Make Distance Learning Less Challenging by Using Quality Headphones

Go ahead, ask any parent- what’s one of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face this past year?

Overwhelmingly, the answer will likely have something to do with juggling their own work-from-home schedule with the responsibilities associated with their children’s homeschooling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We’ve just passed the one-year anniversary of the day that life as we know it was turned upside-down, and it’s been a turbulent ride for many of us who had to navigate the tricky, frustrating waters of working from home while supervising the education of our school-aged children attending school via Zoom. Parents, teachers, and children alike have had a tough time adapting to the challenges posed by distance learning, and it’s safe to say that we’ll never forget 2020 for as long as we live.

Now as more people receive the COVID-19 vaccine and state-by-state case totals trend downward, we’re finally beginning to see a day in the not-too-distant future where the pandemic will come to a close and life will return to normal. Indeed, many school districts have already pivoted back to in-person learning on at least a part-time basis, and the outlook is good for a full return to pre-pandemic school schedules for the 2021-2022 school year. However, we’re not out of the woods yet, and a number of classrooms are still relying on distance learning for at least a fraction of their students.

As seasoned distance learning experts thanks to the past year’s events, we can say we’ve learned a lot about how to make our kids’ school experience as successful and productive as possible even when they can’t be in person with their teachers and classmates. We’re a lot more experienced with distance learning than we were just one year ago, and we know what it takes to create a distraction-free learning environment that benefits everyone at home.

One word: headsets.

That’s right- headsets, perhaps the single most important piece of equipment, other than a laptop, that can make all the difference in your child’s distance learning experience. Regardless of the size of your home or the number of kids all participating in distance learning at once in your household, parents can rest assured that the headsets they purchased are allowing their young learners to concentrate on the lesson at hand without becoming distracted by background noise. In essence, a quality set of headphones amounts to a private, secluded learning space for every member of your family!

Headsets aren’t just advantageous for the young students using them, either: for parents who are trying to focus on their own online meetings for work, or who simply need some peace and quiet to get their own tasks done, headsets can significantly reduce noise and distraction. Imagine not having to hear your child’s noisy class discussions in the background while you are trying to finish a critical report or give a presentation to a client. A good set of quality headphones can make this dream a reality, making working from home and supervising distance learning a little more bearable!

Headsets with microphones attached can also come in quite handy for students participating in classroom discussions, as they can help pick up your child’s voice without also picking up every other noise in the background. For kids with younger siblings or pets who are prone to getting noisy, this can save them from unwelcome distraction and embarrassment. When kids are able to rest assured that their classmates won’t hear every little thing going on around them, they can present to the class with confidence when called upon by the teacher.

But how can you be sure you are purchasing the right set of headphones for your child? After all, there are numerous makes and models of headsets on the market at a variety of price points. Selecting the right set of headphones that fits not only your budget but your child’s distance learning needs comes down to the following factors:

Quality: It’s entirely possible to find a headset that meets your price guidelines but also offers a lot in the way of quality and performance. Look for well-known brand names of school headphones that have a reputation for quality. It’s always helpful to read consumer reviews to find out what other parents have to say about the quality of the headsets they purchased for their students.

Durability: Let’s face it- kids are rough on electronics, especially if they are younger elementary school-age students. Even if you don’t pay a lot for a headset, you’d probably like it to last a while before it gets broken by a careless drop to the floor or a frayed cord. Look for headsets with a reputation for durability to ensure that they can stand up to typical use and abuse. We recommend headphones designed for school use since the manufacturers keep durability in mind when designing headsets for children.

Affordability: It’s not necessary for quality headsets to cost a lot, and you shouldn’t have to pay a fortune for each child in your household to have his or her own set of headphones. You can find great headsets at virtually any price point that fits your budget. Select the price range you’re comfortable with prior to making your purchase, and stick with it- you’re sure to find great bargains for some surprisingly high-quality headsets!

The pandemic isn’t going to last forever, but there’s every indication that distance learning will continue to be part of students’ regular lives from now on. Schools have begun reverting to remote learning schedules in the event of snow or other severe weather. Bad news, kids- we may have seen the last snow day ever!

Since it seems highly probable that teachers will continue to incorporate remote learning experiences into their students’ curriculum on at least a limited basis, having a quality headset is something that will benefit your child long after things get back to normal. By investing in a set of headphones for your student.