Education has drastically changed in the year 2020.
With the closure of schools left and right, the burden of continuing children's education falls on the parents, who now have to adjust to the reality of doing online classes or virtual education at home.
It is no surprise that as parents begin to prepare for this sudden change, many of them feel unprepared or ill-equipped to take on this new challenge of facilitating learning in the comforts of their homes. Furthermore, many parents struggle to find a balance between addressing their child's educational needs and working to support their families.
In light of this, the ThriverKids teachers have put together five important tips to help parents create a future-ready home learning environment where kids can thrive.
1. Prepare a safe learning space.
To get the maximum benefit of virtual education, consider setting up a specific space in your home that is dedicated solely for your child’s learning. Having a quiet and comfortable area for your child to learn will help them focus on their work tasks and activities better which will enhance their overall virtual learning experience. To do this, prepare a small table in a clutter-free and well-lit room, remove unnecessary distractions (such as toys lying on the floor or loud noises), and have all learning materials or resources ready beforehand
2. Maintain a daily routine.
Establishing your child’s daily routine is a game-changer for all parents who want to ensure that their little ones remain productive and engaged. Planning your schedules ahead of time does not only relieve stress for families, but it also encourages independence in your child, as they plan, prioritize, and execute their daily activities with you. Charts, timetables, schedule boards, and calendars can be utilized to help families stick to their daily routines. It is also crucial to build a consistent routine that allows time for recreational activities, exercise, and play.
3. Remain actively involved.
In addition to maintaining a daily routine, social interaction should never be lost or compromised despite the sudden shift to virtual learning. Continue allotting some time away from the screen to talk to your child and get insights on how you can help them even further. On top of this, parents should always monitor their child’s screen time to ensure safety and appropriateness of usage. As adults, teachers and parents have the responsibility to safeguard children and keep them engaged throughout the day.
4. Always have fun!
Children learn best through play. By cleverly integrating interactive games and educational activities in your child’s learning, children will be more engaged and motivated to accomplish their tasks. Furthermore, while learning at home can pose some new challenge for families, it is also a great opportunity to spend more time together as parent and child. Plan off-screen activities for the whole family to enjoy, allow your child to help you with daily chores, and include learning opportunities in mundane tasks, such as preparing meals, setting up the table, organizing their clothes, and cleaning up toys.
5. Get support from a virtual school.
One of the best things you can do as a parent is to seek guidance and support from schools. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. You do not have to take on the full burden of addressing your child’s educational needs. ThriverKids Virtual Learning Hub ensures that parents are fully equipped and ready to facilitate learning at home through regular parent-teacher consultations and provision of learning resources. ThriverKids teachers are always on the lookout for more ways to assist parents in navigating through this “New Normal”. Thus, ThriverKids Learning Kits are provided to each student! These kits include a ThriverKids shirt, school supplies, ThriverKids bag, and learning workbooks which will surely support our ThriverKids families!
Although the current situation may be quite stressful, with these tips, we hope that you, parents, can create a home environment that is conducive for future-ready learning!