Challenges for parents of first graders in supporting their children’s distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The rapid global shift from traditional face-to-face to distance learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has implied a need to investigate parents’ experiences of helping their children learn in a distance-learning environment. Due the global pandemic, distance education has become a major challenge for many parents around the world. Various tools and techniques were used to cope with the challenges and disrupted daily routines. The analysis of challenges faced by parents in distance education is of great importance and significance, as it can help education policy makers to make certain decisions that could help remove barriers that may affect students’ learning outcomes. The subject matter inspired the question: what are the challenges faced by parents of students in first grade in helping their children to learn at a distance. The research analysis showed that parents spent more time with their children at home during the pandemic period, were more involved in the learning and teaching process in the digital environment, and constantly monitored and analysed their children’s learning progress. However, such “engagement” was not easy for parents, as they had to combine attention and support for their child with their work activities, and to find ways and means to make the learning material more comprehensible.