Tips for working parents from home-schooling mom
As parents deal with school closings because of the coronavirus, it’s a new normal for nearly everyone.
Home-schooling parents have expertise in keeping kids occupied and learning throughout the day. We talked to Jennifer Givens, a mother of a 2-year-old and 7year-old who home-schools and also works from home part time.
“I’ve actually had a lot of people ask me,” she said about parents seeking tips. Here is her advice:
Have a schedule. Givens said a routine is the biggest key. On social media, many are circulating suggested schedules with blocks of time for play, activities and learning. Givens gives her children about 30 minutes each morning to wake up and eat breakfast. Then, throughout the day, they allot one-hour increments for learning. They’ll work on one subject, then take a break — go outside, for example. She sets up 15-minute breaks in between their activities, where they can play in their rooms. And her children are such different ages that they have different schedules.
“Every kid is so individual,” she said. Walk children through the plan for the day, and consider allowing them to pick, for example, whether they want to do language arts work or math during a certain time.
Especially if you are stuck at home, take another look around the house to see what might be a distraction or lesson. Can you walk around and water the plants together? Givens likes to have 10-minute cleans with her children, followed by going outside.
Don’t be intimidated. We’re not saying you need to set up a complex project while you’re on a conference call. “We like to do a lot of experiments,” she said. For them, that might mean growing tomatoes or making volcanoes. For parents suddenly balancing full-time work and full-time child care, it might look like mixing baking soda and vinegar or shaving cream with food coloring — things most people might have at home.
Save activities that take longer. For Givens, this is dominoes — her son can play with dominoes at length. “You need longer stretches, especially if you need a conference call,” she said. She saves certain activities that he can do for longer increments for when she needs to get a task done. “You can sit and get work done while they’re at the table,” she said.
Use learning sites. Not every school is providing lesson plans at home or supplemental reading. For those looking for things to help their kids learn, Givens recommends ABCya!, which has educational games, or ABCmouse for children ages 2 through 8. Adventure Academy has programs for kids 8-13. Another option? Podcasts. “I wish people told me about podcasts for kids,” she said. Her kids like “What If World,” “Story Pirates” and Vermont Public Radio’s “But Why: A Podcast For Curious Kids.”
Starting this week, we are orienting the Life & Travel section toward providing lifestyle resources, guidance and inspiration as you and your family navigate life during the coronavirus pandemic. We’ll cover family issues, healthful hygiene, working from home, homeschooling and more. Please share your feedback; email TBS-AE-EDITORS@tribpub.com