5 Simple Ways to Encourage Learning

Over the past few months, your child’s education has been turned on its head. Many classes returned to school online for the remainder of the year, if they were able to return at all. For students used to a typical school setting, this change is huge—as teachers and pupils alike adjust to this new format, some lessons will likely slip through the cracks.

With schools contemplating the best, safest way to return in the fall, your son or daughter might be discouraged by thoughts of more online classes, distance from friends and extracurricular activities, and having to handle schoolwork on their own. While you know that learning has many benefits for your child, they might be struggling to see the worth in it all. Still, encouraging learning isn’t a lost cause. Here are a few ways you can help your child to keep learning, despite the chaos.

Have a Positive Attitude

There’s no question that times are tough right now but keeping a positive attitude when it comes to your child’s education (both in and out of the classroom) will set a good example for your son or daughter to do the same. In the classroom, a teacher’s positivity sets the tone for the whole class. When it comes to learning at home, your positive outlook will help to encourage your child to mirror that same energy—and channel it into their learning endeavors.

Make It Fun

On a similar note, helping to make schoolwork fun can encourage your child to learn. Of course, you’d be hard-pressed to turn every mandatory assignment into a game. But still, with the right tools and a bit of creativity, you can you ensure that your son or daughter sees education less like a chore and more as an opportunity to learn, grow, and enjoy themselves in the process. A learning environment that incorporates fun is proven to help promote “superior learning.” Incorporate toys like science kits or puzzles from LegacyToys to help build upon lessons so it seems more like play than work, or bring classic toys like dolls and plush animals into the “classroom” for a fun take on schoolwork.

Work Together to Stay Organized

You know the struggle of keeping your child organized during a typical school year: making sure your student completes their homework on time, that you sign permission slips and administrative forms, and that you provide lunch money in time for pizza day. The systems you have in place under normal circumstances need to be adjusted accordingly for your son or daughter to reap the benefits of organized school supplies, notes, and other tools. If you need some inspiration, check out Pinterest or resources targeted to home school families that you can adapt for your new normal.

Get them a Helping Hand

If your child seems to be struggling, a tutor can help them tailor learning to their individual needs. Online tutoring programs can boost your son or daughter’s education and guide them to a better understanding of key skills in subjects like math, reading, science, or history. This is even more critical if their classroom is now a video call: an online tutor can give them the one-on-one experience that isn’t possible when a teacher needs to virtually balance many students’ needs. Even with your help, another professional can come in handy—after all, how much algebra do you really remember? Compare programs for the best fit for you and your child. For example, in Thinkster and Kumon Learning Centers reviews, it’s clear that programs like Kumon are more traditional and place an emphasis on repetition and memorization, whereas a program like Thinkster Math offers a more individualized approach. Your child, like any child, is unique and deserves their tutoring experience to reflect that.

Keeping the Learning Going

Your son or daughter doesn’t need to be in class, working on homework, or meeting with their tutor for learning to happen. Take advantage of educational activities that are fun for the whole family, like going on a nature walk or taking a virtual tour of a museum. You’ll not only have a chance to help encourage learning (and potentially learn something yourself) but can fit in some family bonding time in the process.

Whether you’re considering an online tutor, bringing toys into your home classroom, or simply being more positive about your child’s education, know that you can do more than simply encourage your son or daughter to learn— you can also make the process an enjoyable one.