Ways to encourage kids to not browse while in class!

[Anonymous]

DS is starting middle school DL - it's a big change as he must now juggle 7 demanding classes. He's having trouble keeping up with the work and I don't think learning all that much via DL. THAT SAID, I know by looking at his web history, he's also playing simple online games while in a-sync classes or doing digital puzzles etc during live ones. In other words, he's distracting himself when he's bored or its tough, and instead doing something more fun. I think part of this is the equivalent of scribbling in your notebook during class- but is WAY more distracting. I think he's really missing things in class.

How do I manage this? I can't turn off the internet or even browsing as he does need it for school. And more importantly, just shutting the options down isn't really teaching him how to manage his time and concentrate on his work. I also don't want to put him in the position of just looking for ways around whatever digital controls I enact.

What has worked for your kid to teach them to stay on task and in class?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Blocksite

[Anonymous]

I told mine I will be checking their history daily. If I see they are on YouTube during class, as they have been, or deleted history they will lose their phones that evening. They want to text friends after school and don’t have access all day. That’s motivating for them.

[Anonymous]

17:10. I mean YouTube for non related school things. It’s easy to spot the difference.

[Anonymous]

if it is a school computer, you cannot add block site - ask me how I know...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I told mine I will be checking their history daily. If I see they are on YouTube during class, as they have been, or deleted history they will lose their phones that evening. They want to text friends after school and don’t have access all day. That’s motivating for them.

Most intelligent children will find their way around this pretty quickly. I tell my kid that if his grades drop below a certain threshold, he loses his weekend electronics privileges. That usually works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I told mine I will be checking their history daily. If I see they are on YouTube during class, as they have been, or deleted history they will lose their phones that evening. They want to text friends after school and don’t have access all day. That’s motivating for them.

Most intelligent children will find their way around this pretty quickly. I tell my kid that if his grades drop below a certain threshold, he loses his weekend electronics privileges. That usually works.

I know. It’s the best I can do at the moment. I’ll try your grade idea too.

[Anonymous]

Even though my son has a laptop, the school recommended picking up the school's chromebook, which doesn't allow this. So he works on that.

However, he does like to fidget, and plays with a surfboard action figure. I do let him do that. I used to doodle and that actually helped me focus. I view them as similar fidget-styles.

But I agree, this hours-long distance learning is hard. My son did better with the asynchronous learning where he could do it on his own time at mostly at his own pace. It's going to be a longggggg year.

[Anonymous]

Good question. I'm reminded of when I did call center training once and we (age 18-65) kept getting chastised for farting around on the retailer's web site looking for what we'd buy with our discount instead of paying attention.

[Anonymous]

I’ve asked the school to block specific sites. My child had adhd and the temptation is too much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’ve asked the school to block specific sites. My child had adhd and the temptation is too much.

On his school-provided device, I mean. I also block sites on our home computer.

[Anonymous]

Circle. It blocks in the wi-fi level - you don't need to have access to the computer or permission to install any add ons etc.

[Anonymous]

Same problem here. But we can’t block YouTube as they assign YouTube video as instruction materials.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even though my son has a laptop, the school recommended picking up the school's chromebook, which doesn't allow this. So he works on that.

However, he does like to fidget, and plays with a surfboard action figure. I do let him do that. I used to doodle and that actually helped me focus. I view them as similar fidget-styles.

But I agree, this hours-long distance learning is hard. My son did better with the asynchronous learning where he could do it on his own time at mostly at his own pace. It's going to be a longggggg year.

We got a school chrome book too for this reason. My DS has found something he can do on it, like downloading and modding games and looking up nonsense other stuff; teacher mentioned he sent son a chat and he did not reply. We spoke with him today; if this continues he won't have access on the weekend. He is also sharing a google doc with a friend and that's how they communicate during the school day (not my idea). No other electronics are available during the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Circle. It blocks in the wi-fi level - you don't need to have access to the computer or permission to install any add ons etc.

What does this mean? Blocks what at the wifi level? TIA