Home-schooling tips
Now that we are all firmly back into the third lockdown, with kitchen tables once again acting as desks for parents and children alike, M&D asked Sara Murawa from Parent Concern for some tips on how to make the best of home-schooling.
• A clear daily routine is always important, even more so when everyone is stuck at home. It will not only help your child but will help you, too.
• Stick to your usual bedtime rules. Late nights will not only impact on your child’s learning but may cause irritability.
• Children will use computers a lot for their studies. Try to limit time spent on other devices during the week, as they can be over stimulating, and can cause unwanted verbal aggression as well as disturbing concentration and sleeping patterns.
• The way you start the day off is important: get dressed in comfy clothes and have breakfast before turning to work and studies.
• Online registration is seemingly becoming more normal, especially for secondary school children, so make sure to attend on time.
• Print off and display your child’s timetable. Make a visually-stimulating timetable for younger children. Older children will usually be given a timetable to print off.
• Set goals and give incentives.
• Highlight breaks, including a lunch break.
• If it is not already scheduled in their timetable, make sure to include relaxation periods, snacks, outdoor play, and a walk if possible. If there is time left, some art projects or baking would also be beneficial.
• Set aside a clear work space.
• Keep separate folders for schoolwork and homework.
• Have pen, pencil, ruler, rubber, and highlighter ready.
• A wipeable whiteboard could be very useful.
• Don’t forget a bottle of water.
Don’t miss live lessons, they are very important during periods of homeschooling – children can see their friends and be monitored by their teachers.
Don’t suffer in silence. If you are concerned about your child’s education or behaviour let their teacher know, especially if the child is becoming anxious. Home-schooling requires a fine balance, but teachers are used to fine-tuning learning techniques, they’re masters of their profession and are trying their best to get it right. If your child becomes overwhelmed then stop what they’re doing altogether. And remember: if we stay calm, they stay calm.
Thank for the advice all much needed during these times. Any ideas on how to replicate the playground experience kids are all missing like crazy?
Cheers
Hi there, have breaks outside. Weather permitting and maybe follow Joe wicks or another free exercise programme suitable for children.
Best wishes,
Sara
Parent Concern
Thanks for the advice how about the other 500+ kids runnig around shouting and screeming with joy – maybe a recording of football goals played back over the stereo 🙂
Outside breaks if possible. Joe wicks exercises.
Dancing, Run around a park/ outdoor space.
Much appreciated Thankyou -yiur advicr will certainly come in handy
I like the idea of limiting use of computers other than for school work. They do spend a lot of time on screen for lessons. The last thing I want is the evening spent staring at a screen as well.
My youngest has severe learning difficulties, he is also clinically extremely vulnerable so we’ve been homeschooling since March. My theory is that little & often works for us. I follow the themes set by school and adapt them according to what we have or can do at home…works for us…sometimes!
Absolutely right. I suggest similar to my tutees parents. Many of my pupils have learning challenges and special needs.
Best wishes
Sara
The white board is an excellent suggestion!
I’m homeschooling 5 children at the moment. We are just taking it at our own pace so there’s no pressure. Some days we finish early, other days we don’t but it gets done eventually
All. Children learn and seem to absorb more at different rates make depending on age make learning fun they will stay interested and look forward to the next days learning ,worked for me hopefully others too x 😊
Some great tips for my grandchildren
Great tips, we are all set up for tomorrow. Trying to keep as organised as possible.
Brilliant
Good luck,
Sara
Parent Concern
I am fortunate that my little one isn’t of school age, however I am a student nurse and therefore I am receiving my education online from home. I couldn’t agree more that a routine is so important, for both me and my little man.
I completely agree with the the schedule. There is so much to do at the minute that without a clear schedule, I have not idea what I’m doing and I forget so much!
Great tips here, thank you. I’m homeschooling 5 children at the moment and will definitely be following this x
Wow. Amazing. Good luck
Sara@parentconcern
I’m so pleased the tips have helped. Remember you are doing a fantastic job in very difficult circumstances.
Sara
Parent Concern
I am homeschooling 4 children and have a 5 month old baby. I find you have to keep to a routine. We have academic studies in the morning then more fun activities in the afternoon and try to get out for family walks often looking at nature
Very good tips, I think it is important not to get downhearted if one day doesn’t go to plan as we are all struggling together at the moment.
Helpful posts with good tips thanks!
I would try a white board/chalk board because that’s what i had when I was at school. No computers or laptops
For my kids it seems to help to do small chunks and have regular breaks rather than to do a long time in one go
Sticking to a routine definitely helps, as does taking a break outdoors some time during the day.
Some really great tips!
I really hope that school starts again soon i can’t do home learning!!
when this is over, children will need to catch up. schools will need to catch them up.
if children and parents mental health is affected by the pressure placed on them to home school this damage can affect them and their onward learning for life
learning needs to be fun
teaching needs to be joyous
the two go hand in hand.
take the pressure off
hold on. the dark clouds are beginning to drift from overhead. hold on
Stick to a timetable and ensure the children (& you) take routine breaks in the fresh air to aid concentration.
some excellent tips thank you
Thanks for the advise. Having a routine definitely helps
Great advice; Thank you.
We have a printed timetable and sticking to a routine really helps us.
These are some really good tips, working from home whilst supporting my child to homeschool, is a bit of a circus at times, so any advice is awesome!
I could do with all the tips I can get- thank you!
There are some really useful tips here thank you x
We try to have a walk first thing in the morning. It seems to give them motivation to do work once we’re back. I think fresh air wakes them up too as that’s what we would normally do on an ordinary school day – walk to school no matter the weather.
Lots of great tips here. I think limiting computer usage, along with regular breaks/ fresh air by the back door, or putting some music on and just having a dance is what we have been doing.
Amazing tips, we are finding routine and planning is key for us. I tend to have a look at what the teacher has set before doing it so I know how to prepare and any bits we might need.
try and get out for a walk at least once a day and don’t stress if everything is not done you are doing your best and that’s all anyone can do
great advice
Some great advice here
I should have read this before, some great tips here!
Lots of handy advice, thanks for the article. I found homeschooling a challenge and my children were so glad to go back to school.
Thanks for the great article. Some very useful tips.
It’s a pleasure. I’m glad the tips are useful.
I have an Instagram and Facebook under parent-concern if that could be useful to you too.
Kind regards.
Sara
Parent Concern
It’s essential to take regular breaks and get some fresh air.
Wish I read these tips a whilst back, great tips, especially about getting out and having breaks. We also found having a work space essential that wasn’t in the bedroom or where they usually play.
Absolutely agree.
Good tips!
Great advice to take onboard!
So pleased it is helpful.
some really great tips 🙂