10 tips for home schooling your kids from our teachers

In many areas across the world, schools are closed and parents are being charged with educating children at home. A challenge under any circumstances, we’re not only having to provide a form of formal education for our children but we’re also trying to keep their spirits up, provide them with support, fun, friendship, entertainment, exercise, personal growth- oh, and food and shelter. So, how do we navigate this return to almost total dependency while preserving the independence we instilled in them? Or, in the case of teenagers, bring them back to us at a time when independence and freedom are all they crave.  

We’ve got together with our Nike Sports Camps English teachers and the parents on our staff to give you some useful guidance for keeping everyone on track.

1. TIME

It’s important to have a routine and start at a similar time each day so everyone knows what to expect. Setting a timetable is a good start. Do it together so it feels like a democracy. It might be dictated by online school classes or it may be down to you but either way, make sure this process is a combined effort and includes some time to get outdoors. (See: 9. Exercise).

We find it helps to get stuck into schoolwork earlier in the day and start as you mean to go on before kids have a chance to get distracted by phones, TV or gaming. For older kids though, there’s no harm in letting them sleep a bit later. There’s a biological reason why they find it harder to get up in the morning so, if the school day allows, getting up a bit later can be seen as a home school perk and might make your life a bit easier!

2. PLACE

You might be used to sitting at the same desk all day every day but the chances are your kids move classrooms every hour or so in school (especially older kids) and so giving them a change of scenery can help their concentration and keep their energy up. For a class that doesn’t involve too much neat writing, they could sit on the sofa or, my personal favourite, lie on their tummy on the floor. While it might look like a strenuous yoga pose to us, their young, bendy limbs seem to find it comfortable.

There should also be some sacred spaces that aren’t for working though, so they don’t feel like they’re at school all the time. So, if possible, keep out of the bedroom and stick to a limited number of working areas.

3. PERSONAL PACE

Another perk of home schooling is that you don’t always have to go at the same pace as the rest of the class. Where understanding is easy, you can move on quickly, where a little more time is needed, you can afford to spend that time ensuring that your child understands before moving on.

4. KNOWLEDGE

It doesn’t matter if you’re not familiar with what your child’s learning. So long as they’re old enough, you can turn them into the teacher. Set them the task of teaching you, using the resources you or the school gives them. You’re teaching them autonomy and giving them motivation to learn. When they present back to you, you can ask questions and find out how much of what they learnt has really sunk in.

5. COMMUNICATION

Make sure you regularly check in to see how they’re doing, find out what’s working for them about home school and what isn’t working so well (also see 8: FAITH).

6. ENTHUSIASM

Usually, kids learn in an establishment built to ensure they get a good education. There are people everywhere working towards that goal. Home schooling changes all that and removes all those structures. It’s now down to you to make up for all those people interested in their education. Challenge yourself to find just the right level of interest and enthusiasm to encourage them without causing recoiling and eye-rolling! Hopefully, your communication and interest will keep up their motivation levels.

7. PRAISE

This home-schooling lockdown situation is hard enough, so don’t be hard on them or yourself. Give praise often, recognise and reward positive behaviours and let the bad days go. I know, I know – this is straight out of every parenting playbook.

8. FAITH

Many schools are doing an amazing job of managing their home-schooled pupils but if yours isn’t, try to keep positive about the school and teachers with an “everyone is doing their best” attitude. The kids need to have faith in the system they’re learning in.  

That said, if the kid has concerns it’s important to recognise and address those in the best way you can. I’m sure you’ve got used to this already in steering them through this pandemic (also see 5. COMMUNICATION and 6. ENTHUSIASM)

9. EXERCISE

It’s a good idea to get outside, at least briefly, in the morning and then in the middle of the day. Daylight and fresh air provide reviving energy. You might even be able to turn it into an educational activity. Moving your body is (unsurprisingly) something we’re very enthusiastic about at Nike Sports Camps so take every opportunity to integrate it into the day, no matter the weather!

10. EXTRAS

It’s always great to have something to look forward to – you know, like the end of all this. But for children in particular, time goes more slowly and rewards need to be small and frequent. It’s a good idea to build a fun activity into every afternoon that isn’t always just screen time.

Give them some creative control and don’t worry about whether it goes well or not – it’s not about achieving anything or formal learning, it’s just about spending time in an enjoyable way. It can be hard to get out of the “achievement” mindset after a school day but take a moment to reset and change your focus before you start.

Edwina Laycock, our Head of Academic Studies suggests:

“One of the best ways that children learn is through doing and having fun, (something which is important for us all during lockdown)! Use the medium and get them involved in learning opportunities around the house – from cooking to something as simple as sorting out cupboards. Maximise learning opportunities by talking about the different items and what you are doing. There are also a fantastic range of resources online including TV and online learning like the BBC and lots of arts and crafts ideas.”

And finally, you’re doing a brilliant job in these crazy times – well done you!