A survey of more than 2,000 parents by internet safety organisation Internet Matters found that almost half of parents (46 per cent) agreed that live lessons gave their children an opportunity to remain “visibly connected”.
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However, 41 per cent said they had made their child more self-conscious about their identity and how they look on camera.
In addition, 43 per cent said their child found it hard to speak up during live lessons and 37 per cent said they were more anxious than normal when asked to attend with their camera on.
Meanwhile, 52 per cent said they were worried about the long-term impact online learning will have on their children’s confidence and self-esteem, with 39 per cent wanting more help on how to deal with it.
The research comes as Internet Matters launches a series of videos with its ambassador and child psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos offering advice on how to support children if they are finding it hard to have their camera on during live lessons.
The videos target parents of both primary and secondary school age, focusing on what positive steps they can take from helping them manage any anxieties they have to dealing with individual issues.
A separate social media campaign launched by safety organisation South West Grid for Learning (SWGfL) is aimed at reassuring 13- to 18-year-olds that they are not alone in the issues they have faced during lockdown and remote learning.
SWGfL has joined forces with Priory Learning Trust and Headstart Kernow to interview more than 600 pupils about the use of technology during lockdown.
The majority agreed that whilst technology has enabled them to stay connected and keep up with school work, they have become so reliant on it that they can sometimes feel tied down to it.
The Instagram campaign will present short videos featuring teenagers talking about how they cope with the everyday stresses of lockdown learning and raise awareness of what young people can do to support their mental health.
The campaign shares the lockdown experiences of a group of children and the innovative ways in which they are coping.
Dr Linda Papadopoulos said: “Right now, it’s understandable that parents will be worried about the impact of remote learning on their kids, especially when it comes to video lessons. But there are many positive steps they can take to help.
“For younger children, it’s about managing the basics, ensuring they can see and hear well and keeping them engaged with support from the school.
“When it comes to older children, they are much more socially aware, so it’s important to help them manage any anxieties and individual issues they have, not letting them feel like they are more exposed during online lessons than they usually are.
“It’s also about reinforcing the idea that this is a moment in time that's affected us all, but it doesn't have to be something that affects who we are, it’s temporary.”
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To watch Dr Linda Papadopoulos video series and learn more about online safety and how to support your child, visit Internetmatters.org
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To follow the SWGfL Instagram campaign go to: www.instagram.com/swgfl_official
