The ongoing pandemic has upended family life around the world, reshuffling our daily work, home and school routines.
On and off Movement Control Orders (MCOs) since last year have forced families to stay at home most of the time and this new normal is hard for children and likewise, for the parents.
The current remote working arrangement does offer a certain extent of flexibility in completing work while doing other chores at home and encourage more parent-child bonding moments. Despite these perks, however, many parents are grappling with anxiety and weariness as a result of having to home school and ensure their children’s education are on track whilst they work from home (WFH) during lockdown.
Parents and Children’s Experiences during Stay Home Period: Which One Are You?
With work life, home life and school life during a pandemic blurring into one, parents typically describe contrasting experiences of their stay home period.
Some parents are happy and have not much problem staying at home as they get to spend more quality time with their family. To them, lockdown has certainly strengthened their relationships with their children.
On the other hand, some parents struggle more than the others. They frequently suffer from burnout as they have to juggle WFH while keeping their restless children entertained and supervised day in, day out. At the same time, they feel exceedingly concerned and stressed about their children’s online study and piling homework as well.
The Root Cause of Vast Difference in Remote Learning Experience
Some children tend to misbehave at home, particularly when it is time for online school. Yours, too?
They are unable to focus, show no discipline nor great interest during study time, have no schedules and often struck with boredom at home. Because of these, children get cranky and ensue all sort of mischief at home to channel their energy and restlessness, making it hard for parents to deal with. Done several days a week, domestic naughtiness and different emotions mayhem from the children will surely drain and frustrate any parent.
With no prior experience, parents now have to wear the hat as their children’s makeshift teacher or tutor at home. Some of them face difficulties in making the most of their children’s online learning opportunities due to lack of time to attend their children’s study, and do not know how to structure or educate their children appropriately at home.
Conversely, there are also children who are well-behaved during study time at home. Did you know that well-behaved children commonly have their hands full? Their days are packed schedules and established with routines; as a result, they display better focus and generally learn better.
In fact, some parents reported that their children learn even more effectively and independently with the current online learning setting during this pandemic because they are more focused to carry out their academic study and other activities at home.
Self-Learning is the Key Difference!
The key difference between the two scenarios above is actually self-learning/self-directed learning.
Self-learning is a desired learning that occurs naturally and the ability to study proactively on children. The opposite type of learning is usually forced upon them hence children are reluctant and agitated to do what they are told.
Self-learning is important for children and it will eventually lighten parents’ burden in educating their children at home, especially during lockdown periods.
Here is why you should foster self-learning on your children:
1. Help children to be more proactive
Self-learning encourages students to discover how to solve problems for themselves independently, without asking for the answer. Once children gain more confidence in their studies, they are motivated to advance their learning further.
2. Promote independence
Self-learning nurtures independence in children because they are not quickly given answers by their teachers. Children are taught to be aware of the focal point on hand and solve problems by themselves; thus develops the ability to comprehend the problem on hand and finds solutions on their own.
3. Empower children to pursue their potentials
By learning something that is beyond the current school grade level as soon as possible, children greatly develop their academic ability. With confidence and ability to study proactively, children will be able to maximise their potentials in their future studies. In addition, through self-learning, children are trained to come up with solutions on their own accord when faced with difficult challenges.
Unleash Your Child’s Self-Learning Ability with Kumon!
Some parents of preschoolers would like to teach their children at home but lack of a systematic approach to do that.
If you are one of those parents who have issues with teaching or getting your kids focused during study time at home, introduce your little one to Kumon!
Kumon Method emphasises on self-learning and it offers a step-by-step approach to help children self-learn. Kumon helps students master self-learning, which supports them to become more disciplined, independent and proactive in their learning.
Once your child becomes a self-learner, learning becomes automatic and it lessens burden of the parents especially during MCO.
Here’s how Kumon will be able to help busy parents like you!
- Kumon methods increase your child’s concentration through worksheets that are appropriate to your child’s individual ability.
- Kumon programmes are designed to motivate children to continually progress to the next level.
- Kumon methods allow your child to work at his or her own pace.
- Kumon’s instructors provide just enough guidance for their students to be able to do the exercises independently.
- Kumon students are encouraged to be proactive and solve problems themselves without asking for the answer.
- Kumon methods challenge students to grow by gradually increasing the level of difficulty of the worksheets assigned.
- Kumon study makes it possible for students to accelerate their study to higher school level material at an earlier age.
Register Your Child to Join Kumon Now!
Many Kumon parents ultimately find their children mastering concepts that put them grade levels ahead of their peers. Watch how Kumon can build and advance your children’s important skills by registering your child to Kumon classes today!
Sign up now for either Kumon’s Mathematics/English programmes and get 2 weeks of classes FREE*!
Kumon currently offers online classes to cater to your child’s needs during the pandemic. Enroll here before 15th September 2021 to enjoy the trial classes!
Learn more about Kumon visit their official website, Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.