The pandemic has changed many aspects of our daily lives, with one of the biggest changes being how kids learn. Many kids are still doing virtual school, and even those who are back to a “normal” schedule are still dealing with how the pandemic has disrupted life.
This has put parents in the position of being supplemental educators, whether you’re concerned about your child falling behind or you simply want to give their education a boost. WoMo presents some ideas that can help make learning less stressful.
School and Stress
Regardless of how your child is doing in school right now, parents need to be aware that many kids are experiencing coronavirus stress, and that added stress can make a difference in their academic performance. Of course, there are plenty of fun and easy ways you can lower stress and help boost your child’s education at home.
Take it Outside
At a time when we’re spending more time inside our own homes, taking your child’s education outdoors is a fresh way to shake things up. You can learn all kinds of things outdoors, but being outside is a natural fit (no pun intended!) for doing science experiments.
These are a few of our favorite backyard science experiments:
Hot Air Balloon: This experiment teaches chemistry by filling a garbage bag with air, then waiting to see how it starts to rise as the air heats up.
Exploding Baggies: Similar to the hot air balloon experiment, you fill baggies with vinegar and baking soda, then watch as they inflate and eventually pop.
Sink or Float: This lesson combines nature and physics by having kids collect objects like twigs, leaves, and rocks, then placing them in water to see which ones sink and which ones float.
Another fun idea is to hold an at-home safari with your kids and look for animals in your backyard. Write down the details of each animal including when you saw them and what they were doing, and see if you can learn about their behavior and what they eat.
If you want outdoor learning ideas for younger kids, the blog Teaching 2 and 3 Year Olds has a great list of outdoor activities designed for that age group, like setting up sensory bins or having a garden scavenger hunt. Even middle and high schoolers can learn outdoors by writing a nature journal or by taking their regular school work outside.
Expand Their Virtual World
We LOVE going outdoors to learn, but virtual learning is here to stay, so you may as well make the most of it! Even if your child is doing virtual learning through school, there are many other online learning opportunities out there.
Coding
If you want to give your kids more educational opportunities online, teaching coding is a great place to start. Coding is a valuable skill, plus it gives them a fun way to put math principles into action. Besides being educational, the website Teach Your Kids Code explains that coding is also great for boosting a child’s mental health because it helps them learn problem solving and resilience.
Gaming
Coding may be an obvious solution to expanding a child’s virtual world, but you may be surprised that playing online games can be just as educational. Try one of these unique options from Wired, which include math, chess, and even stop motion animation games. Teens can even get in on the gaming fun with educational virtual reality (VR) games. Keep in mind that you may have to upgrade your internet connection to get the most out of these games. You may also want to purchase a headset they can pair with their gaming device.
Parents today are in a pretty tough spot. We’re trying to manage work, our children’s education, and the stress that comes with being in a pandemic. You certainly have a lot on your plate, and helping your kids in school shouldn’t be one more thing to worry about. Try these ideas to find what works for your family. You’ll likely find that exploring more will help your child in more ways than one!
Photo credit: Rawpixel
Guest blog by Laura Pearson
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