Many parents have reached out to us with concerns that their child is becoming “burnt out” after several months of virtual learning. Tutor Doctor has some helpful tips to help parents tackle this remote learning fatigue.
First off, let’s clarify what’s going on here. Although remote learning is an effective substitute for traditional instruction, the so-called “burn out” period has become fairly common in students. This is an understandable side effect that comes with distance learning mainly due to the fact that many students find it harder to remain focused, interested, and engaged with academic material when not physically seated in a classroom. As educators ourselves, this certainly makes sense – teachers everywhere would love to be in their classrooms right now if it were deemed safe – and as wonderful as remote learning platforms are, there is a certain element to in-person instruction that simply cannot be replicated digitally. So what can parents do?
1. Screens, screens, and more screens. The fact is that even before the pandemic, our children’s increasing screen time was already a growing concern. For years now, our kids have relied on electronic devices for entertainment, communication, and social media – and now, full-time school as well. If limiting your child’s screen time was important before the pandemic, it’s even more important now! Since attending class is mandatory, your child doesn’t have much wiggle room when it comes to monitoring their screen time during the day. However, parents can help to provide access to alternative activities when their children are not in school – time that would normally be spent playing on a tablet device or watching TV can be diverted towards another interest that doesn’t require plugging in. Board games, arts and crafts, building toys, and good old-fashioned books are a wonderful place to start! Click here for more ideas on how to manage your child’s screen time.
2. Try to bring relevance to their academics. As we mentioned before, part of what causes remote learning fatigue is the lack of hands-on activities that would normally go along with classroom education. These types of demonstrations and experiments are especially important in subjects where application is critical towards a proper understanding. Parents should be on the lookout for any ways to tie in family activities to their child’s academics. Normally we would recommend field trips to science museums or art galleries, but these options might not be available right now. We recommend that parents research local options as some facilities have re-opened with special sanitary procedures. If all else fails, nature-based activities are always a good choice – we especially love these awesome science experiments you can try at home!
3. Consider working with a tutor. Some students are experiencing fatigue simply because they aren’t making a connection to the material being taught. Unfortunately, many students learn better with one-to-one guidance or personal hands-on activities and demonstrations, and these forms of instruction are somewhat limited right now. Teachers are doing their very best to encompass the needs of all their students, but this can be challenging in a virtual classroom environment. Many students have their academic “spark” return after working with a tutor that is able to make the material feel relevant while bridging any learning gaps that have formed along the way. Sometimes, a little catch-up is all that’s needed! Online one-to-one options are available, so click here to find out more about our personalized programs!
