The crisis of COVID-19 has retained everyone to stay home. As all education systems closed everywhere, the whole education system shifted to e-learning to keep students engaged.
As schools and colleges closed unexpectedly due to the lockdown, digital education has been used to maintain safety and keep students on track with their curriculum. The new age of online education poses a challenge for teachers, parents, and students.
The prolonged use of digital screens, lack of physical activity, and prolonged sitting may actually cause various health complications in children.
Keeping your kids focused on academics is important. However, you should also take precautions to ensure they don’t develop health problems due to excessive screen time when they are studying online. You can prevent unnecessary health complications in your children by following these tips.
Bigger screens:
Instead of smartphones, use tablets or laptops to attend e-learning classes because smartphones have smaller screens and they can strain the eyes.
Right Posture:
Keeping your back straight helps you to maintain the right posture. It can help reduce the chance of occurring back pain or other health issues in your children during prolonged e-learning sessions.
Device Distance:
Do not allow your children to sit too close to the digital screen. Maintaining a minimum distance of 1.5 feet to 2 feet is highly recommended.
Avoid slouching:
Children might spend 60 minutes or more working on e-learning sessions, so provide the right chair according to their needs. Your children feel more comfortable leaning backwards when needed rather than frequently slouching.
Device Position:
Please do not allow your children to place laptop computers on their laps. Instead, provide a table of 10 to 30 degrees below eye level in order to avoid neck strain.
Observation:
Younger children tend to drift close to the screens. Therefore, it is very important to observe your children frequently and get them back to their right position.
Conscious Blinking:
Some kids rarely stare at screens constantly without blinking. Eyes can become dry and irritated in such conditions. Blinking regularly helps to refresh the eyes because it helps to keep them hydrated.
Plan Regular Breaks:
Don’t let your children spend too much time on the computer or TV. You should guide them to take a short break every 40 minutes and move them away from the screen.
Physical Activity:
Let your children stay active during the break by walking around, stretching and doing simple yoga poses rather than sitting on the couch.
Adjust Screen Brightness:
Make sure that the brightness of your children’s digital device is set appropriately this is because too much brightness creates unwanted glare, while too dim settings lead to eye strain.
Use Anti Glare Spectacles:
It is recommended for children to wear spectacles during e-learning sessions. Spectacles glasses have anti-reflective coatings which block the blue light that comes from LED devices. If your older children wear contact lenses, make them wear spectacles at least while sitting at home.
Healthy Diet
It is always important to maintain a healthy diet. Give more immunity-boosting foods to your children because it is important to boost their immunity during these difficult times to stay fit.
In addition, vitamin-A-rich foods can preserve the eye health of your children, which gets negatively impacted by constant exposure to digital screens during online learning.
Adequate Sleep:
Getting sufficient sleep gives the body enough rest and helps to restore it to health. Your child should get an adequate amount of rest and uninterrupted sleep in order to be healthy.
Cut Down Screen Time
It may not be possible for you to reduce screen time of your child during online classes or e-learning. But you can still reduce screen time, such as by making them watch cartoons or play video games less. So, instead of letting your kids watch too many television shows or movies, provide them with diverse, age-appropriate play options.
Block Out Distractions
Kids are easily distracted. So, have them concentrate on their e-learning classes, turn off the television, video streaming games, or anything else that might distract them. If you can arrange a quiet place for your children to attend online classes, it would be an excellent option.
Parental Guide For Successful E-learning:
Though the sudden change of learning routine might be uncomfortable at first, but there are a few reliable methods and proven techniques to ensure that e-learning or virtual schooling is a pleasant and positive experience.
These tips will help parents guide their children in the course of e-learning during the school lockdown:
- Establish a goal
- Create a routine that you follow each day
- Make the right place for E-Learning
- Keep an eye on your child’s online behaviour
- Help your children to deal with anxiety
- Stay Connected Virtually
I hope following these simple tips will enable you to be a wonderful parent who supports your children during the new phase of e-learning and helps them make the most of it at home education.