Exposure to the scary situation helps children
get used to it.
Another option: Services like Zoom let you
remove your own image from your screen
while keeping your camera on. Zoom explains
how to do that online.
Kids frustrated by having to sit in front of a
computer all day and missing their friends
may act out, sighing loudly or disobeying
the rules, Anderson said. Instead of issuing
punishments, try to come up with coping
plans — offer breaks and activities they
enjoy in return for participating in virtual
school. For older children and teens,
give them room to do the activities they
love independently. “Remind them what
they’re working toward and what they can
look forward to,” Anderson said. “Build up
coping thoughts for kid to get through the
rougherpart of the day.”
Q: How do I hide the contents of my house
from my kids’ teachers and classmates?
A: Many video services let you choose a
virtual background — the Rocky Mountains,
a field of flowers, the Death Star — that
obscures everything but the person on the
screen. Sometimes you can also just blur
the actual background. Otherwise, situate
your kids in a neutral space you all feel
comfortable showing to the world — maybe
somewhere they’ll sit with their backs to a
wall — and have them wear headphones to
limit both distracting noises and the possibility
that unrelated family conversations might
broadcast into the virtual classroom.