Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many parents have found themselves homeschooling. When starting to transition, the task you have ahead might seem daunting. But you shouldn’t worry. Things will run smoothly once the child gets used to the new routine. Creating a homeschooling routine that will guide your child can feel like a trial-and-error experience, and you will constantly make many mistakes. But worry not. We’ve prepared some top tips to get you started and help your homeschooling routine run like clockwork. Let’s plunge in.
Create a Routine
Children are more likely to flourish when working with a routine. A routine helps kids clearly understand what they are supposed to do at what time, avoiding confusion. Thus, having a routine the children can follow allows them to develop their independence and adjust quickly to any life changes. An interesting thing about routines is that they are easy to develop but hard to get kids to follow.
The best way to make kids adapt quickly to homeschooling is to start with a bedtime routine. Ensure that they always go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. Once they are awake, ensure they make their bed. Making the bed is the first task they will complete every day, and it will help in building good discipline to thrive in the homeschool setting. Then, ensure they have breakfast and get dressed every morning before they start their classes.
Communicate
Before the homeschoolers start their day, talk to them about the tasks they have planned to complete. Make sure they have everything they require to complete the tasks on their to-do lists by reviewing the lists with them. Communicating will also help you give the necessary input for the kids to have a smooth day.
It’s also important to sit down with the child at the end of the day to review the activities they did. Reviewing the activities will help you ascertain whether they successfully finished what they set out to do. If the child accomplishes all the tasks, praise and motivate them. The motivation will give them the zeal they need to ensure they complete tasks.
However, keep in mind that kids can create a long list of things they want to do, and it might be impossible to accomplish all of them. For instance, a high schooler might want to complete all their assignments in one day. It can make them wonder, “Who can help me do my assignment?” So, don’t be too strict if they didn’t accomplish much from their to-do list.
Maintain Contact with the Tutor
Though you might be observing the child firsthand, there are challenges that they might be facing that you are not aware of. Keeping in contact with the tutor will help you know if your child is not submitting assignments on time or if their work quality does not meet the tutor’s expectations. Thus, communicating with the teacher will help pinpoint areas where they need to improve and what you can do as the parent to ensure your kid learns well.
Create a Designated Learning Space
A challenge that can be associated with homeschooling is the chaos that comes with living and studying in the same environment. Children are often messy, leaving things around and creating a lot of disorganization. Such an environment is not good for a child to thrive academically. If you have an extra room in the house, you can convert it into a well-organized learning space.
Having a space meant for learning will help keep the child’s normal life separate from their studies and give them a better sense of organization. When the kid finishes schoolwork, ensure they keep all the materials they used well rather than leaving them lying around in their study space. Furthermore, ensure no distractions like toys and electronic gadgets are in the study space.
Include Regular Breaks
Breaks are important in studies. They allow a child to reflect on what they have learned and refreshes their mind to absorb more information. Reading for extended hours will lead to information overload, and the kid will not learn much. Therefore, create regular intervals for breaks, and during such breaks, encourage the child to engage in physical recreational activities like walking around the compound and playing.
Learning requires concentration, and a child cannot concentrate on an empty stomach. Thus, include some snack breaks to refresh the child and energize them. Packing snacks and lunch for the homeschooler at the start of the day might be more helpful to avoid many interruptions.
Encourage Social Interactions
One of the major downsides of homeschooling is social isolation. Isolation is terrifying if a child has already become accustomed to social interactions and playing with peers. When transitioning to homeschooling, remember that a child has had social interactions before, and the trend should be maintained to have a good homeschooling experience. Look at different socializing activities your kid enjoys and facilitate how they can engage in them. Such activities will help them interact with others and not feel lonely. Alternatively, find new activities a child can participate in to keep their social cycle alive. What’s more, during weekends, allow them to go out and play with their friends. For instance, if they are into soccer, take them to a soccer game or even a soccer training. Having a feeling of normalcy is vital in promoting the success of homeschooling.
Signing Off
Homeschooling can seem difficult for parents doing it for the first time, but the key to succeeding with this type of learning is creating a schedule and ensuring that your child follows it. The schedule should start from the time the kid wakes up. When they wake up, you should ensure they make their bed to give them discipline to start the day. Also, help them create a to-do list highlighting all the activities they should undertake.
Moreover, promote effective communication to help your child share with you what they need and the challenges that they are facing. Importantly, ensure the environment the child learns in is tidy and well-organized for optimum results. Lastly, find activities that help the kid interact with others to create a sense of normalcy and avoid social loneliness.
