Edited by: Brennon Johnson (son and Sevenstar senior)
Are you apprehensive about online learning? There’s nothing wrong with feeling that way, and you’re not alone. If you’re new to the world of online schooling, chances are your brain is questioning a lot right now.
“Did I make the right decision?”
“Will colleges take this seriously?”
“How can my kid socialize?”
“Is there a counselor?”
“How involved do I need to be?”
… and there are about a thousand more questions all competing for mental space and potentially robbing you of peace.
If that’s you, take a breath. You’re not alone. Almost every family who has made the switch to online learning has started right here: unsure, overwhelmed, and wondering if they have made a huge mistake. Parents worry about structure and involvement. Students wonder how different it will feel from their previous learning experience. Everyone is adjusting to something new. It’s normal to feel apprehensive. Maybe you lie awake at night imagining your child zoned out in front of a screen, or you worry about whether you’re “doing it right.” Maybe your student groans every morning, and you question if online schooling is sustainable.
That uneasy feeling? I’ve discovered it’s universal and recurring. However, it is not insurmountable.
At this moment, we will gently tell the amygdala to take a back seat and invite the prefrontal cortex to join the conversation. The truth is this: Online school is an adjustment. At first, it can feel like learning a whole new language. DBAs? Buzz? Modules? It’s a lot. Families who’ve been doing this for a while will tell you the same thing: Once you get past that initial learning curve, things start to click. Also, if you’re already a few weeks (or months) in and thinking Why does this still feel hard?, that’s normal too. Early hurdles don’t mean you chose wrong; they mean you’re learning something new. And like anything new, each individual picks it up at a different pace.
Let’s talk through some of the most common concerns, then determine some practical ways families have learned to navigate them.
“But my child will be too distracted at home…”
This is one concern I have heard parents voice over and over again. Honestly? That’s fair to bring this up. Homes are busy. Siblings exist. Dogs bark. Phones buzz. Doorbells ring. Snacks become urgent. Life happens. Despite this, the question I always come back to is: What learning or work environment is truly distraction-free?
Classrooms aren’t magically immune to distractions. Kids get distracted by friends, hallway noise, uncomfortable chairs, social pressure, and boredom, just to name a few issues. Distractions don’t disappear just because learning happens inside a school building instead of a house. The difference isn’t where distractions exist; it’s how students are equipped to handle them. Avoiding distractions isn’t the goal. Eliminating every distraction is impossible. Even if it were possible, it wouldn’t prepare kids for real life. College, workplaces, and adulthood all require the ability to refocus, prioritize, and self-regulate. Online learning gives students the chance to practice those skills now with your support.
Instead of asking, How do I remove every distraction?, a better question is, How do I equip my child to work through them?
Think, How can the home be helpful? Create a learning area, not a silent bubble. A consistent spot that signals “This is where learning happens” helps tremendously. Work in focused chunks. Short learning blocks (25–45 minutes) with breaks help kids stay engaged. Knowing a break is coming makes it easier to ignore distractions.
Talk about distractions and ask your child questions.
“What pulls your attention away?”
“How do you regain focus?”
Simply acknowledging the distraction can be enough to redirect the student back to their work.
Normalize getting distracted.
Getting distracted happens to all of us—assist your student in understanding this; then give them some useful techniques that help redirect their attention back to learning. Stretching, taking a sip of water, or writing down a thought to revisit later are examples of techniques that help to regain focus. Even adults can benefit from these techniques—I know that I have.
Build independence gradually.
Focusing is a skill. Some learners may need more guidance at first. That’s okay. Independence grows when exercised. Encourage staying focused through a difficult lesson or completing a project independently. Build up their confidence with smaller tasks first; then push and expand the boundaries. Online learning is about teaching kids how to learn in the real world where focus is a choice, not a condition.
“Is online schooling real school?”
This question comes up frequently. It looks different: There are no bells, no standard classrooms, no teachers present. Because it looks different, people wrongfully assume it’s subpar. School isn’t defined by a building; it’s about learning. Online learning fosters real-world skills.
“What real world skills can be learned from online schooling?” Drumroll please…
Independence!
Independence builds confidence, and confidence sticks!
Adhering to an assignment schedule without face-to-face reminders!
Advocating for themselves by asking for help when needed through methods such as email!
Learning to have educated discussions with peers through online discussion boards!
Time management!
Planning their day!
Determining the order of priorities to maximize productivity!
Learning the importance of balancing school with extracurricular activities and family!
Flexibility!
Online learning allows students to make adjustments to their academic activity as needed! Self-paced learning allows students to move ahead or slow down and revisit lessons when necessary!
Goals can be achieved in various environments, allowing students to work on their academic progress from virtually anywhere in the world, which in turn prompts students to become more adaptable!
“What about socialization?”
Many times, online students are pictured as isolated kids sitting behind a screen. These kinds of TV-drama stereotypes have had a negative impact on the way society judges online learning. Socialization comes in many forms and encompasses communication, collaboration, adaptation, and listening skills. Online learning gives intentional access to social opportunities by offering live class discussions, virtual clubs, student council, the NHS, collaboration projects, volunteer hour requirements, and online community activities. I have found that through my son’s online learning journey he has interacted with people of different ages, backgrounds, and cultures and has benefitted from meaningful connections that he will carry into his adult life.
“I am not a teacher—I can’t do this.”
Online learning does not mean the parent becomes the teacher. Academic professionals oversee and manage curriculum, instruction, and assessments. Your role as a parent is to provide support and encouragement and ensure accountability for your student as well as their educators. A few examples of ways to do this are doing daily check-ins with your student, regularly visiting the parent portal to monitor student progress, and asking questions of the school administrators in areas that may not have clearly defined answers.
“My child needs structure.”
Another common misconception concerning online education is that it lacks structure. Online learning has structure. It may look different from traditional brick-and-mortar schools. However, structure is still at the core of a successful online program. Structure in online schooling includes but is not limited to:
- Assignment due dates
- Discussion-Based Assessments with teachers (also known as DBAs)
- Defined start and end dates for courses
- Testing requirements for academic accountability
The Big Picture No style of learning is perfect. Any change in learning calls for adjustments. There will be moments of doubt, concern, and frustration.
Remember: Adjustments take time, patience, and persistence.
The goal is to help mold your children into independent, self-regulated, well-adjusted, resilient adults, and I feel online learning has assisted our family in achieving this goal.
