Soothe Kids, then Help Them Learn
By Brock Falkenberg
Mom and Dad: Cut yourself some slack. This is a stressful time. While the shelter-in-place is necessary to protect everyone’s health and to “flatten the curve,” it heightens anxiety. On top of that we still have to juggle work, financial, parenting, and health concerns. Plus, we now have the responsibility to oversee our children’s education.
I want you to know you are not alone. Numerous organizations, including the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) and your local school district, are here to provide support and resources. LCOE sponsors Healthy Start and AmeriCorps, both of which are currently actively engaged with support for families.
Spend quality time with your children. It is important to offer emotional as well as academic support. Children learn when they feel safe and connected.
Following are some tips from LCOE experts on how to make the most of this time at home with your children—both academically and emotionally.
Connect
Staying at home can be seen as an opportunity to spend time with your family without the hustle and bustle of a typical workweek. Turn off the TV and other devices and talk. Resources such as the family version of Table Topics (tabletopics.com) can help start conversations, and sites like jumpstart.com offer activities for preschool to elementary school-age children.
Read
Don’t think you have to stick to traditional books; audio books and graphic novels are also good choices. Even everyday activities, such as going through a recipe, offer chances to read together.
Read to your kids. It is OK to read aloud books that are several levels above a child’s reading level. It supports the development of their reading comprehension skills and provides discussion opportunities.
Check out Storyline Online, which features celebrated actors reading storybooks and includes discussion questions and resources for activities as well.
Create
Support your child’s creativity. Set them up with an online drawing tutorial, bake with them, or help them learn a new skill. Learning a new skill with your child is a wonderful bonding experience and models a learning and growth mindset.
Most importantly, slow down and enjoy your time together. If your children feel connected and cared for, they may remember this unusual time as a positive one.
Now that everyone is feeling calm and cared for, let’s focus on the academics.
1. Create a designated learning space.
Plan for where the academic work will take place. If everyone is using the kitchen table, remove any distracting clutter. Create a space and/or a bin for each child to keep materials and supplies organized. Learning materials can be cleared away when the school day is done, or it’s time for a meal.
The TV and other devices that aren’t necessary for the assignment should be turned off. Avoid social media during this time and consider moving pets to another room or the yard if they are distracting.
2. Stay in communication with the teacher.
Connect regarding the expectations for what education will look like during this time. Learn what resources are available to students.
Help your children review and understand assignments. Do they understand the task, have all the necessary materials, know when the assignment is due, and how they need to submit it? If there are any questions, reach out to the teacher for clarification.
3. Calendar the due date.
It might be helpful to create a family calendar. This is also a way for young children to track important events and begin to get a sense of time. Older students may appreciate having their own calendars to keep track of their assignment due dates. Break down the larger assignments into smaller tasks and calendar those, too.
4. Create a family schedule.
Structure and routine help children to feel safe and secure. It’s still important to have a regular bedtime and a time to get up in the morning.
Balance work time with breaks for movement and healthy snacks. Take stretch breaks, go on a walk, or have dance parties to help children get exercise and burn off extra energy.
Remember to be flexible and open to what children need during any given day. Some days will go smoothly and children will be able to focus well on academics. Other days, they may need more of your time. These are uncharted waters, and you are doing your best to help your children navigate them as smoothly as possible. A few bumps along the way are to be expected and are part of the learning process.
For more information and resources, visit lakecoe.org.
Brock Falkenberg is the Lake County Superintendent of Schools.
Mom and Dad: Cut yourself some slack. This is a stressful time. While the shelter-in-place is necessary to protect everyone’s health and to “flatten the curve,” it heightens anxiety. On top of that we still have to juggle work, financial, parenting, and health concerns. Plus, we now have the responsibility to oversee our children’s education.
I want you to know you are not alone. Numerous organizations, including the Lake County Office of Education (LCOE) and your local school district, are here to provide support and resources. LCOE sponsors Healthy Start and AmeriCorps, both of which are currently actively engaged with support for families.
Spend quality time with your children. It is important to offer emotional as well as academic support. Children learn when they feel safe and connected.
Following are some tips from LCOE experts on how to make the most of this time at home with your children—both academically and emotionally.
Connect
Staying at home can be seen as an opportunity to spend time with your family without the hustle and bustle of a typical workweek. Turn off the TV and other devices and talk. Resources such as the family version of Table Topics (tabletopics.com) can help start conversations, and sites like jumpstart.com offer activities for preschool to elementary school-age children.
Read
Don’t think you have to stick to traditional books; audio books and graphic novels are also good choices. Even everyday activities, such as going through a recipe, offer chances to read together.
Read to your kids. It is OK to read aloud books that are several levels above a child’s reading level. It supports the development of their reading comprehension skills and provides discussion opportunities.
Check out Storyline Online, which features celebrated actors reading storybooks and includes discussion questions and resources for activities as well.
Create
Support your child’s creativity. Set them up with an online drawing tutorial, bake with them, or help them learn a new skill. Learning a new skill with your child is a wonderful bonding experience and models a learning and growth mindset.
Most importantly, slow down and enjoy your time together. If your children feel connected and cared for, they may remember this unusual time as a positive one.
Now that everyone is feeling calm and cared for, let’s focus on the academics.
1. Create a designated learning space.
Plan for where the academic work will take place. If everyone is using the kitchen table, remove any distracting clutter. Create a space and/or a bin for each child to keep materials and supplies organized. Learning materials can be cleared away when the school day is done, or it’s time for a meal.
The TV and other devices that aren’t necessary for the assignment should be turned off. Avoid social media during this time and consider moving pets to another room or the yard if they are distracting.
2. Stay in communication with the teacher.
Connect regarding the expectations for what education will look like during this time. Learn what resources are available to students.
Help your children review and understand assignments. Do they understand the task, have all the necessary materials, know when the assignment is due, and how they need to submit it? If there are any questions, reach out to the teacher for clarification.
3. Calendar the due date.
It might be helpful to create a family calendar. This is also a way for young children to track important events and begin to get a sense of time. Older students may appreciate having their own calendars to keep track of their assignment due dates. Break down the larger assignments into smaller tasks and calendar those, too.
4. Create a family schedule.
Structure and routine help children to feel safe and secure. It’s still important to have a regular bedtime and a time to get up in the morning.
Balance work time with breaks for movement and healthy snacks. Take stretch breaks, go on a walk, or have dance parties to help children get exercise and burn off extra energy.
Remember to be flexible and open to what children need during any given day. Some days will go smoothly and children will be able to focus well on academics. Other days, they may need more of your time. These are uncharted waters, and you are doing your best to help your children navigate them as smoothly as possible. A few bumps along the way are to be expected and are part of the learning process.
For more information and resources, visit lakecoe.org.
Brock Falkenberg is the Lake County Superintendent of Schools.
