With social distancing on the rise and schools closing around the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more students are finding themselves sitting at home. If you’re a parent, you may be wondering how you can keep your young learner from becoming listless and unhappy. Is there anything you can do to encourage them to keep learning even when they’re not in school? Here are some steps you can take to do just that.
Make sure your child is getting outdoor time
Left to their own devices, a lot of kids will simply spend their afternoons playing video games or texting with their friends. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with goofing off, it’s also important to make sure that your child is getting plenty of fresh air and healthy sunshine. Take a bike ride around the neighborhood, or play an impromptu game of basketball with them. If you have a dog, encourage your child to take them for walks with you—just make sure that your child keeps their distance from other people.
Encourage your child to explore new hobbies
Now is the perfect time to help your child discover new activities that they want to explore. This could be as simple as learning to cook a meal, or it could be as ambitious as beginning to learn a new language. You might help your child take a virtual tour of a museum or plan their own backyard garden. It’s important to listen to your child and see what their interests are, so you can help to nurture their development.
Challenge your child to read more
Despite the ubiquity of smartphones and TVs, the appeal of reading has never gone away. If your child is out of school, it’s the perfect time to remind them that reading isn’t just for the classroom. You might give your child a list of recommended books and challenge them to read two or three of them every month. Be sure to also find out if your local library offers an eBook borrowing program so your child can explore new books from home. You may be surprised by how easy it is to create a lifelong reader—all it takes is a little encouragement!
Don’t forget to let your kids be kids
If your child is out of school, it may be tempting to try to overload their day with activities. But you should also give your child some space of their own to explore, even if that means a few days of sitting at home. Being bored isn’t unhealthy; when we’re bored, we naturally find things that interest us. Your kids will be much more likely to embrace new activities and hobbies if you’ve allowed them to have some time for themselves first.
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