Schooling your kids remotely is challenging. I’ve put together a list of tutorials and advice to prepare for your kids remote learning.
Back to school must do's to prepare for your kids remote learning
Schooling your kids remotely is challenging, even if you weren't also working and managing other life duties. The most challenging parts can often come from a poor set of tools, lack of time, or inability to monitor your kids nonstop (who has that kind of time really).
Luckily, there are some handy and free to use technologies out there that you can get set up for yourself and your kids. I've put together a list of tutorials and advice for getting a reign on all of the technologies you're using, so you can spend more time on what matters.
1. Make sure you have your kid's school account logins
Something important to note, is that when you are using a personal computer for your child, as opposed to a school provided device, logging in and accessing school resources may not work at first. This is usually because your school's tech support has most likely created a secure school account for your child to be able to access school resources.
For instance, if your child is using Google Classroom, then your child most assuredly has a school provided Google Account. Be sure to reach out to your School's tech support to retrieve your child's school email address and password to use to log them into the Google Chrome Browser with their School provided account.
Keep this Google Account logged in and easy to access from your child's desktop. You can set this up on your child's Separate Device Account, and even set up a workspace as detailed below.
2. Create a separate account for your child on the device they are using
Most devices will allow you to create a child account, and I highly recommend you do this. Letting your child have their own account on the computer or tablet they are using is more likely to protect your family from cyber criminals, and also protect your child from inappropriate content.
Set up A Child Profile in Windows 10 (Microsoft Family)
This tutorial will guide you through the process to set up a child profile on your PC and in Microsoft Family.
Setting Up a Child Profile in Amazon Fire Tablet
This tutorial guides you through setting up a child profile on an Amazon Fire tablet.
3. Set Up Content and Time Restrictions
This step is super important if you want to be able to go to the bathroom or work in another room while your child is supposed to be accessing their remote learning tools.
These tutorials will help you control what your kids can access and monitor their time accessing those resources so you can be better prepared to guide them towards their school achievements. It also gives you some peace of mind knowing you can block social media sites and other distractions during certain days and times.
Set Up Content and Activity Restrictions On Child's Microsoft Account
This tutorial walks you through setting up Time and Content restrictions for your child’s Microsoft Account. It is geared towards their PC usage on Windows 10 devices, but you can use this guide to also restrict their X Box usage.
Manage Your Kid's Content and Time in Amazon Fire Tablet
A great way to manage when, what and how much your kids are using their Amazon Fire Tablet’s is by utilizing the Parental Controls feature of the Amazon Fire tablet. Below is a brief overview of the features of the Parental controls and how to set them up.
4. Set up a Digital Workspace to keep things easy
One of the best things you can do to prevent too many disruptions during learning time will be to create a Digital Workspace. A digital workspace is just setting up the apps or websites your child will be using often for school in a way that is easy for them to access and navigate on their own. This prevents you from spending too much time searching for that website or trying to figure out where that app they are supposed to be using is located.
Set up a Child Workspace in Google Chrome
This tutorial walks you through setting up an easy workspace for your child’s computer, using the Google Chrome Browser.
Setting Up A School "Work Space" with Firefox Browser
This tutorial walks you through setting up an easy workspace for your child’s computer, using the Firefox Browser.
How To Set Up Those School Provided Websites & Online Materials So Your Child Can Access Them! (Amazon Fire)
This tutorial walks you through how to allow specific web page and web video content (like YouTube) to your child’s Amazon Fire Profile.
6. Save all the passwords with the browser's password manager
One of the most productive things you can do for yourself and your child is to let your browser save your passwords for you. Nothing slows the progress of learning down quite like misplacing the school provided password
How to use Google Password Manager, (reliably)
Whether you’re a parent trying to organize and manage your kids school work spaces, or used to saving passwords the old fashioned way you probably need a little help keeping your passwords safe, secure, and saved so you don’t have to remember all of them!
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