June 17, 2020

Helping Your Child Stay Motivated to Learn at Home

While most schools in the United Kingdom are closed due to the global pandemic, parents are forced to become teachers in their own homes. One of the things that’s most challenging about this, is keeping your child motivated to learn when there are so many distractions around. There are lots of things you can do to help, as explored below by a prep school in Kent.

If possible, you should try and set-up an effective study space for your child so that they have a dedicated area for their schoolwork. This should have a desk, plenty of natural lighting and all of the relevant stationery and books. What’s more, it should be free from distractions, such as the TV and their games consoles, so that they can properly concentrate. Most schools are uploading learning resources and activities for students to complete at home, so they will need a decent study space to complete these tasks.

Helping your child stay motivated to learn at home

It can be tough to make yourself available to your child all day if you’re working from home but try and check-in as much as possible so that they can ask you any questions they might have. You should also make sure to praise your child when you see them completing their schoolwork, as this will motivate them to continue doing so. You may want to consider imposing stricter rules about screen time, such as “no phones between 9am and 3pm” so that they are less inclined to play on their phones all day.

Bear in mind that learning doesn’t just come in the form of completing worksheets set by teachers. Your child will have an opportunity to learn something new in almost everything they do. For instance, if you’re playing a board game together, such as Monopoly, they will be able to work on their numeracy skills, as well as understanding the importance of patience (whilst they wait for their turn) and also that taking part is better than winning. Other games might teach them problem-solving skills and maybe even teamwork.

Taking a walk through the park and exploring nature, baking a cake, growing a vegetable patch and starting a craft project are all other ways to help your child learn key skills in a fun and social way. If you’re struggling, don’t be afraid to contact your child’s teachers for some additional tips and support.

Thanks for reading xxx