How to support your child’s education at home
Over the past 18 months, many parents have had a crash course in helping their children to learn at home. And while you might usually help out with schoolwork a little, being a full-time home teacher is probably not something you’re used to.
However, with children returning to school, some parents and pupils might be considering the benefits of permanent learning at home. Even if you’re happy to have your children back in the classroom, there are still ways you can continue to support their education at home.
Learning at home can be very different from being in the classroom, but many children benefit from being in a different environment with the right support.
Set a routine
Routine is important for children and can really help them to flourish. It’s good for adults too, so it also benefits you to make sure your child has a good routine. If your child is learning at home, whether full-time, temporarily, or just doing homework, having a routine will help them to know what to expect every day.
Try showing the order of the day in a visual way, such as using a whiteboard or blackboard to create a schedule or even having a clock with images that demonstrate different parts of the day.
Look for schooling resources
There are all kinds of useful resources that you can use to help your child learn at home. Many resources are even free, so you can easily source and save them to use at any time. You can explore TV shows that have an educational value or take a look at websites that have educational resources for different ages.
If you’re homeschooling your child, you can also find programmes that are designed to provide all of the resources and support that you need to deliver a well-rounded education to your child.
Take time for personal passions and projects
One of the advantages of learning at home is that you have more flexibility. This means that, even if you have a routine, you can still allow for trying out different things and perhaps having a bit more fun.
Encouraging your child to focus on their passions and do personal projects during the day allows them to learn what they want to learn and build skills that matter to them. Whether they want to learn how to play an instrument, write a story or practice their football skills, it gives them the opportunity to do things outside of rigid schooling.
Focus on different topics
If you’re looking for ways to approach learning with your child, consider exploring different things based on specific topics. Choose things that your child is interested in and use these topics to explore other lessons.
For example, if your child is interested in a certain period of history, this could allow you to create lessons based on reading a related book, learning more about history, studying geography, or discussing important social issues. You can even introduce a sermon book that covers morality and values, which can integrate into your child’s education and support their personal development.
Ensure they have the right equipment
It’s important to make sure that your child has the right equipment and supplies for learning at home. Without the right tools, it’s difficult and sometimes even impossible to get anything done.
If your child is learning online, make sure they have a good set of headphones for school. They might also need a good microphone if they are participating in discussions with other pupils or teachers. A computer is, of course, a useful tool, and it might also be a good idea to explore an option like a tablet.
However, you don’t necessarily want your child to learn everything through screens. There are other supplies that are useful for learning, from counting blocks to art supplies.
Speak to teachers or course facilitators
If your child is learning through school or a set curriculum with teachers or course leaders, these people are important to work with. They can help you by keeping you in the loop with what your child is learning and how you can help them to reach their full potential.
You can schedule a call with them, or a meeting in person if it’s possible, or you can email to discuss with them what your child is learning and how to help them. This should help you to understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, in addition to what they’re learning.
Get support from other parents
Support from other parents can also be very useful if you want to support your child’s education at home. Parents often have excellent advice that they can pass on and tips for how you can improve your child’s learning.
Support from other parents can also be beneficial to you, giving you a strong social circle. Other parents can be a good connection to ensure your child has a social life too. When your child isn’t in school, being able to meet up with other children gives them opportunities to develop their social skills.
Create the right environment for learning
A supportive learning environment is important for any child. Different children can find that they need different things from their environment when they’re learning.
But some of the things that you might consider to create the right environment are comfort, noise levels, and distractions. A quiet and comfortable space will ensure your child is able to concentrate, free from distractions, and with the things that they need to learn.
Focus on different topics
If you’re looking for ways to approach learning with your child, consider exploring different things based on certain topics. Choose things that your child is interested in and use these topics to explore different lessons.
For example, if your child is interested in a certain period of history, this could allow you to create lessons based on reading a related book, learning more about the history, studying geography, or talking about important social issues.
Look for creative ways to learn
Children all learn in different ways. Traditional schooling methods are definitely not suitable for every child, so exploring different ways of learning can help you to find your child’s preferred learning style.
There are lots of ways to learn new things, and they don’t have to involve staying at home and working through workbooks and online materials. You can get creative and use a variety of activities to help your child learn new things, including creative activities like arts and crafts.
If your child is learning at home, in whatever way, you can provide the necessary support to help their education. Explore different ways to help your child’s education to develop and provide support.
Photo by olia danilevich
