Balancing online learning as a stay-at-home parent

With online learning becoming increasingly popular, more and more stay-at-home parents are turning to the internet to return to education. If the thought of taking online classes and caring for your children at the same time seems impossible, read on for some top tips on how you can perfect being a great parent and yet still accomplish your academic goals.


Choose the right time to study

It’s important to choose your study time wisely. If you’re looking to learn during the day, planning fun activities for your kids will keep them occupied while you concentrate, or you could also use nap time as the perfect opportunity to catch up on your course material. However, studying once your youngsters have headed to bed also has its advantages. Settling down at the end of the day to get on with your learning will mean you can benefit from a quiet house with fewer distractions. You’ll even find that some online learning websites, such as http://www.ool.co.uk/, are flexible in offering tutor assistance during evenings and weekends. This means you won’t be stuck for support if you choose to do your homework after hours.


Keep your kids in the loop

If your children are of a suitable age, it might be an idea to explain to them the importance of your studies. In helping them understand, they may be more respectful and aware of your time and space around the house while you learn. You might even want to involve your children. For example, while you’re doing your homework you could set them their own tasks and activities to complete. In a calm and serious manner, make it clear to your kids how important your studies are to you.


Don’t be afraid to ask for help

If you’re struggling to find harmony between being a parent and an academic, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether your children spend the afternoon with a neighbour or a family member cares for them a couple days out of the week, you may find accepting the help of others makes it a lot easier for you to keep up with your schooling. While you may feel guilty in doing so, welcoming assistance can be beneficial for both you and your children. You’ll be able to focus fully on your learning while your kids will be out of the house enjoying a change of environment.


By adopting some of these simple tips, you should be able to find a way to juggle your parenting duties while also broadening your knowledge with online learning.


- This is a guest post