With all the educational institutions shut down due to the global pandemic of COVID-19, parents and teachers are making an uneven transition of teaching kids at home and through online classes. However, it is the parents who are suddenly feeling overwhelmed and confused about homeschooling their kids. The difference between learning at schools and homeschooling is that for the latter, the environment is more comfortable because the kid learns at his/her home. Parents are feeling unprepared and afraid of not teaching their kid enough as they should.
Dannielle Joy Davis, an associate professor in the School of Education at the Saint Louis University, believes that parents can achieve anything. She says, “You know your child better than anyone else, so you are uniquely qualified to teach him/her at a high level. If you taught your child how to wash their face or tie their shoes, you can teach them the academic skills they need to succeed.”
Davis was homeschooled through part of her own childhood and also homeschools her own son. She has also done extensive research on homeschooling. She advises the parents to lean into the school curriculum of their kids to understand what level of understanding should be imparted to them. To be at the level of the child and to make him/her enjoy any subject or assignment is the basic foundation for successful homeschooling.
This quarantine also provides the exact set up for homeschooling. Parents can set up a routine of physical as well as mental activities for their kids. This time apart from social distraction will also strengthen the bond between the child and the parents. Parents should also keep in mind not to overstress their kid or overdo any exercise. The child should feel the comfort of studying at home. Parents should first inculcate the love of learning in the kids so that they don’t feel pressurised to study. Homeschooling provides the parents with the benefit of experimenting as to what works the best with their kids.
Dibyasha Das