As of this writing, the majority of schools in the United States are starting the school year offering only virtual learning. While it can be debated whether this is a good idea, it is a situation facing millions of parents and their children. Even for those families who start the school year with in-person schooling, it is possible that they may have to return to virtual learning if their school or community experiences a coronavirus outbreak.

Virtual learning brings about a lot of anxiety for many families. Here are some suggestions on how to cope with specific concerns:

I don’t have the technology for virtual learning in my home

Virtual learning presents several challenges, none more serious than the ability to access it in the first place. Many school districts are offering free tablets and laptops for virtual learning. In addition, some local community internet providers are offering free or discounted wifi for families of school-aged children. If those options are not available to you, it will be necessary to find someone or somewhere with those resources. Although not ideal, it might be necessary to ask neighbors, friends, and family for help. You are not alone in dealing with a lack of resources. Many people are willing to help.

My kids have difficulty focusing

Looking at a screen does not hold the same level of attention as being at school. Some kids are fidgety and others actually have a disorder like ADHD, which makes sitting still difficult, no matter the environment. In general, you want to be understanding and give kids a little more leniency.

You will want to set up an environment that is distraction-free. If they are in the same room with the TV and video game console it could become a problem. It is also likely going to cause issues if they are in a room with other people talking and moving around. And whatever you do, definitely no phones allowed.

One question you need to ask: does my child really need to be seated? Some kids actually focus better if they are able to move around a bit. Maybe a little leeway is called for if it is allowed and it is not hurting the quality of their work.

However, if they are normally able to focus and are just fooling around then you can give an appropriate consequence. What is an appropriate consequence? Maybe take the time they weren’t focusing on their schoolwork away from their free time. Remember that consequences should make sense. Taking away their phone for not paying attention does not make sense (unless they were distracted by playing on their phone).

I need to work, not babysit my kids

Many caregivers do not have the luxury of supervising their children during the school day. They either have to work from home or leave the home altogether. You have to eat, right? Certain communities, though, are offering supervision programs for school and after school, mainly for low-income households. It is worth looking into if you qualify.

Other people may want to explore the possibility of paying somebody to look after your children. The idea of forming “pods” in a homeschooling environment is picking up steam due to parents being wary of coronavirus and the quality of virtual learning. You can join with other families to divide costs. Of course, that can still add up and be cost-prohibitive.

You may also be able to set up a system where you rotate supervision between other school parents for free. It would almost be like setting up a small classroom that moves between houses. You would have to trust these other families and their coronavirus protocols but small groups could be accommodated safely.

The last resort is leaving children home alone. That is not necessarily a problem for older children, especially if they are self-motivated but it may be legally questionable for younger kids. Even older kids could use a little supervision. How many disciplined and entirely trustworthy teenagers do you know?

My children don’t take virtual learning seriously

Just because school is virtual does not make it optional. Online school needs to be approached with the same importance as in-person learning. It all starts at the top. If you don’t take it seriously, they won’t either. Here are some suggestions to show your kids that school remains the most crucial part of their lives:

• Parents will need to be supportive and involved. This is not something you can just leave to your kids and hope they can figure it out. In times of confusion they are going to turn to you and you will need to know what you are doing.
• As noted earlier, children should, if possible, have a comfortable designated school area free from outside distractions.
• The school schedule needs to be enforced. Being tardy to virtual school is the same as being late to in-person instruction.
• Meals should be conducive to the schedule. For example, don’t make breakfast at a time that interferes with the start of school just because they are home.
• If they seem to be taking virtual school too lightly, you may have to give some reasonable consequences to show them you aren’t fooling around.
• In general, you want to develop a consistent daily routine that revolves around school. The key is to provide structure in a much less structured environment.

The challenge of virtual schooling

Virtual education is going to present numerous trials to children and parents alike. There is sure to be a steep learning curve and online schooling will never equal the numerous benefits of in-person learning. That said, with the proper support, it can serve as a viable learning environment. And let’s face it, we don’t have much of a choice for now. This isn’t permanent, however, and we do possess the tools to make the best of it. By creating a suitable environment, we can set our kids up for educational success.