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in Blog on September 5, 2020 by Sarah Powers

How To Help Kids Focus At “Zoom School” (And A Few Distance Learning Must-Haves)

My kids–starting second, fifth, and seventh grades this fall–are all learning from home right now. And while I’m in love with some of the cute home learning workspaces I’ve seen shared online (Kelle Hampton and Erica Ladd are a couple of favorites), we just moved into this house in July and I don’t even have it decorated from a baseline yet, let alone a refresh for my kids’ distance learning.

So instead of cute decor, my focus has been on pure function. We’ve seen how a few small purchases can make a BIG difference in kids’ ability to sit, focus, and attempt to learn in this crazy environment. Here are a few things we’ve learned so far:

As always, Amazon links are affiliates, which means if you click through and make a purchase, you’ll be helping the show at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

Comfortable Seating

Chairs at school are sized for little bottoms; the chairs in my home are not. Finding a seating situation that was comfortable for each of my kids has been an ongoing process, but the more they’re able to sit with good posture, comfortably, the easier it is for them to stay focused in class.

I didn’t want to purchase a whole new desk chair (although I have two of these and love them), so instead I bought these Gorilla Grip Memory Foam Chair Cushions in a 6-pack for our dining room chairs.

If you have a really little one (preschool, kinder, or a petite little learner), try this Prince Lionhart Soft Booster Seat. We loved ours for the preschool age range.

We also have this Gaiam Kids Stay-N-Play Balance Ball, which is like a yoga ball with flexible legs so that it stays put like a chair. (Fair warning: some kids do great sitting on a yoga ball; others do not.)

Desks + Devices

It took exactly one day to realize that our school-provided devices placed on a desk surface made for a terrible camera angle on Zoom. The kids don’t care, of course, but I noticed that it appeared to the teacher as though their eyes were half-closed because the camera was lower than their face–by a lot. That made it seem like they weren’t engaged or paying attention, even if they were. Plus, looking down at the camera led to posture issues.

We’ve been so happy with these AmazonBasics Laptop Desk Stands–every member of our family now has one! It’s sturdy, non-slip/stick, and elevates the whole laptop so that the kids can sit up straight and look into the camera. (If you have older kids who are doing a lot of typing while zooming, you may want to grab a bluetooth keyboard so that they don’t have to type while laptop is on the stand. This hasn’t been an issue for my elementary school kids, who are mostly watching/listening/talking on Zoom.)

It took another few days to realize that my second-grader’s earnest penciling and mindless doodling were actually wearing grooves into my dining room table! We got this TOWWI Dual Sided Desk Pad and LOVE IT. It’s like a yoga mat for your desk area, smooth and soft but not so squishy that it doesn’t make a good writing surface. AND my table is protected. (This would also be a great solution if your table has grooves that create a funky writing surface!)

I also highly recommend comfortable headphones with a built-in mic. When kids can hear their teacher well, and when the teacher can hear them, they’re much more engaged in the lesson. Our school provided headphones by Egghead, but these PeohZarr Kids Headphones with Mic are similar.

To keep our devices charged and organized, we bought this Fast Charging Station for Multiple Devices, which works great for our iPads and iPad Minis. The kit only comes with three lightning cables and we needed more, so we picked up these Short iPhone Cable Chargers.

Fitgeting + Clock-Watching

It’s not easy for kids to sit still and listen, even during normal times. At home, without the visual classroom cues around them, it can really be a struggle. I have one child who chews on her fingernails, draws on her arms, and generally needs to keep her hands busy in order to focus. With a teacher’s blessing, having fidget toys a part of your learn-at-home setup can help with this.

These Silicone Sensory Chewing Beads are basically a teething toy for older kids. I give it to my second grader when she needs to chew on something.

We also love these POKONBOY Jumbo Squishy Toys; they make a cute desk mascot and are fun to squish when you need to fidget.

