Eight homeschooling tips to help your kids learn

Parents who homeschool their kids appreciate it for many reasons. It nurtures independent thinkers, it’s effective because the child gets enough academic attention and it’s flexible because they get to decide on the approach to learning.

Many parents have been pushed to homeschool their kids because of the current global health crisis. It’s a little difficult to create the perfect school at home when you haven’t quite had experience with it. Leave alone the fact that you may be working remotely.

To wrap your head around this new dynamic it is a good idea to arm yourself with some information. Use these tips to make things easier when homeschooling your kids.

i.Create a learning schedule

The first step to effective learning is to create a certain structure which you and your kids can follow. The structure of public learning has its benefits and this is a great way to stay organized at home.

Let your children know when learning is supposed to start and when breaks begin and end. You should also involve them in the planning so that they can give you some great ideas on the best schedule for the both of you.

ii.Set up appropriate space for learning

A learning environment should always be kept clean, neat and free from distractions. A cluttered environment can tamper with the effectiveness of the lessons which is quite risky.

You should clear up space in your home where teaching and learning can take place without any distractions.

To show seriousness, invest in simple furniture for your kids to create a classroom.

iii.Set boundaries

Homeschooling is usually more comfortable and interactive for your kids when they know they’re being taught by their parents. This is great but it can also create some friction when they feel like they aren’t obligated to respect you. They will run around, yell, laugh and cry. Set boundaries with them and separate work from play. Don’t let the cute face get you.

iv.Master their learning style

This is a great opportunity to assess your child’s learning style. If you’re tutoring more than one child, get to understand how to teach each one of them effectively.

Children who go to school don’t usually get the opportunity to have that individual attention all the time. Use this opportunity to understand your kids and their learning styles better.

v.Incorporate technology

Tech is one of the effective learning tools both in public and home schooling. You have YouTube videos, free applications, paid apps and other interactive learning tools for you to use. Make sure you set up good internet connection in your home so that you won’t have major interruptions while learning.

vi.Adjust your expectations

Homeschooling isn’t as easy as you may think. You have the freedom to tailor a schedule for learning but sometimes things don’t run exactly how you had planned. This can often lead to a lot of stress when you’re too rigid on your schedule. Don’t always be too fixed on your plan when it comes to this. You may need to make certain changes as time goes by.

vii.Make learning fun

You don’t want your kids to associate learning with boredom. Kids are usually more motivated to learn when there’s something interesting to look forward to. Make learning more fun and interactive for them so that it’s more effective.

Not all days will be super exciting but at least try and make things more interesting.

viii.Give room for extracurricular activities

The goal of homeschooling is to create a holistic learning environment for your kids. This isn’t only about books and class work though, it also involves learning other skills that will benefit them in future.

Create room for sports, music lessons, community service, public speaking lessons and other nurturing activities.

Always remember to be patient with your kids, and the learning process. There is a lot of pressure that comes with homeschooling but that should never hinder you. Do the best you can for your kids and relax.