The current health situation in our community has forced many families to adapt a new way of life. Handshakes and other forms of socializing were the first to go. Graduation ceremonies, proms and other big events were next. Suddenly, most parents started working from home and the last few days of school for the children were cancelled.
Now that the opening of the new school year is drawing near, one phrase has certainly come up in every discussion where children and education are concerned: online learning.
What is online learning?
Online learning takes place with the help of the different gadgets that have proven to be indispensable to our daily lives. While some parents don’t mind letting their children use them, most are still wary about the amount of time their children will spend in front of a screen. Finding the right balance between online and offline activities is the key. Online learning does not aspire to take the place of face-to-face learning with a teacher, nor does it need to. It is a supplementary tool to engage students in situations where they do not have access to a classroom. It also offers support and flexibility for stressed out families that are dealing with the new challenges to their day-to-day lives.
How can we prepare our home for online learning
1. Do set aside a learning space for your child
It’s important that children have a designated area that is free from distractions. Make sure that your child will have a quiet and clutter-free space.
For example, your living room can be a good space for learning. Turn the TV off and remove any knickknacks.
Do you have a pet that can easily catch your child’s attention? If so, can you leave your pet in another room while your he/she is doing his school work? Eliminating any source of distraction will help your child stay focused.
2. Do establish a schedule or routine.
Now that people are staying home, it may seem like time is all we have. There may be times when adults want to spend a few more minutes in bed and children only want to play from sun up to sun down.
What time of day is your child most active? Observe and take note as this will be the time when he/she can focus more on the task for the day.
Does your child need someone to help him/her with school work? Would it be you, his/her older sibling, caregiver or another adult living at home? Find out their schedule too so that they can offer their full support.
Sticking to a schedule will require planning and it will be challenging at first. But once a routine has been established, your child will learn how to easily transition to work time.
3. Do keep an open communication between you and your child
Verbal and non-verbal communication will play a vital role in achieving the learning goals at home. A simple high-five or thumbs-up can help your child feel motivated to accomplish his/her work for the day.
Are online games or videos part of your child’s task for the day? This is a good chance to talk to them about internet safety. Remind them that just like in real life, we only talk to people we know and only visit places or sites we are allowed to visit.
Listen patiently to your child’s questions and try your best to answer them in a manner that they will understand.
When parents and their kids feel comfortable communicating with one another, it builds trust.
4. Don’t be afraid to try new things.
Yes, the mere thought of learning all the applications seems daunting. There will be days when your roles will reverse and your child will be the one teaching you to navigate the online tools. And that is okay. Take the time to explore each of the functions until you feel comfortable.
Feeling overwhelmed with all the new technology that you need to catch up on? Luckily, the internet is a great source for articles and tutorials that can help you.
And remember, you are not alone in this.
5. Don’t forget that your child’s teacher is your partner.
Maintaining a 2-way communication between you and your child’s teacher can help ease the burden of taking on such a big task at home.
Does your child’s teacher hold video conferences with the parents? Take the opportunity to learn more about their expectations, voice out concerns that you and your child are experiencing and review upcoming activities.
Having a great partnership with your child’s teacher will help your child have meaningful experiences while achieving his/her goals whether it be online or offline.
6. Keep it simple.
Let our kids be kids. Online learning should not be a hindrance for them to explore their own environment. There’s no need to fill every second with drills and activities. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself as your balancing the roles of parent and home teacher. If you need help with your child’s learning, don’t hesitate to seek help from the school community.
For families who need more information on online distance learning, Goodstart Preschool is here for you. We can help support your child’s early education through our Holistic Online Preschool Education (H.O.P.E.) Program. For inquiries, please feel free to contact us.