In recent years, many children are moving to distance learning online. Education at school under the supervision of teachers and learning at home using online platforms and courses differ in their specifics. This article contains tips that help you to stay focused and explain how to make learning online effective and fun for both children and parents.
Think About Motivation
Motivation can be different: external (encouragement, such as permission to play on the computer, buy a toy, etc.) and internal (the child’s actual cognitive interest, which increases from maintaining the child’s curiosity, praise for achievements, etc.
Remember that your encouragement and attention show your child that you are proud of his/her work, and his/her efforts are not unnoticed.
Create a Schedule of Classes
To organize the learning process at home effectively, it is necessary to create a daily schedule so that the child knows how much work awaits him/her. Visibility of the schedule will help to navigate and organize time, so creating a stand or poster with a schedule will be a good idea.
The schedule should be adjusted to the individual characteristics of the child. The amount of work should be sufficient to master the material but not too large to perceive the information easily.
Organize the Workspace
For a child to be able to focus on tasks, it is necessary to provide him/her with a comfortable and convenient workplace. Studying on the couch or lying in bed will distract and harm the health of the child. So, choose a separate space in the house and equip it.
To run online programs, a child must be able to work with a personal computer or laptop and have a stable connection to the Internet. In addition, there should be a place for everything that may be needed during a typical school day (pens, pencils, notebooks, calculator, etc.).
A non-distracting environment will allow your child to learn effectively and help to feel more relaxed. So, try to ensure that your child does not hear any noise when performing tasks – turn off notifications on mobile phones, computers, TVs, and radios and do not talk loudly.
Make Regular Breaks
During the tasks, it is important to take short breaks every 25-30 minutes to perform visual exercises or drink a glass of water. Every 45-60 minutes, the child should take breaks for 10-15 minutes to stretch the arms and legs (dancing, playing sports).
Learning in small blocks allows the brain to better understand and store information. Physical activity improves blood circulation and activates physiological processes that promote the perception, reproduction, and processing of information.
Alternate Learning with Other Types of Educational Activities
It is desirable to include in the study time not only listening to online lectures or completing tasks on the computer but also working in a notebook, reading books, creating projects, observing, and experimenting.
Do not forget to arrange a test of knowledge after learning the information – let the child answer questions, retell, and pass tests. At the same time, measure the success of learning by qualitative rather than quantitative indicators.
