How To Teach Your Kids From Home

Kids have been home from school for a while now due to COVID-19. It’s been a really hard year for them, for us, and for teachers to keep all their classrooms on track. Many parents are afraid of their kids falling behind in their class, or the expectations of their grade levels.

What to teach kids at home 

Fear not, parents! Our kids are constantly learning. They’re like little sponges, absorbing everything from the world around them. Maybe some of you all have opted to homeschool with a more structured look at learning from home, maybe you sent your kids to school the whole time, or have been supplementing online school with learning activities… we aren’t here to tell you what was the “best” choice (news flash: there isn’t one - the best choice is different for every family), but what we can do is share a few options for learning from home that requires little structure, planning, and preparation. Best part? It’s fun for you both!

1. Gardening and lawn care: what does it mean to help things to grow? What does it take? How long? Watching plants grow is a perfect way to teach your kids all of these, and more. Long-term commitment, dedication to a goal you can’t see yet, and constant maintenance for the best end results: all taught while watering your soil. Gardening can be done indoors by a well-lit window, and outdoors in your front lawn. Even lawn care as small as picking up the pine ones in your yard helps! They learn to count, to appreciate nature, and how to generally be helpful in the family. Grab some seeds, your mower, your lunch bag filled with snacks, and get diggin’.
2. Cooking and baking: from a safe distance, of course. Cooking and baking is science! How much flour does it take to make cookies rise? How much is too much? Why do vegetables change so much when they’re cooked? The best thing about cooking is being able to experiment with what tastes good, and those recipes can be passed down for generations! Who doesn’t love their grandma’s chocolate chip cookie recipe?
3. Going on walks: discovering nature does not have to happen on a hiking trail, it can happen on your front lawn or on the sidewalks right in your neighborhood. Pack your backpack and give your kids the chance to let some ants crawl on their arms and legs, pick up some grass, and spend some time looking at the clouds. They’re learning textures, weather, and bugs! Support them by letting them do things you might not normally do (within reason) and let them dig in the mud, or get curious with a caterpillar.
4. Being part of daily tasks: chores, paperwork, planning for the week ahead, these are all things that help kids form rituals in their own daily lives. They’re learning what it takes to be disciplined and have a daily routine - this is extremely important for kids. Routines really help with their ability to remain content in their own worlds and to thrive in our society as well. They’re learning straight from you, an adult who’s been around the block a few times, what it means to stay on top of everyday tasks.
5. Build something together: create, get experimental, use your imaginations. It’s a fun way for kids to experience different textures and make something they can call their own - learn how to make something from nothing. Kids love arts and crafts, even as big as building a coffee table together. It’s a great way to teach kids that their effort pays off in big ways.

How to educate a child from home

There are no secrets to teaching and learning from home. Just be! Do what you normally do, but take them along. Talk them through your day and your routines each day. They’re learning by doing and watching you, which is scientifically backed as the best way to learn anything. Educating can be as simple as unpacking the dishwasher, or as in-depth as Calculus. Your kids can’t fall behind if their dads are on their side, helping them learn and grow every step of the way.

What have you been doing to support your kids’ home learning? Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to let us know!