For many children all over the world, transitioning from a life of online learning to being back in school is having a few negative side effects on their education. Whether it is the enjoyment of being back with friends or a lack of enthusiasm during the lockdown, it is clear that children may need some additional support in their learning. Often, the best way to get a child back on track is for parents to be actively involved in their education.
All children will struggle with at least one subject in school, so it is essential to know how parents can support their child’s learning at home. To some, it might be a worry not fully understanding the subject matter, but that is ok. Remember, you’re not playing the role of the teacher; you simply need to facilitate their learning in a fun and engaging way that creates a positive environment.
Today we will share some incredible tips for parents to support learning at home. Supporting a child’s learning shouldn’t be a strenuous task. Providing it is done correctly, it is an excellent opportunity for a parent and a child to bond and can massively increase a child’s success rate in school.

Don’t put too much pressure on them

The number one rule in supporting a child’s learning at home is to not put too much pressure on them. Opposite to what some believe, too much pressure on a child can slow down their learning and hold them back in subjects they either struggle with or are disinterested in. A child needs to feel like they want to learn. If they are going through a stage of not enjoying school, then it can be a parent’s time to shine and engage with them in a way that they prefer.
It is also important not to mistake pressure for encouragement. You need to be able to encourage them without setting targets too high or making them feel like they have let you down if they can’t achieve specific goals. Too much pressure on a child can have many negative results, such as struggling in school, lacking confidence, depleted enthusiasm, and adversely impacting mental health. Of course, we all want our children to succeed, but we need to take the time to get to know what ways work best for them when encouraging them with their learning.

Make it fun

As a parent, you have a lot of control in the fun department, and you can certainly use this to your advantage when it comes to learning at home. There are endless ways to do this, depending on yourself and your children, so you are sure to know best. However, we can all draw a blank from time to time, so here are some ideas to make learning at home fun:
On and off work and play – A simple technique is to set up a system where once the child has completed a certain amount of learning time, they are allowed to have the same amount of downtime. This can be repeated several times throughout the day.
Hands-on experiments – If your child is struggling with science or any other subjects you can find experiments for, this is a fantastic way to promote engagement.
Online gaming – There are websites where you can create online educational games based on the subject they are struggling with.
Out-of-house learning – It is a good idea to try and take your child on day trips to somewhere that might help with their education, or even take the schooling outside into nature and find a nice spot to sit and help them.

Arts and crafts – Many children respond well to creative projects. Even if the arts and crafts are not wholly related to the subject matter, they can work as a therapeutic tool to promote engagement and enthusiasm.
Collaborative projects – Instead of only being a facilitator, get involved with their schoolwork and work on some projects together.

Learn with them

Some parents might struggle with not understanding the subject matter themselves. Instead of this being embarrassing or holding you back from helping, you can use it as a tool to enhance the learning process. Going back to the subject of pressure, a brilliant way to relieve it and boost confidence for a child is to let them know they are not alone in struggling. Learning together with a child promotes healthy open communication and can allow the child to teach you too. As they say, the best way to learn is to teach. An additional tip, if you’re struggling to hold their attention, get them to teach you; most children will definitely embrace this opportunity.

Find resources

A wealth of online resources for learning and teaching lie at your fingertips. If there is anything you are unsure of when it comes to a specific subject, there will be something out there that suits both you and your child. Don’t hold back; spend a couple of hours internet browsing to determine what will work best for your situation. Once you find some good resources, supporting your child’s learning journey will be much easier.

Create a learning space

One helpful thing you can do is to create a space that is specific to learning. Both of you will find the time much more beneficial if there are no other distractions and you feel as relaxed as possible. This might be a spare room, but you can even do it within a section of a room in your home or even a garden or terrace. A neutral zone can work wonders in improving concentration and enthusiasm. Creating a learning space isn’t just about the area you use, either. It is essential to pick a time that suits you and your child. There is no point in trying to learn if there are distractions, so ensure the time you choose is perfect for giving your all.

Communicate with other parents and teachers

If you are struggling to find a method that works with your child, then talk to those around you. First of all, see what other parents are doing to support their child’s learning at home. Maybe they have found something that works brilliantly. Also, ask your children’s teacher’s what they would recommend. Teachers are highly trained in this regard and will be able to give you some incredible advice that you may not have tried yet. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice because you are guaranteed to be surrounded by a fountain of knowledge when it comes to your child’s education.

Try different teaching techniques

Not all methods are going to be perfect for you, so it is crucial to keep trying until you have found something that works best. Unfortunately, facilitating a child’s learning isn’t black and white, as all children are different and learn in their own way. When supporting a child’s learning at home, you will need to try and test various techniques until you have found the right one. There are many things you can do. One of the most common is scaffolding, where you teach a subject with slightly decreasing levels of support until the child has grasped the concept. Other children might prefer a project based learning approach where you both work towards a goal to achieve.
It is worth looking into the many different teaching and learning techniques to figure out which one would work best in your home. Thanks to the internet, it isn’t too difficult to find out what they are, and within moments of reading, you will be able to determine if it is suitable for your child. In addition, ask your child’s teacher what type of learner they are and what works best for them when they are in the classroom. However, seeing as you are not their teacher and they are at home, it will need to be adjusted slightly.

Need to know more?

If you would like to know more about how parents can support their child’s learning at home, feel free to contact Bromsgrove International School Thailand today. Our highly qualified and experienced staff have been providing an excellent education for students in Bangkok for over twenty years, so there isn’t much we can’t help you with. We would be thrilled to aid your child’s learning journey, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Need to know more?
If you would like to know more about how parents can support their child’s learning at home, feel free to contact Bromsgrove International School Thailand today. Our highly qualified and