Many children are having to learn more independently, whether they’re homeschooling, hybrid learning, or simply contending with busy parents (we’re all strapped for time these days, after all!).
This can present a big challenge for students and their families, but all is not lost! You can get your work done while also making sure your child is set up for academic success. We’ll give you some easy-to-implement tips to help improve your child’s independence, especially if they’re e-learning.
Find a work space for education from home
The first step to helping your child become an independent remote learner is finding a workable space for them. Just like adults are having to set up makeshift home offices, your child needs a consistent place to work every day.
This doesn’t need to be a whole room; you could just set up a desk in the corner of your living room. Just make sure it has all the needed materials and is as distraction-free as possible.
If you need some examples, check out this post detailing how to create a productive study space for your child.
Create a reasonable education from home schedule
After you’ve created a functional space for education from home, work with your child to establish a daily schedule. Having a routine makes learning and motivation much easier during these times of e-learning for kids. Make sure your schedule is reasonable; you can’t expect your child to put in a full 7 hour day of learning. Build in regular exercise breaks and screen-free education from home activities.
Take stock of your resources
Your child’s first instinct when facing a problem may be to ask you for help. But you aren’t your child’s only support. Take a moment to reflect on the different resources your child has at their disposal. Is their teacher available for personalized help? Can they reach out to a peer and try to solve a problem together? Do they have access to tutoring resources that may guide them to an answer?
Remind your child to consider all of their resources before coming to you. In many cases, you may not even be the best person to help!
Set a check-in time for your child to ask you for help
This can be once in the morning and once in the afternoon, or just at the end of the day depending on your schedule. Have your child save work that they are really struggling with for those times and make sure they know you’re off-limits the rest of the day.
Knowing they have to power through challenging work will help your child become a more independent remote learner.
Build motivation and set realistic goals
Once you have the logistics of space and schedule under control, you can really get down to the learning. Two of the biggest barriers to independent education from home are a lack of motivation and a lack of purpose. You can proactively avoid these issues by putting some strategies in place ahead of time.
Building motivation in your child
Your child may be reluctant to work independently. You’ve probably heard “I’m bored!” or “It’s too hard!” one too many times. Finding what motivates your child can be a huge help here. Just as adults will work harder if they know they have an exciting evening ahead of them, set fun traditions as part of your week.
Assuming your child completes their work each day, they can participate in movie night, or have extra outdoor playtime. It may even be as simple as earning a sticker or giving them a heartwarming physical gesture. Talk to your child about what motivators they need and come up with a plan to reward hard work.
If you’re not sure where to start, check out our series on motivation. We break down the six different ways to motivate your child: Praise, Projects, Prestige, Prizes, People, and Power.
Setting clear goals together
Another reason your child may struggle to work independently could be because they don’t understand the “why.” E-learning for kids is so different from the regular school routine that many kids wonder “why do I have to learn this?” or “It isn’t for a grade, why should I bother?”
You can help your child build intrinsic motivation by really getting to the root of why they’re doing what they’re doing. They could be practicing spelling words so they can become better readers and writers, or they could be taking AP Chemistry to ultimately earn college credit. Explaining the deep reasons for learning and the ultimate learning goals can go a long way.
Take it slow
Whatever the age and motivation level of your child, it’s possible to help them become independent remote learners by setting a space, a schedule, and working together to improve motivation and set goals.
Be patient, and remember that we’re living in extraordinary times. It doesn’t need to be perfect, and you don’t need to do it alone. Reach out for support, adapt to your personal circumstances, and check back for more strategies to support education from home.
