COVD-19 has thrown an extra loop into the everyday challenges you face while parenting. While some schools have started in-person classes again, many remain in a remote-online learning style. This is quite different from the typical drop them off at school or watch the bus pick them up to take them there. Your child(ren) learning from home makes you even more involved in their education and that might be a little stressful at times. However, you have nothing to fear as we created this list of awesome tips for helping your child learn from home.
Create a learning space:
Similar to what you would do if your job went remote. Everything gets a little easier if your child is has a designated workspace. Think of it as an at-home desk or classroom for them. Set it up in a quiet room with no distractions. So no TV or place where other family members will be constantly coming in and out of the room. Consider buying an extra table/desk and chair for them to use. If you want to help them love their learning space, let them personalize it and let them help you pick out what chair and table/desk to get. Remember, part of parenting is allowing your child to express themselves.
Create a routine:
Help your child create a routine for school every day. Obviously, your child will have designated times they need to be class. However, you’ll want to make sure they’re staying consistent with their non-class routine too. This includes having designated times for waking up, eating lunch, taking a break, doing homework, and so on. Having a routine like this allows your child to know what times they have to work and what times they have to relax which in return creates consistent productivity for the child.
Encourage participation:
It’s easy to sit at home and listen to lectures without much participation. Some classes don’t require students to have their cameras or microphones on during class. Realistically, the student is at the teacher’s hand here. Although, you can still encourage your child to participate in class. Learning from home and being away from friends can take a toll on your child’s social skills and mental health as a whole. By participating in class, your child will have some sort of normal social interaction with their friends and fellow classmates.
Talk with teachers:
One thing that certainly can help is to talk to your child’s teacher. Think of it as a mini parent-teacher conference. This gives you, the parent, a chance to discuss your child with the teacher that sees them every day. They can let you know about your child’s behavior and participation levels in the class. You can also ask them for recommendations to help your child succeed in their class. Teachers can be very helpful for both parenting and student success in general because they’re the ones teaching the class. By knowing their expectations, you can better help your child meet them.