This post has been sponsored by 3M. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
While remote learning has been going much smoother this year, one thing that has remained the same is the number of distractions during any given school day. Trying to keep the kids focused remains an ongoing challenge. A typical day of remote learning includes me instructing the kids to stop being a distraction to each other at least a dozen times! Sometimes my husband and I even find ourselves distracting the kids with our conference calls. Here are three ways we have been keeping the kids focused in our home during the remote school day.
Prepare the Night Prior
My husband and I have been making an effort to set out my kindergartener’s worksheets for school the night prior. At the beginning of the year we noticed he would fall behind because he spent more time looking for papers than actually completing them. We are lucky his teacher sends a link to the schedule allowing parents to prepare. It has helped keep him more focused during distance learning.
Get Up and Move
Incorporating physical movement before school and in between classes helps the kids when their focus starts slipping. Sitting at a desk behind a screen all day is tough for adults, can you imagine having to be behind a screen all day as a kid? We encourage the kids to shake their sillies out throughout the day. We also purchased an exercise ball to give them a break from their desk chairs. Exercise balls if used safely help keep their bodies engaged and their minds focused.
Minimize External Distractions
External distractions are the main cause for lack of focus during distance learning at our home. While it would be easier to break up the kids and have them do their remote learning independently in their rooms, we didn’t want to separate them. Our kids miss being physically in school with their friends and we don’t want to isolate them further. Therefore, we looked for other options to help make a quiet distance learning environment free of distractions. A helpful tool to help the kids focus has been 3M Kids Hearing Protection.
The earmuffs help reduce background noise so the kids are able to tune out some of the external distractions and focus on their studies. My daughter especially likes using the earmuffs when she is taking tests or reading. It helps her tune-out her brother’s sing along time in kindergarten.
3M Kids Hearing Protection is designed for all children from ages three and up. They are adjustable which is great because they can grow with your child. They are also well padded to ensure comfort during long periods of use. Plus, the hearing protectors come in a variety of fun colors, allowing every child to choose their favorite.They are a helpful solution for busy households that need a little help creating a quiet environment for at home learning.
3M Kids Hearing Protection is available on Amazon here.
If your kids are having a tough time focusing and with distance learning, know that you aren’t alone. Sending virtual hugs.
With love,
Shahla
I love your desks! Where are they from?
Hi! Thanks so much! We “made” them using IKEA hacks and then had to make the legs. There is an easier hack but it was sold out when we were trying to make this space. I talk about it more here https://treehousethreads.com/distance-learning-space/
Can you share their desks. New here!!
Hi there! Welcome! We “made” the desks using an IKEA hack (two table tops and micke drawers) and then we made the legs on the other side. There is an even easier hack using IKEA Alex cabinet drawers and their trestle legs (when we made our desk this was all sold out). I talk about it more and link the items here https://treehousethreads.com/distance-learning-space/