Online lessons – How to make sure that your children are ready.

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More and more parents are choosing to arrange online lessons for their children

Parents will want to make sure that their children get the most out of any online lessons that they have set for them. However, it can be hard to know the best approach to take when it comes to online lessons. As experts in this particular service, I have put together our guide on how to make sure that your children are ready for online lessons.

Before the online lesson

It is usual for children to feel nervous about their online handwriting lesson.

There is a chance that they will not be keen to log on and learn. This means that they might see it as “less fun” than other things they could be doing.

It is a good idea to show them the welcome letter/email sent to them before the online lesson. It ensures that they see me as a “human” rather than an occupational therapist. They can learn a little more about me, such as my favourite foods and my life away from online learning. That way, they are going to feel a lot more comfortable talking to me.

My aim is always to make sure that your child sees our online lessons as fun rather than a chore.

The lessons that I deliver are always about having fun and we play lots of games. But I do not like to relieve any answers to quiz questions until they are written down!

There are a few things that your child is going to need during the online lesson.

They need lined paper, rather than plain paper, to ensure that they have something to focus their writing on.
If you can, you should avoid spiral notebooks. Particularly if your child is left-handed, as this can make writing uncomfortable.
Another thing that you must have is a favourite pen or pencil. This will allow them to feel comfortable and ready to write.

It is also a good idea, if you can, to have a mechanical pencil rather than one that you need to sharpen. This can help avoid constant sharpening.
The space that they work on is also essential. They need enough room to keep everything, including their paper, their pens and a laptop.
The device you use should be charged or have a charger nearby, and it is best to avoid a phone or tablet as the screen may be too small for them.
It is also advisable that you do not let them sit on an office chair that spins as this will be far too tempting for them to turn around, rather than concentrate on the task in hand.
The area should be well-lit, as this will help them to focus.
Food should also be avoided before and during the lesson as this can make a mess and give them sticky hands.
I also ask that you as a parent are around for the lesson, this is not only due to safeguarding, but it is also essential so that you can hear any feedback given to them at the end of the session. Some parents stay in the room, others are within ear shot. I am happy with whatever works best for you.

After the online lesson

There is a good chance that there will be ‘homework’ given after the lesson. I’ll make it as fun as possible – honest. The work must be returned at least one day before the next lesson. This will give me time to review it and ensure that we cover anything that needs to be covered in the next lesson.

The important thing is that your child enjoys their online lessons. If a child enjoys something, then there is a good chance that they will get more from it and that they will want to try harder the next time around.