Just as students had settled back into schools once again, home learning has now returned. To some,
this is a welcome change, with the apprehensions surrounding safety and contact eliminated.
To many however, the idea of homeschooling young children once again, while balancing working from home full time and managing a household, is an overwhelming task.
From speaking to many of the families we work with, it is clear to see that the majority fall into the second category. We are certainly missing the opportunity to run our programmes in schools, so we have put together our top tips for home-schooling instead!
Though there is no correct way to navigate homeschooling, we hope some of these ideas can help to support you during this time.
Space out your child’s day as if they were at school. That is to say, wake them up at their usual time, get ready for the day, break times and lunchtimes at their usual hours and so on.
Set a specific ‘school zone’ in your own home. Whether that be the study or the dining room table, an area set out to get your child in the learning headspace, separate to their relaxation areas, will really help with motivation and concentration.
Remain positive and consider a reward system, tailored for your child’s age group. Did they manage to complete their English work in the given time? Were they able to concentrate for the full hour during the virtual Science class? Amazing- an extra 20 minutes of TV tonight!
Count every step as a success. If you manage to work with your child for one hour of each day, or if your child manages to sit through 1 class each day, you are doing a fantastic job. Be sure to give yourself credit and set some time for yourself to unwind too!
Remember that not every child learns in the same way. If your child is not responding well to online learning, don’t be disheartened. Maybe they spend their free time reading books or completing puzzles- this is just as useful for their development!
As always, we are here to help and support you too, so do reach out to us if there is anything we can do-even if just for a reassuring chat! Good luck and stay safe and well during this time.