The coronavirus pandemic had a huge impact on K-12 education in the US, with many schools shifting to full or hybrid remote learning. Experts expect distance learning to extend up to the next school year or even later.
An article from The Harvard Gazette stated that students in remote classrooms had poorer attendance and that when they were in class, they did not engage as well as they did in physical classrooms.
With K-12 students now studying from home, the pressure is on parents who want to know how they can best help their children.
Professional Support
There are many professional online classes that parents can tap for help. For instance, you can help your child learn to get better at reading faster and with improved comprehension. This will help any student at any level across many subjects. There are also specific tutoring classes on mathematics and sciences for various levels.
Children get frustrated when they cannot cope with lessons. Such frustration can eventually lead to low self-esteem. Professional tutoring will better equip them to tackle their lessons.
With help from professionals, you save time because you do not need to do the research yourself. You can use that time on other things that you cannot delegate to others.
Home Classroom
You must choose a space at home dedicated as the learning area for your child. Let your child participate in choosing the space and making it into a home classroom.
If you have a spare bedroom, you can transform this entirely. You can also use a corner of the child’s bedroom or part of the living room.
Having this niche communicates to the child that remote education is serious business and invests in it. Fixing up this space together makes it a fun bonding experience and positively affects the learning environment.
Structure with Flexibility
Experts note that children thrive in a structured environment provided there is enough flexibility to prevent it from stifling them.
Make sure to retain your child’s previous schedule, from wake-up time in the morning to bedtime. Do not allow sleeping in or staying up late on school days. Schedule bath time and breakfast so that the child starts schoolwork on time, just as if he or she were going to school.
You must coordinate with teachers to make sure you know your child’s sets of lessons and schedules. You can then help your child set his or her plan of action in managing schoolwork.
The child needs to learn self-regulation and experience the satisfaction of achieving the goals he or she set. Do not forget to give positive feedback and praise for tasks done well.
Determine blocks of time for each lesson based on the child’s age because younger children have shorter attention spans than older children.
Make this flexible by allowing the child to spend more time on lessons they have difficulty with. Guide the child but avoid spoon-feeding. Do not deprive the child of the thrill of discovering the solution by himself or herself.
Balance Mind and Body Learning
There is a reason why schools include Physical Education in the curriculum. Physical activity is a crucial part of child development.
Play is also vital for a child’s intellectual and psychological development as a child continues to learn while playing.
You must incorporate combined physical activity and play into your child’s schedule. It is best to put in three to five minutes of activity between lessons. These can consist of jumping jacks or a quick run around the house.
After all the lessons are over, allocate an hour for playing that involves physical activity outside so that the child benefits from fresh air and sun. Make this a fun time for both of you.
Live, Learn, and Love
A child’s personality is a combination of nature or genetics and nurturing. As a parent, you are the best source of nurturing for your child. Continue giving support with love, encouragement, and kindness, and your child will surely appreciate it.
The challenges of remote learning can be an opportunity for you to teach your child how to handle difficulties. Since your child is home with you, they are learning to do this in a safe space. This will equip him or her to face problems in the outside world later.
Being at home is the best place a child can be. You can turn your home into the best school for your child since you can customize it according to their needs and character. You are your child’s best teacher. After all, you were your child’s first teacher in life.
