7 ways parents can support learning at home

Parenting is difficult. We’re all doing our best, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need a little help now and then. When it comes to helping your children learn, it’s easy to lose sight of what you’re good at—and that’s alright! As a special education teacher for many years, I’ve seen many parents struggle with at-home support for their children’s learning.

Over the years, I’ve learned several essential lessons about how parents may support their children’s progress as learners, both in and out of the classroom. You, as a parent, may be far more supportive of your children’s learning at home in a variety of ways.

 

How parents can support kids’ learning and growth from home

As parents, we can never stop learning. Learning is a lifelong process and we are constantly evolving as people. We are always trying to improve our relationships with others around us. This means that we can apply the same approach to parenting! One of the aspects that parents can improve is learning from home.

Since 2020, because of the pandemic, many parents have found it necessary to help their children with their studies due to school being online. Consequently, all parents started to take a greater role in their children’s education.

Many responsibilities, which used to be taken by the educational staff, now have to be assumed by parents. The most important of them all is the educational reinforcement that the student must obtain on a daily basis. Therefore, as parents, we must take on the task of supporting them even more at home. So, here are 7 ways to be more supportive of your children’s learning at home.

1. Create a routine for learning at home

A routine is a set plan for how you will spend your time each day. Routines can assist children to know what to expect and help them focus on their job. To establish a routine:

• Set a time for the routine to begin and conclude each day, such as, after breakfast or before dinner.
• Ensure that there are enough quiet times in the morning and evening for everyone to complete their homework without being interrupted by siblings or parents returning from work.
• Choose one family member to be in charge of ensuring that everyone’s tasks are accomplished by the end of the day (such as doing household chores). This person could also oversee any shared activities, such as cooking dinner on Tuesday nights or playing games on Thursday afternoons.

2. Embrace the challenge of learning new things

It’s one thing to support your children’s education; it’s quite another to actively participate in it. Experts agree that parents should be involved in their child’s homework and assist them in learning at home by engaging with whatever content is being presented in school.

“Ask your child how they are feeling about the subject or a particular assignment,” suggests Dr. Dawn Lerman, head of education at the University of California San Francisco Medical School. “It may be helpful for you to clarify what topics are being introduced in class and what is expected from them at home.”

If you’re a parent looking to get involved with your child’s learning process but aren’t sure where to begin, try asking questions about what they’re working on at school or simply gathering more information together so that you have a better understanding of what they’ll be learning the next time they see you.

3. Get involved in your child’s learning and schoolwork

Get involved in your child’s learning and schoolwork. Directly, there are different actions you can take that will bring you even closer to your children’s education. Although it may not seem like it, this will create a greater bond of trust between parent and child. Trust that will help your child to perform much better in their studies. Some of the ways to get involved are:

• Reading to your child.
• Helping your child with homework.
• Talking about what your child is learning at school, especially if it’s something new or different from what you are used to doing at home. Ask questions like: “What do you think will happen next?” or “How did they figure out this problem?”
• Help your child find resources for learning at home like Grammarly to ensure correct spelling in essays. 

4. Keep it simple

Try not to overwhelm your child with too many new things at once when teaching them a new skill. It is critical for parents to explain the new thing to their children in a way that they can grasp. But it’s also crucial not to overwhelm them with knowledge all at once.

Keep it easy at first and progressively introduce more advanced topics as your youngster becomes more comfortable with the basics.

5. Make time to connect with the teacher

One of the most essential ways you may assist learning at home is through parent-teacher communication. Talking with teachers about your child’s progress and needs helps to ensure that he or she has all of the resources necessary to succeed in school.

It is critical to schedule regular communication with your child’s instructors. You could ask the following questions:

• What are my child’s strong points? 
• Where does he/she require assistance?
• How can I tell if my child’s schooling is finished or incomplete? Can I look at it, or should he/she bring it home to look at later?

6. Set limits, but stay flexible

A very important thing that every parent should do is set limits. When at home, children are more likely to divert their attention from studying to other activities. Therefore, setting limits will allow your children to perform better educationally. Some recommendations that you can implement: 

• Even if it means limiting their screen time or digital devices, your children require structure and clear expectations.
• Be adaptable. Kids are still learning how to manage their own time—and yours—so be flexible with homework, chores, TV watching, and other responsibilities.

7. Schedule fun or creative activities you can do together

Enjoying and being creative with your child helps them develop their problem-solving, critical thinking skills, and creativity — all of which are highly valuable in the classroom. You can play games together or get crafty by making things like homemade art projects.

 

You are the main support in your child’s education

The most important thing you can do as a parent is to be there for your child, whatever their age. It’s also important to remember that not all kids are the same and some may need more support than others. Although there are many tutoring services like the one we offer here, there is no support more important than that of a parent to a child. Therefore, getting more involved while learning at home should be a priority for all parents. 

This will have a remarkable impact on your child’s education. Consequently, it will guarantee them greater success as they grow up. and create a much closer and more united parent-child relationship. 

If, after becoming involved as a parent in your children’s education, you continue to notice certain failures, do not despair. Our tutoring services are designed with your child’s educational development in mind. We focus on those educational areas where difficulties are occurring and create competence from the root. In this way, both you and your child will be guaranteed to gain the knowledge necessary to be successful in their studies.

 

If you would like to learn more about my tutoring services, please contact me at 206-953-1247, or maya.rutherfordtutor@gmail.com. Schedule now to receive your first session totally free by clicking the link: https://mayastutoring.com/schedule-appointment/