Distance learning has started in many cities across the U.S., and if you’re wondering how it’s going, well, just take a scroll through your social media feeds. Parents online have been sharing their unique struggles as they guide their kids through this new style of learning at home. Cinamon Contreras, a Texas mom of four, recently went viral after posting on Facebook that her 6-year-old son, Colton, got his head stuck in a chair when he got distracted during online classes.
“This is my 6-year-old first grader on his second day of virtual learning. He went to retrieve a marker and took a shortcut while no one was looking,” Contreras writes. “I think it’s safe to say he’d rather have his head stuck in a chair than watch another educational video.”
On the plus side, Contreras says her son had quite an adventure when firefighters arrived and had to cut the chair to help Colton pull his head out of it. She even shared photos of her little boy smiling during a tour of the firetruck.
The mom’s post was published on the popular Love What Matters Facebook page, and it’s been shared more than 18,000 times. This family’s story resonated with lots of other parents who are struggling to keep their kids focused and engaged while they participate in online classes. In the comments, several parents shared photos of their own kids who are restless, bored or simply over it, just like Colton.
“Second day, hour two,” writes Texas mom Jessica Garza, alongside this photo of her tired elementary schooler. “When is lunch?”
“I feel this times 362728,” adds Georgia mom Meagan Richter Nash. “This has been my son’s reaction to digital learning so far.”
Thirty-nine of the 50 largest school districts in the U.S. are offering distance learning as the only option for the start of the 2020-2021 school year, according to the nonprofit Education Week. That impacts over 6.1 million students across the country. While distance learning may be the safest option during the pandemic, posts like Contreras’s show what a big adjustment it is for students and parents, as well as the teachers on the other side of the screens.
Many distance learning schedules require kids to be in front of a screen for long periods of time, which presents challenges for teachers trying to keep children engaged and parents who are trying to supervise learning, work and manage a million other things at home. An August 2020 survey by Gallup shows only 56% of teachers say they feel “confident” or “very confident” in their ability to successfully instruct this fall, and only 29% feel confident that their child’s school district will be able to provide a high-quality education.
Still, everyone is forging ahead and doing their best because that’s the only option we have right now. Many teachers and school administrators have spent months making plans and adjustments to ensure this school year is a success, and many parents are trying their hardest to offer support.
Contreras says her post about Colton getting his head stuck in a chair is meant to be relatable, and it’s not an indictment of distance learning or his school’s efforts. “It’s nothing negative about schools or teachers,” she explains. “It’s a trying time for everyone right now.”
