HOW TO SURVIVE HOME SCHOOLING
It’s back to the ABCs as you channel your inner teacher
Over 750,000 Kiwi children have been sent home from school to continue their lessons amid the coronavirus scare. While schools have done all they can, providing learning packs and online classrooms for pupils, parents – many now working from home – may feel overwhelmed as the shift changes the family dynamic and risks frayed emotions.
Natasha Tiwari, psychologist, educationalist and CEO at The Veda Group (thevedagroup. com), says some simple rules will help everyone adapt.
STRUCTURE THE DAY
Kids should wake early, have breakfast and get dressed as if they were going out. Maintaining a routine is crucial to keep motivation high and take the new set-up seriously. Provide a space where the home schooling will happen. If children split time between two households, both parents must work to the same schedule throughout the day, with the same rules and boundaries.
EXPECT TO BE TREATED AS A TEACHER
Explain that, during this time, you are the “teacher” and in charge. Set clear rules, but you may also want to offer incentives to keep them motivated, much like a school merit system, and take away privileges if they do not. Be the most “teacherlike” version of yourself during home-learning time. Many parents worry how to ensure their teens listen to them. No matter what they say, teenagers appreciate boundaries and structure. Make your expectations clear and remind them they have a responsibility to prepare for their future.
KNOW YOUR CHILD’S LEARNING STYLE
A child who is naturally more talkative will learn better through opportunities to chat about their thoughts. Likewise, a shy child may enjoy quiet to process their thoughts. Typically, kids have a learning style which is one (or a blend) of the following: auditory (learning by listening), visually (by seeing) or kinaesthetically (by moving). Use this link – thevedagroup. com/learningstyle – for a quiz to determine the best approach for your child. It’s also important to consider the dynamic between siblings. If you know they need to be separated to concentrate, then have some tasks where they sit together and others where they sit apart. Having older ones help the little ones can deepen their bond, and gives older children an opportunity to show how responsible they can be.
TAKE BREAKS FOR FRESH AIR
Remember, taking breaks is important for maintaining momentum. For kids and adults alike, a lunch hour and small breaks allow an opportunity to let off steam and refresh. Fresh air and daylight are essential for our sense of wellness, ability to focus and motivation. Let them spend time in the garden if you have one. If not, make use of what you have. Open the curtains and windows to maximise natural light and the flow of fresh air. Adults need to think of their own wellness too.
NURTURE THEIR SOCIAL BONDS
This is a confusing and anxietyinducing time for kids, and keeping social relationships going will help to curtail this. Setting up FaceTime/Skype dates is an easy way to stay connected. You may also want to coordinate your homeschooling schedule with other families, and with this in mind, set up study dates where the children are working on the same things, with Skype on in the background to create the sense of a virtual classroom.
MAKE SURE THERE’S AN END TO THE DAY
Having a timed end of day, like school, is important for maintaining separation between “school life” and “home life”. This is crucial for keeping everyone mentally well and happy, and avoiding burnout. Cabin fever may set in, and it may put pressure on you all as a family, but lockdown is only temporary. Maintaining perspective will be hugely helpful in stressful moments. And remember, this will pass!