Making learning at home engaging enables you to enjoy learning together. Learning from home poses a unique challenge for a lot of us. It can be hard to find new ways to make regular lesson content engaging for young minds. However, there are a wealth of benefits to homeschooling or supplementing your child’s learning with some fun, at-home activities. Studies have shown that children learn best when they’re having fun, so it’s important to approach at-home lessons creatively.
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Use online resources
Don’t be afraid to venture onto the internet to look for some supplemental resources. Youtube has a wealth of entertaining and educational content which is free to access. There are lots of websites that can serve to break up what might become an otherwise monotonous session.
Even beyond Youtube, you’d be amazed at some of the creative content hiding online. Videos, songs, even online games relating to almost any topic can be found and incorporated. If things ever get too much, the world of online tuition is another option to consider. The internet is there for a reason- don’t be afraid to dip your toes in!
Be creative
Consider planning activities with your child that will require them to use their knowledge in real-life, applied terms. Instead of learning about decimals and ratios on a worksheet, why not take them to the kitchen and bake? By weighing and counting the various ingredients needed, your kids will have the chance to exercise their numeracy skills while having fun. Plus, as a bonus, they’ll have a reward waiting for them after a lesson well done.
By planning unique experiences such as this, you’ll give your children the opportunity to see how their theoretical knowledge can apply to the real world. Not only will the change in scenery help to kickstart their brains, but they’ll develop some concrete skills which can be put to use in the real world.
Stick to a structure
Structure doesn’t need to equate monotony. Sticking to a regular structure is psychologically proven to help facilitate learning in children, so consistency is key.
Try to keep start and end times more or less the same day to day, and the same goes for breaks. By giving your kids structured breaks and days off, you’ll keep their motivation high- something that is absolutely crucial for keeping their learning experiences positive. Learning can, and should, be rewarding for both you and your child.
Be flexible with your long-term plans
The fourth, and most important tip is to maintain an honest and open conversation with your children. Ask them about their interests, and pay special attention to where their skills lie. The flexibility that at-home learning provides allows you to help your child explore new hobbies, projects, or even prospective careers. Nobody knows your child better than you, so this is the perfect opportunity to put that knowledge to good use and give them a head start towards success.
This is a collaborative post.
