It’s no secret that COVID-19 has changed life as we know it. Suddenly, we all have to stay at home. Perhaps by now, you’ve adjusted to a different lifestyle but still need to keep your high schooler engaged when learning from home. Here are a few tips you can try:
Before the coronavirus pandemic started, most kids were used to a specific schedule. There were school, friends and weekend plans. Unfortunately, with the stay-at-home orders, children find it challenging to adjust to their new virtual school environments. You can help your child stay focused by creating a routine for them. A structured plan ensures that the kids don’t spend all their time watching screens, especially now that they may interact with online classes. A program also helps time move faster and prevent your kids from engrossing themselves in thoughts about the pandemic.
Sit with your child and ask them to help you design a schedule that works for them. Start by waking up early enough for breakfast and showers before school. The program should also include any pending classes, time to cover assignments and do personal studies. In the afternoon, allow your kid to have time for extracurricular activities to ensure they stay active and fit. They can also use this time to call their friends and family to avoid feeling lonely.
Children in high school are old enough to make decisions. They would also like a sense of independence over their schedules. A great way to introduce choice and prevent conflict is to create a choice board; this a graphic board that includes several subject options which your child can decide to do in their free time.
You can distribute the choices among several days to avoid creating confusion. For example, you could give four critical areas your child needs to cover for a particular topic. They are free to study each area randomly as long as they complete their task by a deadline.
The unexpected isolation and free time provide an excellent opportunity for kids to pick up hobbies. If they enjoy cooking, it’s an excellent opportunity to stock the fridge and explore YouTube cooking channels. They can also explore art through drawing and painting, and if you are a DIY enthusiast, allow them to participate in repainting and decorating the home.
Free time is also an excellent opportunity to teach your kid the skills and hobbies you have, such as drawing, gardening, cooking, sports, and woodwork. Buy a microscope and let them observe several items in their free time if they enjoy the sciences. You can also explore a bit of butterfly watching for kids that want to stay outside. If you have a small garden, you can keep a few butterflies for observation.
With the Y, you can find a community of equally enthusiastic parents and children to help your child learn and stay engaged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Visit one of our four Southern Nevada locations today to learn about our activities and curriculums.