Finally, we all remember watching the clock at school and counting down the minutes to recess, right? School at home is no different. Even though our devices have clocks built in, they’re not always visible when Zoom is at full screen. A small, battery-operated (because nobody needs more cords!) bedside clock can help kids know how much longer until lunch.

Remember: Nobody is nailing this right now. Everybody’s kids are struggling. Cute home workstations might help energize you, but they’re not required. Your child’s teacher is your ally, and wants to hear what’s working for your kid. And, as always: it’s going to be OK.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: back to school, products, school

About Sarah Powers

Sarah Powers is co-host and Executive Producer of The Mom Hour podcast. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and three kids, ages 9, 11, and 13.

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Meagan wrote a book—and Sarah has lots of questions. In this episode, we dive into Meagan’s journey from concept to publication. From the initial spark of an idea to the challenges of writing, editing, and getting it out into the world, join us for an inside look at the process behind bringing her book to life. Whether you're a writer, a non-writer who likes to learn how the sausage gets made, or simply want to offer Meagan your support during launch week, we hope you'll listen!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

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You can EMAIL questions to hello@themomhour.com with Listener Question in the subject line. (Please don't use the comments on this post to ask your question; we might miss it and it adds organizational clutter to our lives.)

Deadline is Sunday 5/11 at 11:59pm. It's a true 'last call', folks! Can't wait to read your questions! -Meagan & Sarah
New episode! What does it mean to "launch" a kid New episode!

What does it mean to "launch" a kid into adulthood? How does parenting change when you're still mom, but they're no longer children? With Meagan’s new book just a week from launch, we’re diving into five things she’s learned about parenting young adults. Sarah asks the questions, Meagan shares the wisdom—and we both reflect on how the parenting journey keeps evolving.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
Happy Monday! 👋 It's time for our April sponso Happy Monday! 👋  It's time for our April sponsors roundup, where we remind you of our brand partners and special deals. ALL of our special promo codes and links can be found on the Deals & Offers page on our website. Tap on this image at the link in our bio to check it out.

Thank you for helping support the show by using our links + codes!

Check out our new sponsor . . .
🐻  @paddingtonmovie (available now on digital!)

And welcome back . . . 
🎵 @carnegiehall (fun music games & quizzes!)
🍋 @hiyahealth (50% off your 1st order!)
🪑 @wayfair (shop outdoor furniture online!)
👟 @vionicshoes (15% off your entire order!)
🎨 @minted (art, cards, decor & more!)
📚 @chatbooks (the easiest photo books ever!)
☑️ @todoistofficial (2 mo. free of Todoist Pro!)
📅 @theessentialcalendar (10% off calendars!)
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! We've heard from so many listeners w New episode!

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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
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From sandbox maintenance and the endless cycle of outgrown kids’ clothes to the rise of sourdough starters and evolving gardening ambitions, today's episode is about how our home management tasks have shifted as our kids have grown. We each share a few “then vs. now” snapshots, offering little insights into what domestic work looks like during different seasons of family life.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan New episode!

Hey, book lovers! This week, Meagan and Sarah catch up on our latest reading adventures. We share some books we’ve been loving lately, our TBR lists and check in on our library habits. We also discuss how reading habits change when we’re on vacation or just shaking up our routines. Oh, and with Meagan's book launch on the horizon, we’re giving you a peek into how she's keeping up with all the new releases and buzz in the book world. So grab a cup of your fav beverage and let’s dive into this bookish catch-up!

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts
New episode! No April Foolery from us today, but New episode!

No April Foolery from us today, but we ARE talking about family culture around jokes and funny stuff. We touch on Sarah's very strong feelings about pranks and jump scares, the joy of watching our kids' unique senses of humor evolve as they grow, whether teasing and ribbing fit in our our families' culture, comedy styles in pop culture that catch on with our teens, and more.

Find the episode wherever you get your podcasts, or click this image at the link in our bio!

#themomhour #motherhood #mompodcast #podcastsformoms #parenting #parentingpodcast #podcastlove #trypod #podcastersofinstagram #shepodcasts

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