Should I sit in on my child's online coaching sessions?

Parents sit in for good reasons: to check the coach is a good fit, to support a nervous child, or because the laptop is in the kitchen. The catch is that a parent in the room changes how a student speaks. Many students perform for the parent, look over for approval after every answer, or hold back from trying something that might go wrong.

When sitting in helps

• The first session, to meet the coach and see how they teach.
• Young students (roughly under 7) who need help with the tech or settling in.
• A student who is very anxious and asks you to stay for the first few minutes.

Staying informed once you step out

• Ask the coach for a quick recap at the end of each session, or read the session summary if your program sends one.
• Ask your child to teach you one thing from the session that evening.
• Every month or so, ask for a short showcase: your child presents to you what they have been working on.

A practical setup helps too: a quiet room, the camera at eye level, and siblings somewhere else. Being nearby but out of sight lets you step in for a tech problem without being part of the session.