www.Zazzle.com
How to Prepare for Schooling From Home As COVID-19 spread across the world, it led most schools to turn to remote learning. Many parents and caregivers were unprepared for the task, leaving them nervous about the present and future of schooling. While we can’t say if or when your school will return to normal, we can provide some suggestions and tips for online learning that will make virtual learning a bit easier for both you and your children. Ensure a Strong Wifi Connection Just like an adult working from home, when kids try to distance learn or complete online assignments with a wavering wireless connection, it’s unlikely to go well. Rather than struggle with a sub-par connection, check in with your service provider ahead of time to determine if you have enough bandwidth for your needs, and those of your young learners. If your area for schooling is far away or on another floor than your Wifi router, you might need to invest in a device that improves your coverage – a booster, extender or repeater. Each does something slightly different, but they all work to better your wireless coverage. For locations that don’t have wireless connectivity, not to worry! Wired connections are sometimes known to be both safer and faster than wireless connections and can just as easily work for your at-home student’s online school. Establish a Dedicated Schooling Area Having an established workspace is essential for both work and school. Even if it’s just a seat at the dining room table, make sure your student has a place where they are dedicated to their studies. Whenever possible, avoid mixing the locations for work and pleasure. Just as adults are cautioned against working from their bedroom at the end of the day, kids should be informed to only do schoolwork in their dedicated schooling area. If at all possible, try and keep the schooling area in a quiet place, away from both visual and audible distractions. Once a schooling area is established, it’s important to keep it clean and tidy. Use items like file folders, pocket folders, binders and notebooks. Even more so when schooling at home, it’s crucial to have supplies that get kids excited about learning. Choosing products that they can customize with their name, favorite movie or character is a good place to start! Form a Daily Routine For both adults and children, routines are known to reduce stress while anchoring us throughout the day. Headspace reports, “Researchers have found that [a] routine can have far-reaching psychological benefits, including alleviating bipolar disorder, ADHD, and insomnia.” When it comes to schooling from home, form a school schedule for kids that they can stick to and rely on. Make sure to include time for snacks and meals, breaks for fresh air, as well as quiet time. Eating lunch is especially important for growing bodies, so make sure that’s it’s a dedicated part of the daily routine! Learn by Doing As we grow up we learn that some of the best life lessons don’t come from a book. When possible and appropriate, integrate real-life lessons into your children’s schoolwork. Bake bread together and read about the process that makes it rise, use LEGO to build structures resembling historical landmarks – the possibilities are endless! Be Okay With Boredom Kids aren’t unlike adults – we all get bored after a while! According to Forbes, “While taking breaks might sound counterintuitive when it comes to boosting productivity, it’s one of the best ways to do so. Employees gain focus and energy after stepping away from their desks.” If your child finds themselves bored or unmotivated by schoolwork, let them take a break for 15 minutes. Refrain from activities like watching TV or playing video games, but instead, suggest reading, exercising or playing with toys for a few minutes. Looking for ways to limit your child’s screentime? Check out our article for some tips and tricks! Whether your children’s school is proceeding with virtual learning in the near future or you are simply thinking about homeschooling as a permanent course of action, we hope these tips have prepared you for the journey! Erika S Erika focuses on email marketing, copywriting and merchandising at Zazzle, but she has a secret obsession with all things wedding! During the week you can find her writing punny subject lines while also pinning the latest wedding trends, and outside of the 9-5, she is usually cheering on the San Jose Sharks, reading a good murder mystery, or hunting for the best Philly Cheesesteak in the Bay Area.