Best Online Resources For Kids With Learning Challenges

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Welcome to the #TechieHomeschool IRL blog series!  In this post, my guest Sarah shares why you should use online resources for kids with learning challenges, along with top picks you can try in your homeschool.

If you have a kid with learning challenges then you know that their needs can sometimes require a lot of your time making it difficult for you to help your other children or get other things done. Using online resources to free up time is one of my favorite strategies. There are a ton of great resources available that can make learning more independent for your student.

One of my sons took a really long time to read. He was probably 10 before he started reading and almost 13 before he became somewhat independent. That was much older than my other children were when they became independent learners, so it was difficult to homeschool my other kids when he needed so much extra help. 

Reasons to Use Online Resources for Kids With Learning Challenges

Online resources can be great tools for a variety of reasons. 

1. First, they can be a great use of time because they free up Mom to do other things while the child stays busy learning. 
2. Kids think learning online is fun. Schoolwork can ‘almost’ feel like free time if you use some of the great resources online. Just because something feels easy doesn't mean it's not effective. 
3. The last reason, but probably the most important, is that online resources can bypass the primary learning struggle of a student. If a child can’t read well, then using audiobooks bypasses that reading struggle and allows them to enjoy great literature at a much higher reading level than they are currently able to read on their own. Or they can play games that might read the instructions to them, allowing them to do different math activities that they might not be able to do because of their reading struggles.

Below are some types of resources we have found that make independent learning possible for kids of all ages and abilities.

Audio Books Are Great For Struggling Readers or Auditory Learners 

One of my favorite online resources is audiobooks. There are a wide variety available for free or paid and they are great way to make learning independent for kids.

Library (Libby App)(Hoopla)

Our local library is a great source of audiobooks. They have the Libby app and Hoopla which both have a ton of great audiobooks for free. I have a library card to three different libraries so that I can access their library books through the Libby app. I have access to a much wider range of books this way.

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The Five Best Reasons to Listen to Audiobooks with Your Kids

Audible

Buying books through Audible can be an expensive option, but I have found that when I want books that are new releases, this may be the only way to go. Oftentimes the library will have a long waiting list for newer books, so I might need to use Audible in that case. 

Educational Videos Make Learning Accessible For Visual Learners

Educational videos have saved my sanity more than once. During long winters when it's very cold outside and kids can't get out to play, having something educational to watch has been a great sanity saver. 

Educational videos bypass the primary learning struggle so that kids can learn even if they're struggling to read or write. They also allow their learning to become truly interest-based. If a child is interested in the Civil War then you find movies or documentaries about the Civil War. If they would rather learn about frogs, then hop on over to your favorite streaming service and find them a film about frogs. 

Of course, movies are also easy for the parent. Some homeschool parents feel a bit of guilt for allowing their kids to use screens for learning. I used to fall in that camp, but I realized the only one I was hurting was me. It’s important for moms (and dads to get a break or have some mental space while homeschooling). Educational videos can help with both learning and getting needed breaks for parents. 

Like audiobooks, you will find a mix of paid and free resources available for educational videos. Your child’s interests may determine which ones you are able to use. For streaming services, we often bounce around with a month here and then a month at another place so we can access the content that is most relevant.

Here are common options for educational videos:

Paid Service: Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Peacock and Other streaming services 

Library: Our library offers Hoopla for streaming movies. While it doesn’t have the most complete collection of educational videos, I’ve found a lot of content there for my younger children. For older students, there is more content available in some subjects than others. Hoopla gives you a certain number of credits per month that you can use for free.

YouTube: It’s amazing how much educational content is on YouTube for free. Nearly any subject your child is interested in can be accessed through YouTube. Here is a link to 100 YouTube Channels for Homeschooling!

Online Games For Learning & Fun

Online games can allow kids to practice important skills in a way that feels fun. A few sites my kids enjoy include Prodigy for Math and English and Reading Eggs for Reading and Math. Of course there are tons of options out there!  Here are 10 Sites that Have a Bunch of Games for Kids! 

Let Kids Explore With Online Field Trips

If you are stuck at home or you just want to explore new places, try doing online field trips with your child. Online field trips are an excellent option because they will have narrators explaining a lot of the content and of course, no physical limitations apply! Here is a great list of more than 40 online field trips!

Online Classes Develop Social Skills & Reduce Parent Work

I love online classes for kids of all abilities because you can use them to develop their natural strengths and because they give parents a break. 

Strengths-based education is the idea that all kids have natural strengths. When we build on those strengths, they become the foundation for their education. Weak areas are built on a strong foundation. My son has always loved animals. So even when learning was hard, if we could weave in animal-related topics, he stayed much more engaged. 

There are many places to take classes online but I am partial to Outschool classes. 

They offer interest-based classes on a huge variety of topics. They range from a single class (inexpensive) to 15 weeks or more. I like that too! Sometimes kids just want to try something out and I like that it can be done without a huge investment or commitment. 

Success Is In the Details

Learning online can be a great blessing to both students and parents if everyone is organized and tools are used to help kids work efficiently.

To keep kids organized online, I recommend using our FREE Password Organizer. Print one off for each child and keep them near your computer so everyone can get on easily without a lot of frustration! It also keeps on task when they can find what they need easily. 

I hope you get a chance to try out some of these online learning resources. Kids with learning struggles can have great success learning online with so many great resources available!

Techie Homeschool in Real Life Series

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