Supporting your child’s education at home
Keep education going – Supporting your child at home.
By Shafqat Khattak, Science and English Trainer
For most children, the home is a place of relaxation and an opportunity to switch off from school. We all know how tricky it can be to get them to do homework and suddenly it feels like we’ve got to get them to do homework for 5 hours every day! Just the thought gives me cabin fever and makes me want to run for the hills!
Phew, okay let’s all take a collective breath. For all the uncertainty and instability right now, this could be one of the most memorable periods of our children’s lives.
We are all together. No frantic dashing around, no grabbing quick bites to eat between meetings and after school clubs. We are safe in our homes and have been given a unique window to reconnect with each other, to talk, play, cook, clean and generally just be together.
If, like me, you have been inundated with schoolwork and are feeling the pressure to get it done and do it well. Take a moment and remember, education comes in many forms. The essence of it is learning something new and honing skills already learned to become even better.
The skills should be far-reaching – we are not just talking about Maths and English here but a rich tapestry of all the talents our amazing brains and bodies can realize. What are your child’s passions? Do they love to bake, play sport, read, dance, paint, sing, play computer games? With a bit of passion and commitment, any skill can be honed into something awesome.
With that in mind, here are some top tips for supporting your child and continuing their education at home.
1. Make time for your child’s passion every day
Talk about where they want to get with that skill and chat about the things they can do each day to develop it.
2. Exercise!
Our brains need some oxygen flowing through them so whether it’s kicking a ball, learning a dance video, jumping on the trampoline, or creating an obstacle course in the garden – make some time for exercise.
3. Eat together and talk
Talk about what you’ve been doing during the day for work. Ask them to share the things that they’ve learned, talk about big topics like the environment, society, economy, health. You might be surprised by your child’s opinions on the big things, however small they are.
4. Have a routine but be flexible
Our children are used to having a structured day and many thrive on that. If that’s your child, then adopt a routine that’s closely linked to the school. Or if you have a 12-year-old like mine, who prefers to stay in bed for a few more hours and is a much more pleasant person as a result, then go with that.
5. Read
Read together and alone, create cozy reading dens, and stock up on books. Get them to keep a record of all the reading they’ve done to impress their teacher when they return.
6. Assign chores
With so much more usage of everything in the house, it’s going to be trickier to keep on top of the housework – it needs to be a family effort. Give different jobs each day and develop these vital life skills.
7. Use free resources online
The education community has really done an amazing job of producing a wealth of resources for our children at this unprecedented time. In addition to the lessons that teachers are providing you can find a rich selection of free activities ranging from home learning packs on Twinkl.
8. Play games
Tackle jigsaws, build lego – great for problem-solving and developing creativity.
9. Get an online buddy
Is there a friend that they could Facetime while they’re doing their schoolwork? Seeing other children and continuing to have some peer learning is going to be very important for our children’s well-being in the coming weeks and months. Book your free trial class with one of our best Online math and science tutors now by clicking here
10. A helping hand
Without teacher input, supporting our children with their core maths and English skills over the coming months is a daunting task. Having some dedicated time with a skilled tutor will help reduce that burden.
Our mission remains as strong as ever and we are committed to supporting children by nurturing the skills and attitudes they need to become confident, fearless learners who are hungry for knowledge.
We have adapted as a business to fulfil this need with the launch of Math Make Smart. An innovative online learning experience for children aged 4 – 50 helping families to keep education going.
Math Make Smart sessions take place online, allowing children access to their individualized learning courses. Our expert tutors will be on hand to provide 1:1 support throughout these online sessions.
Together, we can make these next few months an enriching and enlightening experience for us all. Together we will keep education going.
To discuss how you can keep education going in your home, book your free online trial today!