Your home is likely a place where your child feels comfortable and at ease. This type of environment is great for many reasons, but if coronavirus has prompted you to turn your house into a dedicated learning space for all or part of each day, it may be challenging for your student to stay focused and engaged. Luckily, there are a variety of things you can do to create a positive educational environment during this time. To start, here are three items you should have on hand:
1. A dedicated workspace
Creating a dedicated workspace that’s customized to the needs and interests of your child can help them thrive when learning from home. Select an area of your home that is quiet and set away from the main hub of the house. Your student will be much more likely to focus on their studies if their workspace remains consistent, just like in school. Stock the area with any learning-related items that they may need, such as:
-
Notebooks and sketch paper
-
Pens, pencils, and highlighters
-
Textbooks, worksheets, and any other learning aids
Having as many learning resources as possible in their dedicated workspace can promote more focused learning. Ask your child what you can include in this area that can help them learn. Perhaps they would rather be in a room with a window so they can have natural light. Or maybe they want a clock nearby to keep track of how the day is passing. Whatever their requests may be, listening to them can help you create an environment that they feel comfortable and eager to learn within.
[RELATED: 3 Creative Ways to Make Learning at Home Fun]
2. A distraction-free zone
Chances are your home has plenty of toys, games, and other items that can easily become a roadblock to a productive learning environment. Remove these items from your student’s workspace, but reassure them that once learning time is over, they can have access to them again.
[RELATED: Schools and the Coronavirus—What We Found in a Survey of 500 Parents]
3. A library space to promote reading time
Somewhere in your home, whether it be in the living room or near your child’s designated learning area, create a reading space. Have your child select books they would like to read—or have you read to them, depending on their age—over the course of the next few weeks and arrange them in this space. Set aside time each day to read these books. Incorporating reading into your child’s learn from home routine can help strengthen their reading, writing, and spelling skills, as well as foster a continued sense of imagination and creativity.
[RELATED: 3 Crafts to Promote Literacy Skills This Spring or Summer]
Your home provides a plethora of opportunities for your child to continue their learning. In order to make the most of this experience, it’s important to listen to your child to learn what can help make their temporary classroom one that promotes creativity and success.
If your family has been affected by a COVID-19 school closure, Varsity Tutors is here for you. Register now for Virtual School Day, our free resource for parents, and enjoy access to live, online lessons and other K-12 learning resources.
