Parent’s Guide to Home Distance Learning

Being a parent could be tough, but it has only become tougher during the ongoing coronavirus epidemic. As most of the world reels under a long lockdown, children (pre-school and otherwise) and their parents are faced with the challenge of home distance learning. Things can be overwhelming, but not too hard to grasp.

Here is a parent’s guide to home distance learning for their children:

1. Adjust your expectations

Before you expect your child to adjust to this new learning method, you need to adjust your expectations first. Children are very sensitive to external factors, and the distance learning experience could easily overwhelm them. As a parent, you need to understand that your child might not show the same learning curve that he/she showed at preschool, and it is perfectly okay!

2. Be proactive about updates

All of us are facing this crisis, and nobody is completely prepared for it, including the schools. As a parent, you must be constantly in touch with the school/kindergarten Capalaba authorities and stay up to date with their notifications. Things are quickly changing, including the learning process; so you must keep up with it.

3. Make a new routine

Everyone’s routine has been disrupted by COVID-19 and the lockdown. The best thing is to make a new routine and stick to it; routine is the key to success and this is especially true for your child. 

4. Create a dedicated classroom

We all see our home as a place where we can comfortably relax. But during this time, it’s important to make do with what you have and create a space where your child/children can focus, even if it is just for playing. 

5. Play & Break

All work and no play is not appropriate for young children especially those who attend Kindergarten. Remember that in play there are many learnt experiences. Hence, try to focus on mixing play with little breaks so that they can slowly get used to the new arrangements. And of course don’t neglect rest time. Even if your child doesn’t want to rest, it is important that you encourage rest time in the afternoon (like they do at any child care Capalaba) to make sure they don’t burn out. 

6. Balance online and offline

Online learning is great and very handy during these times, but your child shouldn’t become entirely dependent on it. Parents should balance online materials with offline ones, like books and games. This is not just good for their mental and physical health, but also their overall wholesome growth.

7. Socialise with other parents

At the end of the day, you are human too – you cannot do everything perfectly, even as a parent. Fortunately, you can always find other parents on social media and alike to chat to about these strange times and how they may be dealing with it. It’s always useful to speak to people who understand what you’re going through.

Distance learning can be a challenge for Kindy children and their parents, but the right approach will make it a whole lot easier.