How to Help Your Child Succeed With Distance Learning

Your child can succeed with distance learning. However, you will need to play your part as a parent or guardian. Your support will lead to your child’s success.

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Last Updated : May 27, 2022

Here is how you can help your child succeed with distance learning:

  • Give the child learning space
  • Help with setting a schedule
  • Determine suitable background noise
  • Help them with their work if possible
  • Provide the necessary resources
  • Reward the child for good behaviour
  • Incorporate breaks in study time

Give The Child Learning Space

Prepare a learning space for your child. The place that you prepare must be conducive to learning. Here are some of the things that you can consider:

  • Free from distraction
  • Aerated
  • Good lighting
  • Equipped with a desk and a comfortable chair
  • Reading light
  • Book rack
  • Waste paper basket
  • Necessary stationery 
  • Desktop or laptop

Help With Setting A Schedule

Help your child set up a study timetable. Here is what you may need to consider:

  • Include breaks
  • The set timetable must be realistic
  • It must also be achievable
  • Break sessions into 30-minute intervals
  • Reserve time for family

Determine Suitable Background Noise

Make sure that your child does not study with earphones on. This is a big distraction, your child will lose concentration. If your child needs background noise, soft music is recommended. Just make that the music is played at a low volume.

Help Them With Their Work If Possible

If possible, help your child with the work that needs to be done. This is especially so with children that are much younger. Otherwise, your child will need to make use of tutors that are available to help.

Provide The Necessary Resources

For your child to succeed, all the necessary resources must be available. Here are some of the resources that your child can make use of:

  • Writing books
  • Notebooks 
  • Rulers, pens and pencils
  • Flask disk
  • Desktop or laptop with the right technical specifications
  • Refreshments
  • Wi-Fi
  • Other recommended textbooks

Reward The Child For Good Behaviour

If your child behaves well by sticking to their timetable and doing all the work as planned, You will need to reward them as a form of motivation. When a child is rewarded, they will always do better because of that incentive. 

The reward for your child can come in many forms. Here is how you can reward your child:

  • Bake their favourite cake
  • Watch a movie
  • Eat pizza
  • Invite a friend for a sleepover
  • Go for ice cream
  • Take the child to the park

Incorporate Breaks In Study Time

Study time should not be continuous. Be mindful of the fact that the child needs breaks in between studying. 

You can also incorporate breaks during weekends. This can be done by reducing the number of hours that they study per day. Breaks are good for refreshing the mind of your child. They would have been invigorated after the break.

How Do I Keep A Child Motivated In Distance Learning?

  • Create routines – At home, you can create a routine that your child is used to in the school environment. Try to follow the routine as best as you can
  • Incentive your child – rewarding your child serves as a form of motivation 
    • Boost your child’s confidence – boost your child’s confidence by letting them know that you believe in them
  • Be flexible – Here are the activities that are non-negotiable and have to make time for:
    • Physical activity
    • Sleep
    • Balanced nutrition 
  • Add some fun activities – Find ways to add some fun when your child studies through distance learning. For example, give your child the opportunity to meet and chat with friends 
  • Have average expectations – if your child is new to distance learning, set average expectations and grow your expectations as both of you get used to the online environment

How Can A Distance Learner Succeed?

  • Communicate with your tutor – Since it is distance learning, one of the secrets to success is to communicate with your tutor regularly. Remember, your tutor is the one who guides you through to your success
  • Familiarise with new technology – If the technology that is being used in your studies is new to you, familiarise yourself with it. Distance learning utilises online tools to deliver what your learning material
  • Have a study space – Make sure there are no distractions
  • Keep to your schedule – stick to your timetable
  • Use the calendar to record assignment due dates – Due date for assignments. Make sure you never miss an assignment deadline. 
  • Create family/friend reading hours – make room to study with a family member or friend who is doing the same course as you are
  • Be resourceful – find any other study materials that can aid you in your studies

What Can Tutors Do To Help Students In Distance Learning?

  • Familiarising with the student – Tutors should familiarise themselves with the student. Students must not find the tutor intimidating. This can prevent them to ask questions on areas that they are struggling with.
  • Be available –  Tutors must be readily or be available on the prescribed times that they are supposed to be assisting students
  • Use online resources as much as possible – tutors must make use of all online resources as much as possible. As this is the only way that they can deliver the lessons to the students
  • Make assignments clear – The tutor must make assignments to the students as clear as possible otherwise students can fail due to miscommunication 
  • Provide ongoing feedback – ongoing feedback to the student is important because that is how the student will know what he/she is doing right or wrong. So, constant feedback is important to the student.

What Are The Skills That Distance Learning Can Give My Child?

  • Time management skills – To be successful, your child needs time management skills. Every activity is time-sensitive in distance learning
  • Technical skills – These skills mainly refer to those of  computer use and the online applications that are used in the distance learning
  • Communication skills – both online written and oral communication skills are important skills that can be given to your child through distance learning
  • Leadership skills – your child can gain these skills if he/she leads a discussion group when he is presenting a topic that he is knowledgeable about
  • Teamwork – Your child can grow the spirit of teamwork when group work is being done

What Is Good Study Habits?

Here are some good study habits:

  • Find a place to study
  • Reduce distractions
  • Have brakes
  • Space out your studying
  • Have study goals for each session
  • Reward yourself
  • Study with a group
  • Take practice tests
  • Use your own words
  • Ask for help
  • Take care of yourself
    • Sleep 
    • Eat
    • Exercise

What Are The Ineffective Study Habits?

The following have been identified as some ineffective study habits:

  • Cramming 
  • Listening to music while studying
  • Multitasking
  • Skipping studies
  • Using social media while studying
  • Being disorganised

Why Do Students Struggle With Distance Learning?

Students usually struggle with the following:

  • Ineffective time management
  • Not receiving timely feedback
  • Not receiving clear instructions
  • Lack of instant communication

How Do You Overcome The Challenges Of Distance Learning?

Here is how you can overcome the  challenges of distance learning:

  • Manage your time
  • Learn study skills
  • Self-motivation
  • Computer literacy
  • Celebrate success
  • Stay connected
  • Find the fun
  • Capitalise on digital tools

What Are The Good Habits Of Online Learning?

Always practice the following, they are good habits of online learning:

  • Stick to your timetable
  • Find a quiet place
  • Make sure your study area is organised
  • Do not study for more than 3 hours without a break
  • Take notes
  • Be mentally engaged
  • Connect with other
  • Ask for help

Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Amy Venter
Date Published: May 27, 2022