How to Create a Quiet Work Space for Kids Learning from Home
The Desk to Nest blog this month contains my top three tips as an online tutor to keep kids engaged during the weirdest school year of our lives. The first was to keep the “social” in social distancing. The second was to make a healthy mind schedule for children during virtual learning. This week’s tip, the last, is to
Create a quiet, private work space for each child
Photo by @screeenpost on Unsplash
Many parents think that their children will goof off if they do homework in their room. While that might be true, online learning requires more focus than sitting in a classroom in front of a teacher. Younger children crying or parents clanging pots and pans will distract most kids. (As an online tutor, I’ve literally heard it all!) The ideal distance learning environment might be a desk in a child’s own bedroom. But you can ensure that your children have what they need even if they’re right next to one another at the kitchen table.
Photo by @danimota on Unsplash
Purchase a headset
First, get each child his own a headset that will drown out extraneous noises. It's great if the headphones connect to his learning device via Bluetooth. But, that's not essential. Hearing only the teacher and other students on the video call will enable your child to focus much more easily on the lesson.
Buy a bin
Next, if your child doesn’t have her own desk, purchase a small bin for her school supplies. Explain to the other children that they’re not to “borrow” from their sibling’s supplies. When I tutor children online, you’d be surprised how many times kids leave the room to fetch pencils, calculators, notebooks (or all three!).
Photo by @freestocks on Unsplash
Train the kids
Teach your children to bring their bin to their “learning station” when the “sit-down-at-your-desk” timer goes off. Then they’ll have what they need when their teacher starts the online lesson. Finally, check in with your child at the end of the day or week to make sure that nothing in the bin needs re-filling – or finding!
Got any distance learning tips that worked for your child? Post them on Crimson Coaching’s Facebook pageto share with other parents!
Wishing you and your children good health and good learning all year long!