How can YOU help your kid study?
View(s):The fact that COVID-19 has interrupted our way of life is an unavoidable fact. We, of course, make do. We are all getting used to a new sense of normalcy. It is important that we stay safe. But your child’s education is just as important. With the sudden closure of schools, your child is largely left to their own devices. Self-study is a great way for them to keep up with their studies.
However, what can you, as a parent, do to help them? You may not be as familiar with their syllabuses as you wish. Nevertheless, you can still create a good learning environment at home. Here are some ways you can support us to help keep your child on track.
1. Maintain a routine – At school, your child is used to a schedule. It is a good idea to continue on with this schedule even at home. If your child does not have his or her week planned out, it is easy to treat this period of social distancing as a vacation. And while April is indeed the first term break, this year they will stay home well into May. Having a schedule will help them keep track of the time and what they do with it. In addition, dividing their day into separate tasks ensures that they do not focus on one thing too much.
2. Allow for breaks – Studying at a stretch can be tiresome. It will also affect your child’s productivity. Therefore, allow them small breaks to simply walk around the house or have a snack. A break in between studying will help break the monotony.
3. Engage with your child – Develop an interest in what your child is doing. Relaying what they’ve studied to you can help your child memorise what they studied better. Ask them about anything interesting they’ve learned. Get them to explain which areas they found difficult and why. If possible try to help your child find a solution. If not, encourage them to get in touch with their teacher.
4. Make an activity of it – Just because your kid has to study, doesn’t mean it has to be formal. Get creative with how your family approaches their education. Where possible, make it a family activity. For instance, a game of Scrabble is great to improve their vocabulary. Even history can be fun when you present it as a story.
5. Stay connected – Having a good rapport with your child’s teachers is great during this time. Your child can of course, contact them with any problems. Don’t be afraid to ask them for help yourself. Staying in touch with other parents will also come in handy. Each parent will approach their child’s education in a different way. You can share what works and what doesn’t.
6. Let your child chat with their friends – Social media can never replace actual interactions. However, in a time of social distancing, social media is the only way your child can contact their friends. Remember that at school, they are used to being surrounded by other students. To suddenly be cooped up at home can be stressful.
7. Get them away from the screen – Online learning is very effective. But too much screen time is still not good for their eyes. Thus, get them to also use print media.