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With parents across the nation keeping their children at home due to the COVID-19 crisis – supporting their child’s education and learning has been a big topic of discussion recently.

With this change in the daily school routine, many parents have said they are feeling the pressure of having to be the ‘teacher’ with learning moving from the classroom to the living room – and it’s left them feeling overwhelmed with home schooling.

“It’s important for parents to not put a lot of pressure on themselves but instead, keep focused on their children at home being inspired and engaged,” says early childhood teacher and dad, Brent Hughes at Matific.

“At this time, many parents choosing to keep their children home may be worried about how to navigate their child’s educational needs. But we are encouraging parents to embrace learning, not fear it,” says Brent.

As a dad going through the same situation at home, Brent has shared top tips for parents as they navigate the new school world:

Tip 1: Help your children maintain routine

In times of change, keep a familiar routine. Children respond well to routine and it will support you navigate distance learning together. Create a schedule that your child can look to for guidance on how their day will be structured.

Tip 2: Incorporate individual play into your day

Keep in mind it’s important to have some fun, everyday. Perhaps the time to incorporate indoor or backyard play, would be to follow the school structure of recess and lunch.

Tip 3: Turn screen time into learning time

If your children have an allocated amount of time that they are allowed to be on screens, why not encourage them to play some of the Matific games?

Tip 4: Project based learning

Instead of looking at lesson-based learning, perhaps encourage children at home to take on projects. Projects will give you more time to fulfill tasks on your own agenda and help to keep children engaged and occupied. Long projects that might take a full day or a few days to complete and are a great way to help them plan their thinking and stay focused on tasks for long periods of time. For younger children, you might have to break the big project into smaller pieces to help keep their concentration.

Tip 5: Stay active

Kids Health recommends that kids get 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous activity a day. As we are self-isolating and children aren’t participating in extracurricular activities, why not have some fun through dance and music and keep a similar routine to their school sports schedule.

Tip 6: Ease Anxiety

Parents can help their children’s anxiety through regular conversation about school work and doing the best they can at home. By offering support and reminding them that teachers are still available to answer questions, parents can ensure their children aren’t overwhelmed by the changes.

Matific, a fun and interactive curriculum-based learning solution used by thousands of teachers worldwide, provides parents an engaging experience during a time of uncertainty and anxiety. Matific, accessible both online and offline, is a math solution for students in cities or regional areas. With children more equipped with technology than ever before, with 91% of connected households having a desktop or laptop and 66% with tablets, maths can be a fun, shared experience between parent and child.

What are your top tips to keep calm and not get overwhelmed with home schooling?

 

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  • Im so glad that i didnt have to worry about this. Im sure I would have been shocking at it

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  • Parents aren’t meant to teach their children, just supervise that they are doing the work set. If you chill a bit, then you and the children will be much happier doing the home schooling.

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  • Just don’t do it..

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  • My six year old is thriving in this environment. He is super smart but very hyperactive so being at home means he can take lots of breaks to exert some energy before coming back and focusing on his work.

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  • I plan the lessons the night before and we have a routine as mentioned above. I find that helpful.

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  • Trying to make the non Google School items more fun like going for walks/scooter rides for PE and painting for art and cooking to help with maths

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  • bring some learning in to the play and so they are having fun whilst learning. Also getting children to help with the household things like cooking as life skills are so important and there is also lots of learning that can happen in every day experiences. in cooking their is lots of numeracy and literacy, science, creativity etc.

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  • We are doing the best we can. I’m lucky my kids are only 2 and 4 – kinder

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  • Good article for times like this have me few ideas to incorporate to my routine

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  • we are just doing the best that we can

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  • Take it day by day

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  • It surely has become a challenging time for some. Not sure the family in the picture is doing it right……everyone staring at a screen! I think it will be good for families to spend some time together. No rushing off to work and school, hardly seeing your loved ones

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  • I’m not too fussed about this home schooling thing. It’s a temporary thing and we just do what we can, that’s all.

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  • I think creating schedule and routine is the most important.


    • I agree! It is now more important than ever for us, we also schedule in relax time and well being time.

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  • I have on and off done home schooling for various reasons. My oldest daughter finished her high schooling by it and was able to finish early, she did it as school had to fit around her other stuff.
    I work from home so it makes it a bit easier to home school my children. My youngest are twins and their schooling was started at home until I could get my youngest son to handle school. This year after three years of trying he actually settled into school and felt safe to be there. Now to have to teach him at home again with his sister who really loved the social side of school. The earlier years are a lot easier to do, it is the later years that can get hardier.
    What is happening at the moment will pass, so do not stress too much. Just try to fit in something that keeps their love or not so love of learning alive. Schools either have started lessons on line or will do so after the Easter holidays.

    Reply

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