Is Your Child Remote Learning? Here’s What You Need To Remember Every Day

Over the course of the last year, parents everywhere were given a bit of a crash course in remote learning as children of all ages were sent home while the world worked through lockdown after lockdown. It seems fair to say that we have all learned a lot about how to handle learning from home, but it’s also true that an awful lot of how we’ve managed has been through workarounds, temporary solutions and sheer determination. 

Moving forward, we can make sure it all goes a little more smoothly with some planning, preparation and research. Here are a few tips that can help you make sure that your child’s remote learning experience is rewarding, enriching and educational.

Remember That Routine Is Important

During the lockdown, we have all felt the impact that being stuck at home has had on our daily routine. Namely, that it seems to remove the routine element completely! When you’re planning remote learning for your child, you need to remember to structure their day as if they were going to school. Make sure that they’re getting up at the same time every morning, that their meals continue to be at set times, and that they know what’s coming up in the lesson plans that day. The structure is especially important for children and we need to make sure we do everything we can to preserve it.

Make Sure You Find The Right Tuition

Choosing the right tutors or online course for your child is a huge responsibility, so of course, it’s going to feel a little daunting. The right online classes will be transparent about what exactly their courses involve, and how they execute them. You going to want to be able to see what is in store for the months ahead, and you are going to want to be able to see that their methods have proven results. 

Something particularly important to keep in mind when you’re doing your research is how important the role of the teacher is in online learning. For 11+ online learning, for example, you need to know that the tutor is not only capable of delivering the educational experience but can connect and convey that knowledge virtually. Test Teach has a range of expert tutors for their 11+ tutoring, each with formidable levels of experience and a passion for teaching. 

Don’t Forget To Be Encouraging

One of the issues that have been widely reported following the school closures during lockdown is that a lot of kids have suffered from a lack of motivation. It’s going to be extremely important that you find a way to encourage your child without making them feel an overwhelming amount of pressure. 

Think about how this experience is affecting them and remember to be patient when they are struggling. If you notice that your child is finding a subject particularly challenging, find new ways to present it. Don’t be afraid to talk to other parents in your social circle about how they are helping their kids to stay engaged and motivated.

Make Sure That They Have Space To Work

Space has been at a premium for everyone over the course of the last year as we’ve all tried to figure out how everyone in the family can work from home. It can be easy to just set your laptop up where there’s space, but anyone who’s spent too long working in their bedroom will tell you that it’s so important to have a space set aside that’s just for work. 

With that in mind, try to find a workspace for your child that is not their bedroom or in front of the TV. It’s not just about making sure that there are as few distractions as possible (although that is definitely a good idea), it’s about making sure that there is a clearly defined area that is there for learning that they can leave behind them when they’re finished. Clear separation between work and rest is so important and can keep morale going.

Make Sure They Can Burn Off That Energy

When your child is learning from home, there are fewer opportunities for them to burn off that excess energy and unwind at the end of the day. There are no running to and from school, no organised sports activities, and a lack of exercise can have a seriously negative effect on their mood. 

So, it’s going to be very important that you continue to factor in fresh air and exercise time into their daily routine. Even if it’s just setting aside a block of time when they can go and kick a ball around the garden or joining them on a quick jog around the block at the end of the day, it helps to keep the body and mind active and to keep them positive. It’s also a good reminder for you to keep yourself moving too!