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With the closing of public schools across the country and the world, millions of parents must now supplement their children鈥檚 education while dealing with pandemic-induced stressors, including working from home. professors and offer crucial tips to parents.

1. Think of Media as an Ally 

鈥淥ne criticism of media is that its use results in a decrease in interactions with people, but now it is a way to actually connect with others, which presents some innovative opportunities,鈥� says Calvert, who researches the impact of children鈥檚 digital media on children鈥檚 learning and well-being.

鈥淭here has been an underlying argument that media is bad for kids, but at this point, we are scrambling to navigate a world that we have not encountered before, and that requires that we utilize different methods and resources to cope,鈥� she adds. 鈥淢edia can provide avenues for education, create a safe space and allow you to connect with others when it would otherwise not be possible.鈥�

2. Quality and Quantity

鈥淐hildren鈥檚 exposure to screen time in general is like a diet 鈥� you have quantity and quality,鈥� says Calvert. She stresses that parents should be concerned more about the quality of children鈥檚 experiences 鈥� what children are doing with screens 鈥� and less about the quantity of exposure -the amount of time spent in front of them, particularly during this pandemic. 

3. Forget Being Perfect

The most important advice from Calvert and Ryan is to go easy on yourself as a parent and embrace the idea that you may not complete every task in any given day.

鈥淵ou have to forget the idea of being perfect,鈥� says Calvert. 鈥淧arents are dealing with their own stressors during this time, and it is important to take care of yourself. It鈥檚 like being in an airplane when the oxygen masks drop 鈥� in order to help your kids, you have to put your oxygen mask on first.鈥�

Calvert also suggests alleviating anxiety by taking breaks from the news, as that creates a negative atmosphere for both parents and children. 

鈥淐hildren hear media in the background, even if it is not intended for them. Background media can be disruptive to children鈥檚 well-being,鈥� she explains.

鈥淜ids can sense when their parents are stressed,鈥� says Ryan, Provost鈥檚 Distinguished Associate Professor. 鈥淚n this time of uncertainty, it is of course important to stay informed, but not at the cost of your mental health.鈥�

4. Make Sure Your Kids Stay Connected 

Ryan says connecting with other people is incredibly important for everyone and is particularly important for children who are learning and developing social skills. 

Technology, such as Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom, allows them to practice physical distancing while maintaining healthy, frequent social relationships. 

鈥淭hese kinds of technologies also connect children to family members that they cannot see in person right now, such as their grandparents,鈥� Calvert adds.

鈥淭ake time to talk directly to your children even when you are busy,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚f your child wants a snack, for example, give them eye contact and say that you are working right now and will do it in a few minutes. Remember that you are the most important person in their lives, and they need to feel connected to you.鈥� 

5. Use Educational Apps

Calvert notes that studies, including her own, have shown that children learn better with characters that they form emotional relationships with and think of as trusted friends, particularly when children interact with them. 

She advises that educational apps should have small age bands, such as 2-3, 5-8 and 8-12, since children鈥檚 learning varies according to their developmental level.

鈥淒C public schools have done a great job of using educational apps for instructional continuity,鈥� Ryan notes. 鈥淭hey have integrated apps like Raz-Kids to help with reading and other subjects so that he can be both learning and engaged, which allows me to focus on my work.鈥�

Calvert suggests exergames such as  Wii as a supplement for in-person physical education in schools. Be sure you have enough room so that you don鈥檛 bump into one another!

6. Consult With Teachers

Ryan suggests that parents speak to teachers about their child鈥檚 individual learning level to best gauge what apps are best for them.

But these individualized apps are often not enough. Calvert and Ryan stress the importance of parents using these apps with their children, especially with kids under the age of 10, to create the most impactful learning environment.