Now that our kids are going to be staying home (at least for some days) for virtual learning, it is time to create a dedicated space for them to learn every day. While last year we were thrown into virtual learning and didn’t have much time to prep and prepare, this time we have ample time to plan a proper space to facilitate adequate education.
Creating a school set up at home doesn’t have to be overly complicated or complex. Here are some easy ways to upgrade your space to ensure your child learns to the best of their ability.
Ask your child what they need.
It is important that your child feels like they have a say in where their learning is going to happen. Ask them for their opinion on a place before you set up shop. You’ll want to make sure they are as comfortable as possible and in a place that feels warm and welcoming to them. Get a whiteboard to help write out geometry explanations, some extra notebooks for that algebra homework, and a sturdy desk for those difficult calculus concepts. Just a word of advice: Do not set up a desk in their bedroom.
Keep the distractions to a minimum.
Kids have such short attention spans, so you’ll need to keep the distractions around their desks to a minimum. This includes pictures on the walls, snacks in a cupboard, trinkets, writing supplies, and even your desk. Only keep things nearby that are extremely pivotal to their learning environment based on their age and learning style. You can spruce up the area with an indoor plant like a snake plant or two, a fun chair or pillow, and a book. Just don’t forget to water those plants.
Invest in storage.
You need to keep things neat and orderly for your child to succeed at home. They should be able to easily transition from subject to subject with little to no confusion, and this can be helped by investing in baskets and bins for storage. An easy way to differentiate is to color coordinate each subject and ensure all work materials are in the same spot every day, with the ability to be tucked away when they’re not needed.
Incorporate different work zones.
When your kids are in school, they move around periodically to do different activities, and the same should go for when they’re learning from home. It is a good idea to set up different work zone stations across the home if you have room; a desk for zoom class, a separate table for art projects, and a corner nook for reading. Sometimes, even working in the garden can be fun. A change in scenery is a great idea to help with restlessness and boredom.
Choose tutoring.
It’s a good idea to invest in a tutor for some supplemental education and to keep your child on the right path for success. Best of all, there are a lot of online programs to help you keep your social distance, such as online math tutoring programs for you to choose from based on whether they’re in middle school or high school and whether they need homework help or test prep assistance. Whether you need help with math problems or beginners’ English concepts, a tutoring session may be the best choice.
Encourage physical activity.
Chances are, your child will be sitting more at home than if they were at school. To keep them healthy and to instill a love for movement, bring some physical activity into the day. Have periodic exercise breaks where you get up and dance around the house, take a stroll down the block, or even do some jumping jacks when your child is feeling restless. Plus moving around will help break up the day and make it go by faster.
With these easy-to-implement ideas, your child will love their new at homeschooling area and will thrive all year long.
