With home-based learning becoming a norm in Singapore, setting up a conducive and positive learning environment at home is not just crucial for your kids’ development, it is also essential to keep them actively engaged with the different ways of learning.
For the home-based learning to be a thriving success for your children, here are a few things that you should take note of.
Set Up A Conducive Space For Learning
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The foundation for a good home-based learning experience is to have an environment that is conducive and well-equipped with relevant tools and furniture. Students spend hours learning everyday, so having a comfortable space will ensure that they’ll remain engaged while studying.
On the other hand, a poor setup is bound to discourage them from staying focused during the remote learning process.
To help you make sure your child can learn effectively, start with allocating a quiet space at home with adequate lighting and ventilation for home-based learning. Your children may also need the following items in their study space.
Here’s What You Need To Set Up A Productive Learning Space At Home
A word of caution when making your purchases: Spend within your budget and choose items that are appropriate to your child’s current educational needs.
There is no need to spend top dollars on a laptop with the best technical specifications if your child doesn’t need them.
To optimise savings, consider using the right credit cards that offer the best cashback to make your purchases worthwhile. If creating a conducive space for your child requires renovation at home, there are also plenty of competitive loans in the market that can help lighten your financial load.
Keep A Consistent Daily Schedule
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A switch to home-based learning can disrupt students’ routine and learning patterns. This emphasises the need to create a daily schedule that helps children adapt to the online curriculum with clearly defined time slots for activities such as meal time, exercise, social interaction, and entertainment.
Unlike in-class learning where children get to interact with classmates and engage in activities, home-based learning can seem less interactive.
Unless the curriculum is covering a topic that your children are deeply fond of, having a schedule that complements your child’s attention span may produce better results than letting them sit through long hours of online learning.
As a gauge, here is a table that highlights the average attention span by age.
What Is The Average Attention Span Of Children?
Motivate Children With Praises
Mindfully motivating your child with appropriate praises can build confidence, strengthen intrinsic motivation, and reinforce positive behaviours that lead to better outcomes.
Phrases like “That is really well done!” or “I can see how much you’ve improved, good job!” might seem insignificant at first but they can be a great source of motivation to encourage your child to try new and more challenging tasks. Implementing a reward system is also a good way to recognise their improvement.
However, don’t adopt a system that is tied only to the outcome. Instead, focus on positive behaviours that lead to better outcomes.
Consider giving your child small rewards at short intervals for motivation. Instead of using monetary rewards or unhealthy treats like fast-food or candy, reward your child by reading their favourite books, taking them on a day trip to educational sites like a local museum, or implementing a reward points system where your child can regularly earn points.
Adapt To The Learning Habits Of Your Child
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According to a 1992 study by Neil D. Fleming and Coleen E. Mills, everyone learns differently. The different learning styles can be classified as visual, auditory, reading/writing, and kinesthetic.
What Are The 4 Main Learning Styles?
Some children are visual learners while others retain knowledge when they can hear information. If you understand your child’s preferred method of learning and create a home-based learning environment with that in mind, you’ll notice improvement in no time.
Active Participation
Children tend to learn with more enthusiasm if their parents or significant adults in their lives actively support them or participate in their learning.
This becomes increasingly important in home-based learning because teachers and peers are no longer within physical proximity and you are the only one close enough to provide the companionship that they need.
Your active participation should go beyond interacting with your children only when they ask questions. Engage with them regularly to emphasise important learning objectives, raise questions, and initiate discussions.
This not only motivates them to learn alongside you but they’ll also feel more secure and supported in the new learning process.
This article was first published in ValueChampion and republished on theAsianparent with permission.
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