Life is busy, am I right? Most moms today are overscheduled, overworked, or just plain exhausted. This often leaves the working mother feeling like she’s shortchanging her kids—is she giving them the tools they need to succeed in the years ahead? Is she stimulating them enough? Are they getting the socialization they need? The list of worries can go on and on.

In the last year, I’ve discovered a fantastic busy mom time management tip that has helped me provide and prepare my kids for all sorts of possibilities in their futures. Ready for the tip? Find your kids some great online classes!

Crafts, Social Skills, Art

Online classes can be a great medium for most kids. These classes are provided by individual agents who offer instruction on a multitude of topics like crafts, academics, social skills, and the arts. They can be one-on-one, pre-recorded, or live with a group. They’re safe online spaces for kids, and they are excellent kids friendly venues.

Finding these online providers might feel like finding a needle in a haystack, but it doesn’t have to be that way! There are several established platforms which allow you to search and find specific offerings. These sites even allow users to leave reviews which can be so helpful for busy working moms who are short on time. Let’s look at a couple of top platforms.

Outschool

This online learning platform is my most recent experience with this type of educational offering for my kids. I signed up my teen daughter for a class on social skills. I was able to choose between a multitude of class options in the field, and I was able to read reviews from other parents whose children had taken the class.

The teacher I ultimately picked had a variety of class time options. She also had a pre-recorded greeting so parents and students could “get to know” her before the class started. Each of these things made it comfortable and convenient to jump in.

Finding classes at Outschool is easy.

You can use the search bar to browse options, and you’ll find everything from drama instruction to music lessons to drawing classes. Most classes are available for a wide range of ages. Users simply choose an offering that meets their needs.

Once you pick a program, you’ll be asked to create an account, which is a super simple process, and pay for the class.

Udemy

This is another online education platform I’ve explored in the last year. This one I used to find academic help. There are lots of English/language/math tutors on Udemy, and I was able to find a provider who offered creative writing classes for a variety of ages.

The class I chose for this training was a pre-recorded 4-lesson bundle. Each individual video also came with a printout for students to use in conjunction with the lesson. This made it fun and interactive for my daughter, and she was able to learn solid creative writing basics.

Like Outschool, Udemy offers a wide range of instructional opportunities. The main difference between the two is the price point. Outschool is considerably more budget friendly than Udemy; however, the level of professionalism in the courses at Udemy is often higher. I’d encourage moms to check out both platforms and see which one best fits their needs.

These types of online options are great for keeping kids learning at home in a relaxed environment, and parents can choose the level of intensity they’re looking for: light instruction or serious, in-depth education. Keeping minds busy is especially beneficial for students who are approaching summer break. Studies show that students lose up to 40% of their learning over extended school break periods. This is huge! Keeping their minds busy, even minimally, can do wonders in helping them retain what they’ve learned during the school year.

Besides online instruction, here are a few other ways we moms can keep our kids’ minds active in the coming months.

Summer Camps, Music, Charity

Get your kids involved in hands-on learning. Summer camps, in-person music lessons, and charitable clubs are all great ways to broaden your child’s horizons. These activities let their brains work in different ways than the usual paper and pencil type of activity.

Get them to read! They don’t have to read a novel a day to keep their brains busy. Let them explore with graphic novels (comic books), magazines, and other types of reading material to find what they like best.

Download educational apps. Lots of fun, educational games exist which parents can download in app form. Make sure you read reviews to evaluate the educational content being presented. And here’s a tip: Don’t forget to download the free KFV app for yourself!

No matter what type of educational instruction you’re looking for, MomsTribute.com —a mom to mom blog—is here to help. Make sure you check out our other educational blog content to get great ideas for your kids!

Katie C