School is right around the corner, and it’s no secret that things might be a little different this year. With many schools making the call to go completely virtual this fall, parents are left wondering how they’re going to create a classroom-like environment in their home. The answer to that isn’t as complex as it may seem. All you need is a little creativity combined with these tips and your makeshift classroom will come to life!
Separate bedrooms and learning spaces
There’s no doubt that your kids will be tempted to do work in their bedroom. Can you blame them? Every student dreams of getting to go back to bed while at school! Allowing them to do this, however, can be detrimental to their learning. Separating your child’s learning space from their bedroom is important to ensuring that they are productive during school hours and have a place to unwind at the end of the day. Spending all day doing work in the same place as your bed can prevent you from getting a good night’s sleep.
This new space can be anywhere in the house, whether that be your kitchen table or just a small nook in the corner of your living room. If something isn’t working, don’t be afraid to try out a few different spots! This year has been all about making adjustments, and your child’s learning space is no different.
Organization is key
Having an effective organization system is going to be crucial to keeping your kids on track with school. Invest in a few storage containers for each class to store homework, projects, and other classroom supplies. Label each one so that your child can easily see where each piece of work is supposed to go. For a cost-effective pencil/pen holder, try recycling an old coffee mug.
Staying organized will take a collaborative effort between you and your kids, so keep things simple and make sure they have a say in the system you create. You can even ask your kids how their teachers used to do things! This will be a great source of inspiration and makes your child feel like they have more control over the current situation.
Keep the space tidy
Students are responsible for keeping their desks neat at school, and it should be the same at home. Set apart some time for two quick clean-up periods throughout the day. The first time could be right before eating lunch, and the second at the end of the day when class is finished. Doing so allows your child to stick to a routine and be able to focus on their work.
This is a great way to add some fun into your child’s day as well! Many teachers use the “Desk Fairy” as an incentive for students to keep their areas tidy. If you see your child has kept their desk clean, leave them a note from the “Desk Fairy” and include a small treat. Their day will instantly get better and influences them to clean often!
Forget being fancy
The current state of our world is stressful enough and wondering if your at-home classroom is good enough should not add to that. Don’t spread yourself (or your wallet) thin trying to purchase the best items to transform your home into a school. Throw some cushions on the floor under your coffee table and voila, you have a desk! Remember that kids love creativity. I’m sure we can all recall playing with the giant box that our new toy came in instead of the actual toy. Your kids will appreciate any effort you make to ensure that their new normal is as comfortable as possible.
Go with the flow
As I said before, this is a time of adjusting. Changes are likely to occur all throughout this upcoming school year, so try to remain flexible. Teachers across the country are working incredibly hard to create curriculum that can be taught online and need all the help they can get from parents. With effective collaboration, your children still have the potential to experience a school year filled with abundant education!
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