Children at school

4 PRACTICAL (AND EASY) WAYS TO HELP YOUR KIDS LEARN AT HOME (DURING THE LOCKDOWN)

November 20, 2020 - 4 minute read

2020 has been a challenging year for sure. Every day looks the same. The kids are tired and frustrated. And so are the parents. In addition to being mothers, we have to be super-teachers and help fight school failure. You know what they say: mothers make it happen. Schools are closed. But learning cannot stop. So a new mission is unlocked: turn your home into a classroom! To achieve that mission, you’ll need some practical tips.

We decided to ask Clare Seruwagi (Checheza’s Country coordinator in Uganda) how she helps her kids learn at home during the lockdown. Clare takes care of her own three daughters (aged 5, 9, and 11) and a 12-year-old niece. She shared her tips to manage the situation and children’s learning. Here’s how they manage the lockdown.

  1. TIME TABLE FOR KIDS

    We are creatures of habit and our little ones depend much on our daily routines. That’s why Clare and her family decided to create a time table for the children’s activities: study, chores, play, and rest. Her children actively participated in creating the timetable. Engaging them is a great way to make sure that they will follow the timetable better and won’t feel much resentment to fulfil all the tasks.

  2. REST AND PLAY

    Playing helps to keep kids active. Clare thought that her kids should have an exercise routine, so she implemented one. You know what they say - when we move we groove! :) Usually, her three older girls wake up early, and the family goes for a walk or a jog for about 30-45 minutes before the day begins. On other days, the rest and playtime seem very different. Her kids may show skits on some days, and watch movies or play board games on other days. These fun activities help to support children’s mental health (e.g., reducing stress levels and preventing other serious conditions like anxiety or depression), as well as children’s physical health, concentration, and learning.

  3. SUPERVISE THE INTERNET TIME

    Clare realized that her kids needed internet access. Not only for their research and school but also to play. However, she was very cautious with the permissions she gave to her girls. It’s not new that the internet and cyberspace can be dangerous, especially for little kids. So, make sure that as a parent or caretaker you supervise the internet time of the kids in your life. Regarding internet time, Clare’s family used the internet during the study time (always with adult supervision!) and disconnected it afterwards. They also downloaded games both for pleasure and education that could be accessed offline like the Checheza app!

Finally, don’t forget to cut yourself some slack! After all, we are all humans and these times are indeed hard. So don’t forget to be kind to yourself and your kids. Remember that you can count on Checheza app to make your kids keep learning, by playing all the fun games in the app! At Checheza, we believe in helping kids to develop through fun, play, and creativity. We hope these tips will be useful to you. In the meantime keep learning and stay strong!

* Studies and sources used in the article:

  1. Emotional Well-Being and Coping During COVID-19, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences
  2. Golberstein E, Wen H, Miller BF. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Mental Health for Children and Adolescents. JAMA Pediatr. 2020;174(9):819–820. DOI:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2020.1456
  3. Ey, Leslie-Anne & Cupit, C. G. (2011). Exploring young children’s understanding of risks associated with Internet usage and their concepts of management strategies, Journal of Early Childhood Research, 9(1) 53–65.