Homeschooling: Here Are Some Effective Homeschooling Tips For Parents

In times of crisis amidst the widening pandemic and the closure of schools worldwide, the advent of e-learning has emerged as a boon for all of us. Very often, we praise the technology, online resources, innovation, and those standing frequently in front of a webcam to conduct online classes or, to impart learning to the kids.

Undoubtedly, the contribution of teachers and online resources deserves the utmost praise. But, amidst the digital-driven world, we often overlook the struggle of the parents, which lays behind the picture-perfect world of virtual learning. It’s true, it’s unthinkable to discipline a kid who is accessing lessons remotely. It’s hard to tell whether one is paying attention or not, whether the assignment they submit is their own hard work or someone else’s. There are so many elements that e-learning fails to fulfill as the manual learning does.

From a generic perspective, e-learning has once again brought back the norm of homeschooling. In this approach, skipping online lessons is the loss of learning.

But what if, when there is no alternate to e-learning? Or, even if it does, what goes on once the e-sessions are over? Who will take the responsibility of the kids once the monitor shuts down? The lack of physical presence of teachers, the only chance to strengthen the learning amongst kids remains in homeschooling. After all, at the end of the day, the individual inspection of progress can only be done by the parents when a teacher fails amid the pandemic.

Without forgetting the fact that teaching kids are not an easy task, parents, irrespective of their profession are bound to commit to the role of a tutor, a guide, and a counselor to their kids during the school closure. Right from checking their screen time to assisting them with their homework, disciplining them to help them manage their time, the role of a parent spreads beyond the normalcy. Imagine creating an ecosystem of a learning, workspace, and personal space under a single roof! So if you are digging for some homeschooling tips, this blog is for you as it brings 5 effective homeschooling tips to parents to keep your kids engaged during this pandemic.

1. Set a regular timetable

The coronavirus pandemic has critically reversed the normalcy of life. Right from work to school, leisure to travel, and what not! The lockdown induced by the social distancing norms led to the closures of schools across the globe. No doubt, online learning has come to our rescue in terms of learning but it’s crucial to have a systematic schedule for offline study or especially when your kids are learning from home.

As a parent, you can organize an everyday timetable for your kids, creating a school-like environment to encourage effective learning. In the drafted timetable, you can include a lunch break, TV break, activity time. Including off-screen activities will refresh their mind, keeping them active, which leads to better learning.

2. Be their reliable guide

Even though the crisis led to the revolutionary advent of e-learning, it still lacked certain attributes of the manual process of education. Despite the online classes, the students still require guidance in many aspects of learning. Such as time management, collecting materials, screen time, etc.

Not just their homework, but it’s crucial to pay attention to whether your kid is paying attention to a particular subject or if they have missed anything in between the lessons. Know their subject preference, their shortcomings, their interest in activities, and above all, check their sincerity while learning.

3. Create a healthy learning atmosphere

With the global pandemic on a rapid rise, everyone is struggling to get through this tough crisis. Regardless of the social strata, every parent is anxious about the future and the safety of their kids. As most of the schools are closed for months, the concern for education is even more on the rise. Despite the worries, parents are now focusing on the continuing education of the kids through homeschooling with the help of online resources.

Still, the first and foremost thing to understand by parents is that every kid learns at their own pace. The most crucial aspect of effective homeschooling is the environment. So, ensure to create a healthy learning space for your kids. It’s better to dedicate a specific place for learning purposes where your kid will be able to concentrate well.

4. Encourage a funfilled learning with activities

Homeschooling is not an easy task. Especially for first-timers. From counseling your kids to collecting their learning materials, checking their screen time to helping them with their homework, every bit of the whole can be nerve-wracking. However, you can make homeschooling stuff more interesting and recreational by helping your kids learn in a more funfilled way by adding activities in between the schedule. In this way, you will be spending time with your kids in a valuable yet creative way. Also, this method will reduce the learning pressure in kids enabling them to grasp every bit quickly and efficiently.

So include activities in between the learning. You can play indoor games, teach your kids about a recipe, paint, learn an instrument, and so on. Also, your kids will be able to bond with you throughout the process and you will be leading a less stressful day. Connecting with your kids should be a part of your everyday life.

Also Read: What is E-learning? Advantages And Disadvantages Of eLearning?

5. Understand their passion

Lockdown is the best time to help your kids follow their passion. As a parent, you should understand their choices and inclinations and support them to grow in it. Whether it’s learning an instrument, painting, arts & crafts, pottery, cooking, you should help them pursue it all. Now is the best time to let them learn and grow so that they can thrive in the world of tomorrow.

The role of the parents is to understand the needs and shortcomings of the kids. It’s crucial to pay attention to their passions and as well help them engage in academics. Since the pandemic has severely impacted on the normalcy, it’s a prime responsibility of parents to guide the kids, provide support, and help them adapt to this unexpected transition prompted by the pandemic.

Initially, homeschooling will be difficult for both parents and kids, but with the help of online resources, activities, and an organized timetable you will be able to do better in continuing with the process of learning.