Five tips for homeschooling during Covid-19
Due to Covid-19, all children were homeschooled because schools were closed. Primary schools in some countries will open (partially) in May. Not all children will immediately go to full school. For example, elementary schools cut classroom group sizes in half. About 50 percent of children go to school full time. The other half of the time they attend home schooling. Schools are now deciding how best to organize it, and parents will be informed about this afterwards.
Tip 1. Keep it achievable
Homeschooling also needs to be fun so it can be sustainable for the kids, but most of all for you as a parent. You do this by keeping it relaxed and not increasing their pressure.
Fixed rhythm
A steady beat helps keep it fun for everyone. You can spread schoolwork throughout the day and alternate it with recess, times to eat or drink, and play outside. Don’t stick to the schedule too tightly. When children wander or become restless, it may be good to start doing another activity.
Relationships between parent and child – like teacher and student – can create tension.
Be aware of the changed relationship. As a parent you are not trained to be a home teacher and you have to juggle that with work. If it doesn’t work at first, try to find relaxation in other activities together.
Tip 2. Alternate work and exercise
It is important for all children to exercise during the day. Some children have a great need for movement and sports. It is good to stimulate movement.
Fortunately, many sports clubs are open where you can exercise outside. This means that many children will regain the rhythm in their weekly (sports) activities.
YouTube has all kinds of fitness videos for kids and teens. In ten minutes, these videos offer a small workout. Of course, running or cycling is also an option.
Tip 3. Use learning materials from school and beyond
There are already many digital learning materials. Elementary and middle school teachers usually give assignments online. The work that children need to do is ready for them. This provides support and structure.
Teachers, of course, make sure that the material is appropriate for the child’s level. If you also use study materials outside of school, it is important to be careful about this.
Tip 4. Talk to others about how things are going
Make sure there is room for everyone to talk about how things are going and ask questions. Everyone is doing their best and trying things to find out what works. Sometimes it goes well and sometimes it doesn’t. Sharing these experiences with others helps. Seek counseling if things aren’t going well.
It’s nice for the kids to talk after a few hours of work. For example, ask what they learned. Not to check them, but to show that you take schoolwork seriously and complete it well together.
Tip 5. Organize help in time
If providing or receiving homeschooling isn’t going well, it’s important to get help. Sometimes distance learning is not successful because there are tensions at home or because there are no resources, such as a computer or the Internet.
Even now that school is partially starting again, it can be tricky to organize activities during the week. Younger children may already be able to go to school, but older children may not yet. It is possible that some of the children are being educated at school and some may still need home schooling. Contact the teacher or someone else at school if there are difficulties.
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