For students who are returning to school virtually this year, their “classroom” might look a little different than normal. Occupational therapist, Jessica Lynn, offers her top tips for parents and guardians to help kids feel focused, comfortable and ready to learn.
Proper seating helps ensure that your child is comfortable, focused and prepared to use their best handwriting. It also sets them up for success while spending long periods of time looking at a screen.
You don’t need to go out and buy a new child-sized desk to have a successful virtual learner! It’s perfectly fine to sit in an existing desk or at the kitchen table; just do it with a few easy modifications.
It is important to set aside a dedicated space in your home for school. If the space you choose must serve another function at another time of day (i.e. a dining room table), think about how you can make it mobile for easy clean up. For example, put all supplies and materials in a basket that can be put aside when the school day is over so that the kitchen table is clear for dinner. If the kitchen table is unavailable, think outside of the box! Do you have a closet that you could trade out winter jackets for a small desk?
Consider creating multiple “work zones” as novelty often helps improve focused attention. This may look like sitting at a desk for focused work, completing large projects at the dining room table to allow your student to sprawl out, and reading in a cozy nook. Try to set up workspaces where you have access to good lighting. Dark rooms can cause eye strain. Consider window and lamp placement – avoid bright lights behind the computer as it can produce glare. Don’t forget to make sure there is a power source nearby to charge their device.
Finally, allow your child to be a part of setting up and personalizing their new space. Hang a small bulletin board for their daily schedule and to showcase their work. Limit distractions while they are learning
If you have multiple virtual learners or will be working alongside your child, consider investing in headphones with a microphone. Another way to limit environmental sounds is to use white noise. There are even free sound machine apps that can be downloaded to an extra phone or tablet.
If your child is working in an area of the house with traffic, position their workspace so that it is facing the wall instead of out towards the room. If this is not possible, buy a trifold presentation board to create a cubicle. Let your student decorate the trifold for more personalization!
New school supplies can be motivating for some children, but purchasing all new supplies isn’t necessary. Use a cup or jar to store writing utensils and keep all other supplies in an easily accessible box or container. You can even use something like an aluminum baking pan to store markers and crayons. Let your child personalize their supply boxes before school starts, or as a fun activity during a break the first week of school. Most schools have provided supply lists, and some are even providing virtual learning kits. Don’t forget supplies that may not be included on traditional school supply lists like a pencil sharpener, stapler, and 3 ring hole punch. Keep plenty of lined and unlined paper available.
For children who might have trouble focusing, there are alternative seating options that have movement to them. This movement will cause your child to move with the chair while making sure they stay upright, reducing the need for them to seek out movement in a way that interferes with learning. Flexible seating options can include:
Tips to help children with ADHD or special needs that impact their ability to focus
Here are some additional free time activities for inspiration: