This month the Seattle Times reported that 8% of students in the Seattle Public Schools have not regularly participated in online school this fall. The article states that the district believes that half of the students who aren’t showing up have issues with their devices or connectivity. The district has given out many devices to students and gets internet service to families, but there are still many unknowns about all the reasons affecting participation. It’s worth noting that in other parts of the country this percentage is even higher.

Erggg, there are so many challenges happening in homes around online schooling. Besides the issues stated above, there are a host of other challenges like: parents who are working and unable to help their kids during the day, such as helping them stay on task; the thousands of students with special needs who are unable to get the support they may have received at school; teens dealing with low motivation issues; those who have gotten into a pattern of staying up late and missing classes online, and the list goes on.

It is so important that we talk with our kids about the different ways people are struggling right now. Seeing beyond our homes is key to building empathy in these rugged times. It is easy to get focused on all the ways we are personally suffering when many others may have it far worse.

Staying on task and paying attention in a classroom online when pulled by many tabs and often phones nearby is intensely challenging for those participating in online school. The new, popular game “Among Us,” conversations with friends, online shopping, and much more is pulling at many. I devote a whole chapter in my new book, Parenting in the Screen Age, to helping with “Homework Hygiene,” which is when parents help their children develop effective practices around homework. I also have many sections in the book about strategies to help students stay focused during class time despite the many tech distractions easily accessible.

Something else I’ve heard is that many teachers don’t require kids to put on their video, and kids have told me they log in and then turn off their videos and do things like “go back to sleep” or “walk away from the class.”

So, what are some solutions?