During the outbreak of the coronavirus disease or COVID-19, schools have adjusted their teaching methods to an online system to reduce the risk of infection and allow children to continue learning without interruption.
Although online learning helps keep children and families safe from infection, it also provides an opportunity for family members to spend more time together. Parents can encourage and support their children’s learning, allowing children to study or engage in activities that foster creativity. However, online learning has also been questioned in terms of its effectiveness because it requires adequate equipment and technology, appropriate teaching materials for the format, and sufficient knowledge and skills in using devices and technology from teachers, students, and parents alike.
Studies of problems both in Thailand and abroad have found that online learning affects children’s physical health, mental health, behavior, and learning methods.
Moreover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the United States has reported that during this outbreak, 63% of adolescents and adults aged 18-24 experience anxiety, depression, or both, which is a problem that requires attention and care.
How does online learning affect children’s health?
1. Impact on physical health
- Children may experience eye strain, vision problems, muscle aches, and back pain due to prolonged sitting in front of computer screens or communication devices.
- Weight gain due to reduced physical activity or exercise compared to normal school attendance.
- Irregular eating habits, less rest and sleep, possibly due to increased homework, lack of discipline in bedtime routines, no need to wake up early, and having access to food throughout the day.
2. Impact on mental health, behavior, and learning of children
- Children feel bored, lack concentration, and lose motivation to learn because it is quite difficult to adapt activities and practical exercises online as they are done in school.
- Feeling fatigued due to continuous screen time, increased homework, and submitting assignments in different ways. If children need help from friends, it is harder than in school.
- The brain does not process information the same way as interactive learning methods, such as facial expressions, eye contact, body language, tone, and volume of conversation.
- Children lack interaction with peers, which is an opportunity to develop social skills. Some children may feel anxious and depressed.
- In online learning, parents must supervise, especially young children, which increases parental stress due to the situation, economic problems, and responsibilities of caring for children. Some parents have to do homework for their children, and children are also affected by their parents’ stress.
- An unsuitable home environment for online learning causes children to lose focus.
- Children preparing for entrance exams for the next grade level, such as Grade 7, Grade 10, or university entrance, experience increased stress due to anxiety about exams and the evaluation process that requires exam results.
Guidelines for caring for children during online learning
- Parents should plan and schedule daily activities with their children, including study time, meal times, household chores, rest, and exercise. Older children and teenagers may organize their own schedules with parental encouragement, support, and supervision.
- Set up a quiet corner at home as a dedicated learning space to help children concentrate better.
- Teachers should organize learning platforms, schedules, media systems, teaching content, and homework, adjusting objectives and goals to suit the children. For older children, focus on self-directed learning methods.
- Allow children to take breaks from screen time periodically to engage in other activities.
- Parents should encourage children to exercise or participate in physical activities in various ways.
- Parents should find ways to relieve stress, talk with their children, and do fun activities together.
- Parents should supervise and control their children’s discipline, such as waking up, eating, study time, and bedtime regularly, and be good role models.
- Allow children to interact with classmates online.
It can be seen that when children have to study online continuously for a long time, it inevitably affects their physical health, mental health, and learning to some extent. Therefore, parents and teachers must consistently care for and pay attention to children to ensure they learn happily, engage in appropriate activities, and find ways to promote physical and mental health so that children can develop intellectually and live a quality life during this crisis.
Dr. Nopawan Sriwongpanich
Pediatrician specializing in Development and Behavior
Child and Adolescent Health Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital
