Google has recently shared what it calls a five-point listicle, on how technology may assist parents to make their daily routine with children returning to school easier.
It’s often difficult for parents returning from holidays to get their children back to school for the new school term. The burden of getting up earlier than usual to get the kids ready, leaving early to avoid traffic, and spending time to help with homework, among other things, may be a full-time job in and of itself.
According to the statement issued by the company in Lagos, ‘Detty December’ is over and students, teachers and parents alike are all trying to get through the mad rush of ‘Back to School’ and get back into the swing of things.
Here are the five ways technology can help to ease ‘Back to School’ stress according to Google:
● Set reminders with Assistant: Setting reminders is a smart way to remember all the things that are important for school- from lunches to school events. You can easily create reminders with the help of Google Assistant. Using your mobile device or phone, simply say, “Hey Google, set a reminder”, or “Hey Google, remind me to dry clean my children’s uniform at noon tomorrow.” Google Assistant will go on to set a reminder and send you a notification when it is close to the time.
● Beat the traffic with Maps: You can get real-time information about traffic jams and delays using Google Maps, helping to plan better routes for school runs. Parents preparing to take their children to school every morning can make use of Google Maps to check for alternative routes and the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) to ensure they get to school before the bell rings.
● Complete homework with Search: Not all parents are subject matter experts but they do often have to play the role of designated tutor, or help out with homework. In some cases, parents have forgotten how to solve simple math problems or they may not have the answers to some basic science questions. A quick search on Google can help find solutions to difficult questions. Parents should however allow their children to generate the answers to their homework questions before searching Google for the answer.
Read also: Nigeria’s taxman turns attention to digital space
● Watch video tutorials on YouTube: YouTube is great for watching explanatory videos that are fun, informative, and educational. For example, parents can watch videos that reveal how to solve a quadratic equation and brush up their knowledge to help their children with their homework. There are also a variety of educational videos for children that can help parents tutor children who wish to learn more beyond their school work.
● Keep kids safe with Family Link: Children today spend more time online than ever before. As such, it is important to help them develop healthy online habits and make sure they are protected from ills such as online predators and cyberbullies. Family Link allows parents to set digital rules to help guide their children as they learn and explore online. The app helps children make good decisions about what they do on their devices and even shows teacher-recommended apps that can be added to their devices.
“It can be overwhelming for parents to balance their own professional endeavors with the demands of their children’s rigorous education but technology can sometimes help to lighten the load,” the statement added.
