When schools closed in March due to COVID-19 concerns, many traditional families began experiencing what virtual school families have noted since day 1 — a sigh of relief from their often over-stressed, anxious and exhausted children.

In an opinion piece for the New York Times, Joanna Schroeder explored the question on many parents’ minds, “what if some kids are better off at home?”

Using her own child as an example, Schroeder notes that she always knew the traditional school day was tough on her son, but she “didn’t realize exactly how miserable he was,” and said he’s starting to smile and feel happy again.

Schroeder also wrote, “We are not the only family experiencing this. Yes, students across the country are complaining that they miss seeing their friends, and many parents are struggling with the unsustainable arrangement that is working from home while supervising virtual learning. But amid all this, there’s also a group of kids who, whether because of bullying, mental health issues or simple overscheduling and pressure, struggled at school in a way that’s been made undeniable by the way they’re thriving at home amid the pandemic. Parents like me are having to contemplate whether traditional school — a staple of American childhood — in fact hurts our children.”

These feelings aren’t lost on virtual school families. Many parents choose online learning for their children in order to give them a bit more flexibility in their day, reduce stress associated with over-scheduling, and protect their child from bullying.

Online learning may not be for every child, but some children absolutely THRIVE in this environment as it gives them more control and flexibility. If there’s one good thing that’s come out of the coronavirus pandemic, it would definitely be that online learning has become more mainstream, with more families seeing the benefits offered by this educational option.