We’ve started a new year, but families across the country are still feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Schools are still trying to figure out the safest solutions for their students, and that means that many parents are still facilitating online learning for their children.
If you’re a parent finding yourself doing some version of homeschooling during the pandemic, here are four tips for staying motivated and finding new and exciting ways to engage your child with their lessons
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Acknowledge that this isn’t business as usual
In the last year, parents and students have both had to adapt to continuously changing rules and regulations of their in-person schools. While it may feel like homeschooling, this is a new situation for parents everywhere, including those who do actually traditionally homeschool. As we work through quarantine schooling together, don’t pressure yourself to replicate school exactly as it is for your student on a normal basis.
Expect challenges and messes, and just continue to do what you can to help your child with their lessons, all while managing your own responsibilities and taking care of your family.
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Get creative with it
If you and your kids have spent the majority of the last year at home, chances are you’re getting a little stir-crazy. Take this opportunity to get creative with their lessons and show them how their favorite everyday activities actually promote learning. Work on addition and subtraction by grocery shopping with a budget. Help them make mental associations by doing a puzzle or a word search together. There are so many ways for your kids to learn outside of the textbook, and it’ll be exciting for them to break out of their usual molds.
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Give your kids a voice
Another great way to excite and engage your children while they’re learning from home is to let them make some of the decisions. What, where, or how do they enjoy learning? Get the things they have to do out of the way, and then let them decide what they’d like to work on next. This is also a good time to teach them the skills they don’t always get in traditional schools, like gardening or crafting.
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Don’t be hard on children, or yourself
We hear it all the time, but these really are unprecedented times. It’s okay to struggle and to get frustrated through this process, but it’s so important to make sure that you give yourself and your children a break as you learn and adapt to schooling from home.
Creating a new routine and a new system for your children will have its headaches and its challenges, but in the end, you may find yourself more suited to homeschooling than you originally thought. Homeschooling your children is a great opportunity to spend more time together, and to give your child the personalized education they need to thrive and find success long after they graduate.
If you’re interested in making a permanent switch to homeschooling, there are so many resources that can serve you. The South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools has been offering expert advice and academic planning for homeschool families for the last 30 years. We have extensive experience working with children of all ages, and we can help you find the right direction for you and your child. Reach out to one of our trained counselors today to find the path that’s right for you.