Gear for the Virtual Student
Keep your kids safe and comfortable during their at-home study sesh.
T he COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging, to say the least, for students, teachers, and parents worldwide. Coronavirus lockdowns left school districts and caregivers scrambling to educate students while brick and mortar schools were closed, and kids suddenly had to navigate an online learning experience.
Although schools are opening up again, the learning landscape has changed. We're finally used to Zoom, for one thing, and know more about what makes for a successful screen-based education. Will virtual classrooms become more common now? It's hard to say. But regardless of what the future holds, we've found smart gear that makes virtual learning, or just tackling homework, a lot more comfortable. Here are ten tools and gadgets that will help your student stay on top of things.
Hatch Restore ($129.95)
Whether your child is homeschooling or attending class in person, they need structure in their day. When school was canceled last year, my teenager started sleeping in later and later. Rather than allow her to become nocturnal, I invested in a Restore sleep machine and smart alarm to help her stick to her usual sleep cycle. We used the accompanying app to customize a sleep routine with breathing exercises, meditation, and a blue-light free reading lamp for a soothing chapter before bed. There's a range of nature sounds to help her sleep through the night, and a gradually increasing light that starts waking her up before the customized alarm soundtrack starts, so she isn't jolted out of sleep. I can't say that's made her any happier to get up and do her chores, but at least I can say I've tried!
LNEKEI Blue Light Blocking Glasses – 3 Pack ($16.98)
In addition to keeping kids awake at night, blue light is pretty harsh on your kiddos' eyeballs. Of course, I'm not claiming that children, particularly teenagers, didn't spend hours a day glued to their smartphones and laptops before, but virtual learning really boosted those numbers. In the first week of online
classes, my kids suffered eye strain symptoms, including headaches and tired, watery eyes. I've purchased blue lightfiltering glasses for myself in the past, but the kids wanted some that looked more hipster and less 80s mom style. The LNEKEI frames appealed, so I picked up a three-pack of blue light glasses, and their symptoms disappeared!
Fully Cooper Standing Desk Converter ($299)
Now that your kids are safe from eye strain, let's make sure to preserve their health, as well. Studies have shown that sitting all day is terrible for our bodies and is linked with several health concerns, including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and more. This standing desk converter is a great way to avoid these health issues. Easy to set up and light enough to move from place to place as needed, this standing desk has been a great find for my whole family. It's not a problem that we're different heights, either, since the desk features a hydraulic lift that adjusts the platform's height by almost 16 inches. Whether your child is learning at home or using the desk as a homework station, it's a great way to get them on their feet.
Uncommon Goods Bluetooth Speaker & Water Bottle from Uncommon Goods ($35)
Another important part of keeping kids healthy is making sure they're properly hydrated. This speaker & water bottle checks that box year-round; it keeps a 17-ounce beverage hot for 12 hours or cold for 24. Of course, the kids will care more about the Bluetooth speaker built into the lid that they can use to play music or answer calls. Be aware, though, that this speaker is more of a study-buddy than a party accessory. Even at maximum volume, it won't raise the roof.
Avantree Neetto Height Portable & Adjustable Laptop Table
($49.99)
If you're looking for a lower-cost standing desk, check out the Neetto. iPhone Life
Video Producer Nicholas Naioti wasn't sure he'd use this adjustable laptop bed table much, but it's become a daily staple. “This heightadjustable table from Neetto is perfect for using your laptop or iPad in bed or on the couch,” he reports. “The height and angle are easily adjusted, and it's surprisingly sturdy for how lightweight it is. It also folds up into a super slim form, making it convenient to tuck away out of sight. I have also used it on top of my work desk to transform my space into a standing desk after long hours of sitting at the computer. The simple, minimal design almost has the feel of an Apple product.”
Uncommon Goods Live Streaming Kit from Uncommon Goods ($25)
Whether your kids want to vlog, video chat with friends, or join a Zoom call for online class, this Live Streaming Kit is a sturdy, high-quality option. Clamp the light and phone-holder combo to the side of a desk or table, plug into a USB port, choose from three brightness settings, and you're set! Both the phone holder and lamp are on flexible arms that can bend to just the right angle and stay put until you reposition them again.
YICHUMY 3 Pack LED Flowing Phone Charging Cables ($16.99)
The charger wars intensified with so many adults and kids working and studying from home. You know, “That's my charger,” “No, it's not…” ad infinitum. We've kept a lasting peace in my household with the purchase of this charging cable three-pack from YICHUMY. These cables glow with a flowing light pattern until your device is fully charged, and there's one color for each of us, so we always know whose cable is whose. Compatible with the iPhone 6 Plus and later, these cables also charge iPads with a Lightning cable port.
Muse S
Sleep Tracker ($299.99)
This has been a tough year for all of us, and it's important to help our kids find healthy ways to reduce their stress levels. The Muse S is the third generation of Muse meditation headbands and the easiest to use yet. The soft, elasticized headband has built-in sensors that measure your heart rate, breathing, brain activity, and movement, and reports them in real-time via the Muse app. The Muse S tailors the nature sounds it plays back to you to improve your guided meditation session. This process trains your mind and body to veer back toward a meditative, relaxed state. The Muse S also offers a voice-guided before bedtime meditation they've dubbed Go-to-Sleep-Journeys, great for helping older kids, teens, and adults to unwind after a busy day.
Courant CATCH:3 Wireless Charger & Tray ($175)
“A place for everything, and everything in its place” is a valuable life lesson for all of us. The Courant Catch:3 will help your kids learn to keep their most used items together in one convenient spot, so they don't waste time hunting for their iPhone, keys, glasses, wallet, and, of course, their mask!
You can order the elegant Catch:3 in a choice of five colors of premium Italian leather with optional monogramming. There's a three coil fast wireless charging pad next to the accessory tray, and a USB-A port for charging an additional device. iPad Air (Starts at $599)
Raphael Burnes, our CTO, purchased a new iPad Air to help with homeschooling his 10-year-old son during the COVID-19 outbreak, and they're still enjoying it! Raph's last iPad was a second-generation classic, so the new iPad Air is a huge upgrade in performance. Raph reports that the display is beautiful, and the apps and games are very fast. Andrew has been using the new tablet for schoolwork and to watch shows on Netflix or YouTube. He also loves burrowing into a pillow fort with it since it's much easier to maneuver than a laptop.
There are two minor annoyances for Raph; it lacks a headphone port, and therefore requires another adapter, and it uses USB-C as its charging standard, so all of the various lightning connectors around the house don't help in charging it. Even with those minor downsides, Raph says the iPad Air has been a great addition to his household Apple products.