Tips for Parents & Carers on Remote Learning
Establish routines and expectations.
IMPORTANT: Updated Information
Information impacting childcare is being updated on a frequent basis. You can track the latest information here- COVID-19 Childcare Updates.
Create a Healthy Learning Environment
It’s important to set routines and expectations from the very beginning, including predefined working hours, exercise breaks and a healthy sleep schedule.
Breakfast, lunch and physical activity breaks should follow a routine just as they would for normal schooling. As discussed in the Xplor Annual Childcare Report, healthy eating behaviours and taste preferences are formed in childhood, so take this opportunity to develop healthier habits with your children.
You should create a quiet and comfortable learning space where your child can study for long periods at a time. Family areas in the home are always preferred to bedrooms so you can easily monitor their progress, avoid distractions and offer help at any time.
Check-ins at the start and end of the day are highly encouraged, starting with questions about your child’s learning goals and ending with a discussion on what they learned or their plan for tomorrow’s work.
Establish Rules and Limit Screen Time
School rules and expected behaviour still apply for remote learning environments, so make sure your child is aware of how they should be behaving and working with others.
You should also establish a line of communication with the school itself, including an understanding of the way your child is communicating with them and receiving work.
While schools may provide most of the curriculum digitally, it’s important to keep screen time at a healthy level. Children aged 2 to 5 should only spend 1 hour in front of a screen, broken up into 30-minute sessions. Children aged 6 and older have no strict limit, but you should break up extended screen time with physical activity and face-to-face interaction.
There’s no need to completely avoid recreational screen time like gaming and social media, but set rules to ensure they don’t overlap with work hours and become a distraction.
It’s our responsibility to provide children with dynamic, technology-enhanced environments to ensure they thrive in today’s world.
National survey for The Early Years Insights 2020
Take an Active Role in the Study Process
While children should always have the chance to learn at their own pace, you should never be afraid to step in when they’re struggling and help them get back on track. Your children should know they can ask you for help at any time.
This might also include helping your children understand instructions or manage their time effectively. If the work seems too hard for your child, you can always contact the school and discuss options for help.
Exercise is a proven treatment for stress and depression, so consider a quick break whenever they need a mood boost.
As long as you remain attentive and available throughout the remote learning process, both you and your children will eventually adapt to the new learning environment.
Stress and isolation can make remote learning difficult for children…keep them updated, stay positive and remind them the situation is temporary.
National survey for The Early Years Insights 2020
Further information
- Visit the COVID-19: Childcare Resources for latest news updates, understanding your responsibilities are to parents & children during the COVID-19 pandemic, when you should close your service, and how to get financial advice & assistance, and other key childcare-related information.
- Please visit the Department of Education, Skills and Employment Frequently Asked Questions for more information for providers and services and Coronavirus (COVID-19) for the latest education and training sector fact sheets.
- The CCS Helpdesk is available to assist with information for services to help them manage the impacts on their business. Please email the CCS Helpdesk on ccshelpdesk@dese.gov.au, send in your query via an online form or call 1300 667 276 between 9.00 am — 5.00 pm (AEDST), Monday to Friday.
Please make sure that if you are a child care provider or service you have subscribed to receive communications from the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
