While most kids have now had plenty of time to readjust to traditional learning, home study is still hugely important. It plays a significant role in their academic development. This is why all parents must look to find winning strategies on behalf of their children.

After all, when a child thrives learning at home, it’s likely that they will see great results at school too. While personalities and natural talent do have an influence, parents can take several steps to support their kids. Focus on the following 10 to unlock the full potential of home learning in style.

Build the best study environment

We are all influenced by our surroundings, especially when it comes to education and learning. Kids are certainly no different, which is why creating the ideal study spot is essential. It could be a dedicated space in their bedroom, a reading nook in the hallway, or a full home office. Either way, it should offer an inviting setup that is equipped with the right tools.

The right study environment will give your child the best opportunity to learn. For starters, it enables your child to study without distractions caused by siblings or other activities like the TV. Moreover, it builds a clear physical and mental barrier that allows them to be in ‘study mode’ as soon as they enter. It will have a telling influence on their productivity levels.

Encourage group learning

When you think about home study, it’s only natural that you will consider solo tasks. In reality, this is an ideal opportunity to encourage cooperative learning. Worksheets and group activities can be used to help siblings learn together. Alternatively, your child can invite friends over to work on their homework assignment. In an ideal world, there should be a range of skill levels involved.

In today’s climate, group learning can also be achieved by using online communication. Whether it’s work projects that enable collaboration or hosting a Zoom meeting doesn’t matter. Either way, ensuring that kids are comfortable in collective learning environments will be key. Not only for their continued studies, but in preparation for later life too.

Consider private tuition

The majority of children will get the bulk of their education from school teachers. However, educators can only dedicate a percentage of their time to each student when they have a class of 30 pupils. Moreover, they are often forced to do what works best for the group as a whole. It is not uncommon for children to fall behind in one or two subjects because we all have strengths and weaknesses.

Nonetheless, it’s vital that you act ASAP. If possible, hiring a private tutor could be the perfect solution. Whether it’s online or in-person, their ability to identify areas that need work can be key. As well as helping them with homework and extra work in the specific subject, educators inject new tips. The learning methods can translate to improvements elsewhere. 

Communicate with school teachers

As a loving parent, you are always looking to do the best for your child. Frankly, one of the most important steps to supporting your child’s education is to focus on consistency. In addition to providing it at home, you need to know that all parties are working in a similar way. Otherwise, it can inject a great deal of confusion into your child’s life. And it can disrupt their progress.

Attending parents’ evenings and other chances to see the teachers is advised. Meanwhile, reaching out to them with emails can be a great way to check your child’s progress and build solid strategies. Of course, you must be respectful of a teacher’s time too. However, they want what is best for your child too, and will probably be happy to provide some guidance.

Look beyond academic learning

While academic development is vital, it’s not the only part of a child’s education. As such, you should use home education as a chance to embrace this. Teaching valuable life skills like how to cook, for example, can be beneficial at an early age. Of course, it can be used to aid biology and math while simultaneously promoting healthy eating. There’s nothing like the joy of biting down on something they helped make.

Away from the kitchen, you can look to sporting activities and other ideas that boost their physical development. Furthermore, you can help your son or daughter pursue whatever other talents or passions they have. It could mean celebrating their musical talent, drama skills, or artistic merits. It could potentially open the door to a career or lifelong hobby.

Make their studies relatable

Even as adults, we find it a lot easier to learn when we are actively engaged in the topic. Therefore, finding ways to make education more exciting and relatable should be a priority for all. If your child loves sports, why not use their favorite team as a way to teach them about geography. After all, the athletes are probably from a diverse range of countries and backgrounds.

Likewise, physics can be taught as a result of loving sports or dance. If your young child loves a particular cartoon, worksheets or learning toys that utilize these characters are great too. Even from a young age, this is an ideal way for kids to develop their understanding of the world and key subjects.

Of course, it’s not just familiarity that breeds relatability, but suitability as well. This is why children aren’t simply taught specific subjects in a learning environment, they need to be taught the subject at the right level, so they can grow in understanding in incremental steps. As such, using resources geared for your child’s appropriate age of learning is always a wise approach to take.

Take educational days out

Field trips are a highlight of any child’s school days. Meanwhile, days out are a great opportunity for families to create magical memories. Therefore, it makes great sense to find adventures in your local city that can add an educational element. This could manifest itself in many ways, such as taking a tour of the local sports stadium or visiting a museum. Planetariums and aquariums are great too.

With a little research before you leave, it is possible to impress your child by acting like an expert. The educational days out can aid their knowledge of history, geography, science, and more. Crucially, they are moments that can make up for the field trips they missed out on during the pandemic. 

Utilize modern tech

Many parents assume that technology is the enemy. While too much screen time is a bad thing, there is no doubt that it can aid their education. For starters, when kids know how to use the internet well, it is a source of immense knowledge. It also offers the opportunity to learn through interactive packages where instant answers can be provided. Online learning can feel more engaging too. There are plenty of websites and sources out there such as ABCmouse which can give you lessons and resources to make school time with your kids as much fun as possible. You want to ensure that your kids are getting the best, and instead of treating tech as the enemy, start treating this as your friend.

The use of modern tech can also capitalize on the fact that people remember up to 95% of video content compared to 10% of text. When you also consider the fact that they could learn to use items like graphics tablets, it is a move that may aid career prospects. We are living in a world where tech capabilities are vital. Do not let your child miss out.

Embrace praise and rewards

Children respond well to praise and the satisfaction that comes from making progress. Your continued efforts and positive reinforcement can make a world of difference. Reward charts can work well for very young children. As they mature, though, you can still find additional sources of motivation. Whether it’s an allowance or opportunities to enjoy extracurricular activities doesn’t matter. It can even be hosting a sleepover for a few of their friends. 

Ultimately, the aim is to create a sense of balance in all aspects of your child’s life. If they are constantly made to work, it can have a detrimental impact. But if home studies are used in the right way, they can be more enjoyable. Furthermore, they will slot in nicely with the rest of their commitments and activities. Again it is a great habit to embrace for later life.

Play an active role

Finally, kids want to spend time with their parents. Whether it’s listening to them read or supporting them with a math problem doesn’t matter. The knowledge that you are to provide guidance will put your child in a far better mindset.