New project supports parents’ at-home schooling

20 Apr 2020     By Haley Apel

While keeping families safe is top priority, it is not the only thing on the minds of parents during the coronavirus pandemic. Many are now trying to figure out how to keep up with the demands of their jobs, while ensuring their children complete their school lessons while at home. This is a tremendous challenge for parents and can lead to additional stress at an already tense time.

Julie Thomas experienced a first-hand case of this balancing act when she received an email from a family member trying to juggle working from home while at-home schooling her three children. Thomas, interim associate dean for research and professor in the College of Education and Human Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, was inspired to help. Not only did she want to figure out how to help her family member, but all parents who are facing this situation.

Thomas reached out to her colleague, Beth Doll, professor of educational psychology, and the two started coming up with simple tips they could share with parents. Together they pulled together a group of experts across the college to offer advice and unique perspective.

“Yes, we are researchers, psychologists and teachers,” Thomas said. “But, we’re also parents and grandparents who want to support parents’ efforts in at-home schooling.”

The tips go beyond virtual learning activities for children, and really focus on a different kind of parental support – positive psychology. 

“Our aim with this project is to encourage parental appreciation of this unprecedented pandemic as a unique opportunity for them, their children, and their families at large,” Doll said.

One of the tips is designed to help parents feel less stressed about their child’s at-home schooling success. Research shows that parental beliefs and expectations actually predict student achievement, so if a parent thinks his/her child will do well in school, they will do well in school. This holds true regardless of whether school is in a classroom or at the kitchen table.

“From our perspective, this pandemic has given rise to new opportunities for parents to realize their influence on the academic achievement of their children,” Thomas said.

Other tips will talk about helping kids pick a passion project and how to help stay connected with classmates. A fun cartoon to set the stage for the dilemma will accompany each tip.

Beginning April 20, regular tips will be shared on the College of Education and Human Sciences social media accounts. To find the tips visit  https://www.facebook.com/UNLCEHS/ or https://twitter.com/UNL_CEHS.