Home-Based Learning (HBL) – a blast from the past as we get thrust back into Phase 2 (heightened alert) of Covid-19 measures. It was not until a year ago that students and parents have been forced to be accustomed to learning behind the screens. Just as we thought we were going to ease into a new ‘normal’ of incorporating Zoom meetings and Google-classroom alternatives for students on a more frequent (but not daily) basis, we are forced back to having these online sessions daily – and with almost immediate effect.
Thankfully (or not), we have been trained by HBL last year and teachers, parents and students have gotten used to the teaching and learning that takes place online. Mistakes that have been made last year are better avoided (or managed) this year.
From urging our children to spend less screen time and spend more time reading subject books to politely push them to pay attention to their online classes on laptop screens, COVID has changed the way parents look at the concept of “learning”. In fact, the whole education industry has evolved so much in the last one year than it did in the entire last decade.
Due to the pandemic crisis worsening, several circuit breaker measures have been introduced by our Government to ensure that the spread of Covid-19 remains as mild and as contained as possible. With children spending most of their time at home, what can parents do to make effective use of this time?
Help them adapt
The changes can be overwhelming to children, especially young children. Communicate with them and assure them that everything will be okay.
Make necessary arrangements
Ensure that there are all the necessary facilities for them to attend the classes uninterrupted. Invest in a good internet subscription that provides strong and uninterrupted Wi-Fi connections.
Make sure they attend classes
Keep an eye on your children and ensure that they are attending their online sessions regularly. Keep a list of their sessions or classes, and check-in with them about their lesson take-aways post the learning sessions.
Train them in a second language
During this HBL period, it is the perfect time to start watching more shows, but in their mother tongue! You can use this time to train your children in their mother tongue or any other language that can be useful to them. In a multilingual society, it is advantageous for your children to be fluent in multiple languages.
There are many proven benefits to this. It can help in children’s mental and cognitive development. Children who are fluent in multiple languages are generally found to be more self-confident. Also, for the senior kids, tell them about the career opportunities they can explore in other countries just because they know an extra language.
Be it the mother tongue or any other language, a child’s ability to excel in the subject is highly dependent on their interest in the subject. Don’t force the language. Instead, try to make them curious and interested in learning it. If you can do that, they will take the effort without you telling them to.
Teach them the culture associated with the language
Tell them about its history, culture, and traditions associated with it. Talk about prominent figures who spoke the language. Try creating wonder and respect for the language. It would make them want to learn more about it. With Netflix having a huge repository of documentaries in different languages, you can introduce your child to those documentaries that are in that particular language to enhance their learning interest. But first, make sure that the documentary you pick is suitable for your child’s viewing.
Storybooks
The simplest method you can try is by giving your children storybooks in the mother tongue. You can try out books by local publishers or try searching online for stories. Try reading them on your own and choose those that can get the children’s attention. You can also try creating stories on your own and adapting them to be more suitable and relatable to your child.
Daily conversations
Try talking to the children in their mother tongue when they are at home. Increasing exposure to the mother tongue can improve their understanding of it. Languages like Chinese are hard to learn. So, the more you can get them to hear it and have conversations, the better.
Writing
If they are beginning to learn the language, you can buy books that come with alphabets and words that they can trace over. Encourage journal writing and writing assignments in the mother tongue.
Print and non-print resources
There is a wide variety of resources available that can help your children improve their grasp of the language. Print medium would be the best to start as it will help them to be able to touch and possibly trace over them at first. You can move on to other online mediums to increase the exposure and complexity of the content.
Routines
Use this time to help develop proper routines and discipline in their lives. Establish the tasks they have to complete every day and make sure they follow them. Don’t make them rigid, be flexible.
Try to instill a love for reading in them
You can use this time to help your children develop a reading habit. Give them books to read and ask them to share their thoughts about it after completing it. Encourage reading in English as well as in their mother tongue. It can broaden their knowledge as well as language skills. Be careful to choose books that are at their proficiency level. Otherwise, it can put them off.
Try to get them to start a new hobby
Staying home all the time can be mentally exhausting for the children. So, suggest that they start a new hobby. It can be either gardening, painting, cooking, writing a diary, or any such activity. It would be ideal if the hobby was outdoors, so that they can reap the benefits of being in nature, and basking in the sunlight.
Even you, parents – can join the children in these activities. It can be a stress reliever for the whole family in this time of panic.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that while trying to make your child’s time at home more productive, don’t put additional stress on them. Don’t force them to do all these things if they are not interested or can’t manage. Instead, make suggestions and have a proper conversation about these. Provide to them the mental support that they need in these stressful times. Try out these suggestions and make your child’s time at home really productive. Remember to have fun – enjoy your time together! 🙂
Exam Smart Tips
Exam Smart Tip #1 – How to Encourage Our Kids to Speak Better?
Exam Smart Tip #2 – How to avoid carelessness?
Exam Smart Tip #3 – Establishing Routines!
Exam Smart Tip #4 – Let’s Read Carefully!
Exam Smart Tip #5 – Beating the Exam Fever!
Exam Smart Tip #6 – How to Eat Right for the Exams?
Exam Smart Tip #7 – How to Avoid a Meltdown?
Exam Smart Tip #8 – Taking Stress out of Tests
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