How young is too young?

A question I am asked at least once per week is, "do you think they're too young for online tutoring?" My answer is always the same, "no, but here's what to expect!"

I see a lot of parents on various Facebook groups posting that they are "only looking for in-person tutors" and their reasons are usually the same - they're too young for an online tutor. Now, I am not advocating that online tutoring is for everyone and there are absolutely some children who just don't/can't cope with virtual lessons. This can be for a number of reasons ranging from Special Educational Needs through to simple personality type. In my experience, most parents who choose the online option are amazed at how effective it is but there are some things that parents (and tutors!) need to be expect in the beginning.

• Volume

When they are excited, children are loud and this is particularly common in the first few lessons with an online tutor. Everything is new and there are games to play, buttons to press and also, someone's undivided attention (if you are receiving 1:1 lessons). All of these things inevitably lead to an increase in volume which some parents/tutors aren't expecting. Personally, I think (within reason) this is a positive thing and helps to build a good relationship. As expectation are embedded and the children settle in, this usually subsides within a few weeks.

• Movement breaks

Please can I go to the toilet? Can I get a drink? Can I get a new pencil? Sitting still for a full lesson is tricky for some children and they therefore look for an excuse to get up and wander. Of course, this is also perfectly normal; however, it can lead to issues in the lessons if it's not carefully managed. Of course, everyone needs a little leg stretch (especially if you're only 5) but there are things that both tutors and parents can do to minimise the amount of time spent away from the lesson. More about these tips later.

• Pressing buttons

A new system full of shiny buttons with endless possibilities is always going to be hugely tempting to a child (of most ages). It is completely normal that, in the first few weeks, children will turn their camera off, turn their microphone off, exit the meeting, minimise the screen or press some magical button that changes every possible setting. I always recommend that there is "adult technical support" on hand initially to help with this. It can be helped by minimising the amount of interactivity in the first few lessons but, ultimately, it's going to happen. Once the novelty wears off, it's usually fairly smooth sailing although I can guarantee that, at some point, the child will pretend they are on mute and mime for a while to see if you notice. It's a classic.

• Drawing on the board

Tutors who use Zoom or other online platforms that allow collaboration will know all too well that the excitement of scribbling on the board is just overwhelming. As an adult, I quite enjoy drawing on the screen too so imagine how it feels for a child! Rest assured, tutors are able to disable the pen if necessary to make this less tempting. Again, perfectly normal.

• Taking a long time to complete tasks

When it's all very new, pace can be slow. This is for a number of reasons including getting used to the technology but also regulating themselves so they can concentrate. It is worth noting that developing concentration is one of the things I place a huge emphasis on in my lessons. Which leads me nicely to my next point...

The most important thing to remember for any parent or tutor is that you are not just developing academic skills. Lessons with a tutor should also develop patience, resilience, concentration, stamina, conversation skills and listening skills. If, in week 1, the student could barely sit still for 10 minutes but now they can manage a whole 50 minutes, that's incredible progress. If they can answer a question about their day with more than just "it's been good" then that is also progress. It may seem like something so minor when you are striving for top exam results but being able to hold a conversation and listen to another person speak is equally as important. So remember, it's more than just academics.

Top tips

So how do you minimise the impact of these little initial hiccups? Here are my top tips for tutors and parents:

Parents:

• Bathroom breaks before the lesson - this means they are less likely to need to get up during the class

• Have water on hand - again, less reasons to wander

• Have lined paper, pencils or pens at the ready - not all tutors use these in every lesson but it's great to have them on hand

• Minimise distractions - try not to have conversations in the background during the lessons, this makes it very difficult for a child to concentrate and can lead to overload

• Praise more than just academics - make sure your child knows you are really proud of the way they interacted with their tutor, their manners and their patience as well as their maths and English skills.

Tutors

• If a child is very young, plan your lessons according to their attention span. They will need shorter tasks and planned opportunities to move

• Disable the pen - it's very simple to do and removes the temptation to scribble

• Give the child 3 areas of focus at the start of the lesson - I use these a bit like learning objectives/intentions and I go over them with the child. For example, I might tell them I am looking for numbers formed the correct way, number bonds to ten and answering questions the first time they are asked. Usually 2 academic and one personal development. I then go over them at the end of the lesson and discuss if they have met them or not (I give smiley faces for each one)

• Reward system - this works with some children and not others. I sometimes offer "whiteboard breaks" where I have a game ready to play or just the opportunity to draw. This can help provide an incentive to work for more sustained periods of time It is worth noting that, although I am normalising a lot of behaviours here, I am not saying they are acceptable forever. It is imperative that the student knows how they should be behaving in order to get the most from their time with a tutor. Both parents and adults should make some allowances but also guide and model the behaviour they expect. Having a united front is key to getting the most from your tutoring sessions and it's especially important that parents show how much they value the tutor as well as vice versa.