Shria Abrol
Around the world, schools in over 100 countries are closed to protect children against the spread of coronavirus, affecting the education of nearly 1 billion children. For the lucky ones, homeschooling is taking the place of the classroom. With the pandemic forcing education online for the time being, high hopes from parents about homeschooling their children had been replaced by the harsh reality that being a teacher is extremely hard. And it requires a degree of preparation and focus that many parents simply don’t have right now.
So, if you’re one of the tens of millions of parents who are now essentially homeschooling your children, here are some of the tips that will help you to home school your child.
Lower your expectations
Then lower them even further. Home schooling has a methodology, and it can be done very well, but even then it’s not for everyone. Before worrying that you or your child are underperforming, remember that maintaining a loving, close emotional connection with your child during this time is essential. They will learn so much more like resilience, love and how to deal with difficulty. This will teach them far more about how to be in the world than trying to cobble together lessons.
Teach what you know best
So maybe you aren’t an expert at maths or history. But you still have skills to teach your children, especially when they likely have more time on their hands. Parents nationwide are embracing this idea. Parents are teaching everyday chores to their children like sewing or basic cooking. This is the perfect time to teach your children the lifeskill that will help them a lot more in their life.
Start early in the day
DO not wait until the afternoon to do your schoolwork because it will be a struggle. As soon as your child wakes up in the morning instead of delaying start schooling your child. Sit them down and hand them their schoolwork. Do not let fun happen before school. The reason is children have less self control so get started right away in the morningbefore electronics, before toys, before gamesand just get the schoolwork out of the way, your day will go much, much smoother.
Schedule free time after schoolwork
Allowing kids to do what they want after they finish their schoolwork is a huge motivator. its important for parents to understand that its a new concept for children and they need to let loose once they have completed their schoolwork. This free time can be used as a time to regain all the energy and feel uplifted. Parents can also use some free time after schooling is done to energise themselves.
Don’t force yourself or your child
It’sokay to take daily breaks or adjust learning based on your child’s and your family’s needs. Also, online learning can be hard for some students Maybe they have special needs or maybe it’s just not for their personality.Don’t be afraid to make judgement calls based upon your family situation. Each child is unique and as much as possible be able to respond to what’s coming out of each of your child. Use this as a chance for your children to explore their interests. If the work is too much for them, allow them to find what they love and give them time each day to explore that.
I believe, this is an unpredictable time for us and our children. Lets make learning easy and fun for them so that they tell stories to their children and grandchildren about what it was like to live and learn through the 2020 pandemic.
Dear parents enjoy this time at home with your children, watch their curiosity and creativity grow and don’t feel the pressure to replicate school at home. Remember learning and schooling are very different things.
( The author is counsellor, JMPS & Founder, Child Guidance Clinic )
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