Many parents are choosing to keep their kids home in the coming weeks, some schools have closed voluntarily, others may follow. We’re worried how this will affect our children’s education, and how we will manage.
It’s OK, you don’t have to homeschool your child: a break from school due to the circuit breakers is a very different situation. Home educators are required to provide a whole curriculum education to their children. That’s not what you need to do.
Your child’s school will have a plan in place that will ensure your child isn’t disadvantaged when returning to class. It may include a schedule of online learning opportunities or work to take home. Your child’s teacher is the best person to ask to help you prepare if you need to self-isolate or if their school closes.
Helpful Activities to Get You Through Isolation
Ask your child’s teacher for tips on helpful activities during the time of home-based learning. | Image: Kidspot
Don’t rely on the internet
Expect the internet to get slower as more people work from home and children access online educational options, so it’s probably best not to rely on it.
Crack out the DVDs, board games, and craft activities. Set up a tent in your backyard for a cubby, have tea parties or build a spaceship out of boxes. Host your own Junior Masterchef – eating out of the pantry means less spent on convenience food and less trips to the shops.
Tap into other people’s creativity by searching any topic or subject on Pinterest. Try to relax and enjoy this time with your children, keep it playful and fun.
Helpful Activities: Keep it playful and fun. | Image: Kidspot
“Everyone needs downtime”
Structuring regular breaks and changes of activity in your day will help to prevent ‘cabin fever’. You don’t need to be continuously busy entertaining or educating your children: everyone needs downtime to zone out or chill on their own.
If you don’t have some already, you might like to stock up on some basic art and craft items: tape, glue, paints, paper. Don’t throw out grocery packaging, challenge your children to build bridges, marble races or fairy houses with it. Download recipes for make-your-own playdough and slime.
Helpful Activities: What about some Easter crafts? | Image: Kidspot
“Listen to your children”
COVID-19 is going to affect us psychologically: unchecked anxiety and worry puts our mental health at risk. Everyone is talking about it and our kids will hear all sorts of alarming things. Changes in routine can be stressful for some: listen to your children, hear their concerns, be honest with them and work out a plan together on how you can mitigate risk as a family.
Think of different ways you and the kids can get moving and be physical. Toss a ball around the backyard, turn the music up and learn some new moves together. Grab the camera and photograph bugs or flowers in the garden.
Helpful Activities: Seek support from other parents when you begin to feel frustrated. | Image: Kidspot.
Online resources
Homeschooling parents have put together this list of popular sites for those looking for additional educational resources during a quarantine period:
- Kids News: a ready-to-go literacy resource for teachers, parents, and kids
- Khan Academy: free educational lessons
- Futurelearn: for teens, free access to hundreds of courses
- Scratch: creative computer programming
- National Geographic Kids: activities and quizzes
- Duolingo: learn a language for free
- The Kids Should See This: educational videos
- Crash Course and Crash Course Kids: YouTube videos on many subjects
- Tinkercad: all kinds of making
- BrainPop: learning games, activities and animated movies
- Mammoth Maths: free worksheets plus emailed tips
- Mad About Science: free experiments
- Red Ted Art: easy arts and crafts
- DK Find Out: activities and quizzes
- Twinkl and TeachersPayTeachers: free and paid worksheets, lesson plans and more.
You can also check out an extended list here.
This post was first published on Kidspot and was republished on theAsianparent with permission.
Also read: How to Effectively Implement Home-based Learning for Your Child During the COVID-19 Outbreak