Learning at Home Series

Learning at Home: Your Questions Answered.

Adjusting to this unique situation takes some time, and we know many of you have some questions about learning at home that you hope to find some answers to. We have compiled some of the commonly asked questions here to help you ease into your new “normal”.

Q: How do you cope with learning at home, chores and meal preparation when you have no helper at home?

Lynda: Kids’ school work are prepped the night before. For meal preparations, I usually wake up slightly earlier to prepare the ingredients and set them aside for 1 dish/pot meals. Morning is our school time so chores are NOT done during this time of the day. Kids are rotated for 1 to 1 or independent work. Set aside 45 mins at the end of the day for a speed clean around the house with chores delegated to kids. Dishwashing are usually done after the kids are asleep, or my spouse will handle it.

Dorcas: Institute early bedtime for the kids, and this is the best time to reset their biological clock. When they go to bed early, I have the evening time to prepare lessons and meal plan for the next day. Enlist the kids’ help in chores and make it fun for them. Show them appreciation for their help and use this time to foster a cohesive family life. On some days, I just ensure that I have food on the table for everyone. After all, a healthy mind and happy heart is more important than a meticulously clean home.

Q: How do you balance work and teaching the kids at home?

Zhen Xin: Assess the amount of work to be done for both you and your child, and the estimated time taken. I will discuss with my children on the time I have to do their work with them. If your children are quite independent, set up their work space near you. Children can then ask you for help easily while you are working. When my children are done with learning, it’s their free time to just play quietly. I will let them know that I am still “at work”. Let them know when to expect you to be back with them. Keep communication open so everyone knows what is expected. This will also prevent children from coming to you all the time and break your train of thought during your course of work.

Q: My kids are fighting with each other all the time. HELP!

Dorcas: I think it boils down to the climate of the home, and understanding that it is normal that everyone will get a little more temperamental when we are shut in for extended periods of time. Parents can set the tone by waking up cheery, being positive about things that might not have gone well during the day, etc. Children pick up our vibes and they will respond with a more positive mood, resulting in less bickering. If a home is filled with parents’ nagging and raised voices, the children also get all snappy at each other. When things get rough, it might be a sign that we need to all take a breather – game time, yummy snack treat, or just a group snuggle in bed.

Valerie: In our home, raised tantrums (from the adult or child) are often a result of an empty love tank. It’s worthwhile to take the time that we are at home now to find our child’s love language (check out the 5 love languages of children). I will use our morning time to fill up my child’s needs. Usually it translates to a smoother morning when she can sit down and do her learning while I get some work done. After tantrums, kids move on faster than we do. Don’t mope over it but instead have a “do over” when things go awry. Bedtime is always best to “debrief” for the day, so we can set the tone for the next morning.

Q: Will my kids’ academics suffer if I don’t do worksheets with them?

Dorcas: It’s about perspective and what we want for our children. Not every child is configured to thrive academically. Some excel in other aspects. Academics only makes up a fraction of a child’s life and there are so many other things important and vital to the child’s development. An academic mind can certainly be achieved without worksheets because an academically inclined mind is inquisitive, investigative and industrial among many other traits. I am not against desk work but I acknowledge that desk work is not the main objective of education. This is a great time to reflect and rethink our goals in life for ourselves as well as for our kids. What is important to you and your kids?

Can’t find the answer to your questions? Then hop over to our upcoming Homeschool Curriculum Fair Online, where parents will be available to answer your questions “face to face”. Share, Inspire, Encourage. Register for your slots now at the Homeschool Curriculum Fair 2020 Facebook event page. More information coming your way over the next few days.

Meanwhile, #StaySafe #StayHome #StayCurious

#SGUnited