The Effects of Online Homeschooling on Children, Parents, and Teachers of Grades 1-9 During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Med Sci Monit. 2020 Sep 12:26:e925591. doi: 10.12659/MSM.925591.

Abstract

BACKGROUND Beginning in the 2020 spring semester, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all school-age children in China were homeschooled via live/recorded broadcasts, online group communication, and software-based homework submission. This study assessed the effects of and proper preparation for this educational approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS The homeschooling behaviors and feelings of school-age children were assessed with 2010 online surveys obtained separately from students, parents, and teachers of grades 1-9 in 15 Chinese provinces. Answers were compared among low- (grades 1-3), middle- (grades 4-6), and high- (grades 7-9) grade groups. The chi-square test was used to identify significant differences between groups. RESULTS We found that 76% of the respondents thought the homeschooling style was acceptable. However, teachers were concerned that students' interest, focus, and academic performance would decline. Sixty-nine percent of the parents reported their children had more than 3 hours of daily screen time, and 82% of students had less than 2 hours of daily outdoor activity. Ninety-five percent of the parents were concerned about their children's eyesight. Additionally, 17.6% of the students were suspected to have emotional or behavioral problems according to the parent-rated Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) results. The Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) results of parents and teachers showed higher levels of anxiety than usual. CONCLUSIONS Students should continue the going-to-school rhythm at home to cope with changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Integrated grade-specific approaches are needed. Because long screen time and insufficient outdoor activities can severely affect children's eyesight, appropriate eye-protection measures should be implemented.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Chi-Square Distribution
  • Child
  • Child Behavior Disorders / etiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / psychology*
  • Education, Distance*
  • Emotions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics*
  • Parents / psychology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / psychology*
  • Psychology, Child
  • Quarantine / psychology
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • School Teachers / psychology*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / etiology
  • Students / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Vision Disorders / etiology