although this has meant a drastic change in teaching methods and in children’s routines, with a little help, we can all adapt to this new way of learning. Here are some tips for you.
Tips to help children concentrate in online classes
It’s true that children and teenagers find it harder to concentrate in their online classes than in face-to-face classes. In a physical class, there’s a teacher who can supervise them and give them a wake-up call if they become distracted. This isn’t the case with online classes, as the teacher can’t monitor everyone through a screen.
It’s also easier for them to get distracted at home, as they’re in their own environment, surrounded by all their belongings. This makes it even more difficult for them to concentrate. So, what can parents do to help their children concentrate in their online classes?
Establish routines
Even if the child or teenager isn’t going into school, it’s advisable for them to continue with their routines as if they were. They should keep the same bedtime and wake-up times, the same meal times, and the same playtimes, etc. Maintaining a schedule as similar as possible to the one they had when they attended school will help them to have a greater sense of normality.
However, there’s no need to worry if, from time to time, they find it difficult to keep their routine; we can be flexible at times. We mustn’t forget that children also need to clear their minds in order to resume their activities.
Helping children concentrate in online classes: be patient
This aspect will be key for parents. We must keep in mind that children have to adapt to this new way of teaching. Not everyone will get used to it as quickly; some will get used to it sooner and others later.
Although sometimes we may despair because we feel that they aren’t paying attention to their online classes, we should try to keep calm. Children follow our example, so we must be temperate; with patience and discipline, they’ll manage it.
Provide them with a good place to study
It’s very important that they’ve got a place that’s specially adapted for them to study in. Preferably a place with good light, with few distractions, with little noise, and with all the necessary material within their reach.
Helping children concentrate in online classes: avoid distractions
Try to ensure that there aren’t any objects that can distract them, and, if there are, then put them out of reach. We can highlight two types of distractions: internal and external.
- External: noise, the presence of other people, television, and electronic devices (cell phones, tablets, etc.).
- Internal: hunger, thirst, tiredness, stress, thoughts, worries.
Logically, external distractions are easier to control than internal ones. However, by sleeping enough, they’ll avoid fatigue. Eating five meals a day will prevent hunger. Also, ensure that they’ve got a bottle of water nearby to quench their thirst.
More tips to help children concentrate in online classes
Take regular breaks
The normal time span for concentration ranges from 20 to 45 minutes. With this in mind, they can take short breaks after they’ve been concentrating for a while.
Establish a time for rest
Within their schedule of educational activities, we must also leave aside time for rest and leisure. We have to give them that time of disconnection to enjoy a book, a movie, family games, a walk, or any other activity that they enjoy. This will also help them to be more focused when they return to their homework.
Promote active learning
Show them that they’re capable of taking responsibility for their homework independently, as well as taking charge of their activities and materials. We can encourage them to look for different solutions to the problems they may face.
It’s also very important to encourage them to ask their teacher if they’ve got any questions or when something explained online isn’t clear.
Encourage them to participate with their opinions and ideas in the online classes whenever the teacher asks. In this way, the sessions will also be more enjoyable.
In summary
These tips should help your children concentrate in their online classes, although we’re sure that you’ll also have some other great tips that have worked for you. The important thing here is to be patient and motivate your children to enjoy their learning, no matter how they do it.
Something else we mustn’t forget is that, as parents, we should give a good example to our children and, if we’re focused, they probably will be too. It’s important that we don’t let stress take over our lives at this time, because, even if we don’t want it to, our attitude affects our children.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Soto-Aguirre, T. (2020). Clases online o la necesidad de adaptación a una nueva forma de establecer el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. Revista Saberes Educativos, (5), 09-21.
- Fernández, R. D. L. (2020). EL DILEMA DE LAS CLASES ONLINE. Discover Medicine, 4(2), 9-10.