With the kiddies at home with you for the foreseeable future, it’s important to ‘lock down’ a homeschooling routine. Your kids will still need academic stimulation to keep up with the school year, so that when they return, they are up to date. But this academic stimulation will be different from what they’re used to. Being home-based and learning through primarily online means may require some adjustment for your little ones. Not to mention being taught by the apple of their eye – their mommy (and daddy sometimes too!). Learn how to to get into a homeschooling routine with these helpful tips. And explore our website for inspirational school labels.
Homeschooling tips for the proactive mom:
1. Set up your homeschooling environment
The first step for getting your children into a homeschooling routine? Creating a suitable workstation for them to work in when they are ‘at school’ that is separate and away from distraction and their ‘play zones’. Next, get on that schedule. Young children respond best to schooling when they are in a routine, so map out the day so your little ones know what to expect, and adjust to their new ‘normal’. For example, your routine might go as follows: Have breakfast together as a family. Read a book. Practise math equations. Play outside and get some exercise. Have lunch as a family. Give afternoon lessons if your children’s’ teachers have requested specific assignments. And then play indoors with educational toys e.g. Lego.
2. Clearly stipulate the expectations
Your children might be resistant to homeschooling at first. After all, home time is usually ‘after school’ time, where they have the freedom to whatever they want. It’s therefore important to communicate with your children what you expect from them and why it is important that they listen to you. For example, you can explain that their friends are doing homeschooling too. And that they should use this time as an opportunity to improve so that when they get back to school, they can really wow their teachers.
3. Be flexible with your schedule
One of the great benefits of homeschooling is that there is time to adjust your schedule if need be. For example, if you find your children engrossed in a creative task or problem-solving exercise, don’t stop them. That deep concentration is beautiful, and captivation in and commitment to a task is a great way to learn. Let your kids continue with the task until they come out of the ‘zone’, and then perhaps spend a little extra time on the other activity the following day.
How are your children adapting to homeschooling?
We hope your little geniuses are adapting well to this time at home, and are loving the opportunity to learn and grow with their parents. Take these homeschooling tips to heart and enjoy this time – it’s amazing to see how so many rewarding moments can come out of difficult times such as these. And if you’d like to take some time off to explore school labels and supplies for when your children return to school, browse our products.