Are you ready for the start of home learning?

The prospect of home schooling can be pretty daunting. Let’s face it, there are many good reasons we send our kids to school to learn, but necessity is the mother of all invention, so it’s time to get creative and make this work. Right?

We’ve consulted the experts at Parent TV for tips on how to set up a learning space and map out the day, so our kids learn but are not overwhelmed by a new way of doing things.

Getting these things right will also help us parents cope with, and hopefully, enjoy the change.

Parent TV was founded by Clontarf mother-of-three and entrepreneur Samantha Jockel. The website provides short videos packed with advice for parents on a range of topics, and has plenty of information for those preparing for home learning due to COVID-19 restrictions.

School principal Rob Walker appears in videos on the website, offering a checklist for parents setting up a learning space for their children and some helpful tips for setting good routines to make home learning a success.

“The place where kids do their homework might not be the best place for a whole day of learning,” Rob explains.

Primarily, it should have good internet access and be comfortable to work in.

“It’s better to be in an area where you can see what they’re doing. Bedrooms are not always the best places for learning. That will depend on your child and how they work,” he says.

So, if you’re setting up a new learning space or adapting another, he has the following advice …

Things to consider

• Is it free of distractions? Is there a lot of noise in the area?
• Are there trip hazards?
• Is the area exposed to direct glare or reflections?
• Are there enough power points nearby?
• Is the equipment they’re using, like extension leads, in safe working order?
• Is there a proper desk, chair and stationery? This is the stuff they will need to work.
• Is the lighting good?
• Has the chair been set up correctly (feet flat on the floor, knees bent at right angles, backrest offering support to the lower back)? Does the chair move freely?
• Has the computer been set up correctly? The screen should be directly in front of the child and at a distance where they can see clearly without squinting. The keyboard should be positioned so elbows are beside the child’s body and shoulders are relaxed.
• Is everything the child needs within arm’s reach?

Routines and schedules

Rob Walker says setting expectations and establishing a good routine is essential, pretty much from the get-go.

“Students will work well if they have regular and set hours for work,” he explains.

“The school provides a timetable for students to be active, for them to have breaks, drinks and food. It’s important for students to be able to get up and move around.”

Staying up late at night and sleeping in will not result in a productive day of learning.

“It’s important to keep normal bedtime routines in place for students of all ages,” Rob says.

“Try to set the routines as soon as possible after home learning has started, not when students are showing signs of struggling with that home learning.”

Tips for success

• It’s best if students work in a quiet area at a desk or table, free of distractions
• Try to maintain normal routines: having breakfast, cleaning your teeth, getting up and active as you normally would each day
• When there’s a question, it’s fine to ask it online. Ask classmates or your teacher, but if you’re asking a teacher use correct grammar and avoid too many emojis
• Take breaks away from the screen, move around and try not to sit still for too long

Finally, you’ve got the furniture and tech equipment in place, but need ideas to make the space engaging? Here’s some we’ve come up with

• Use bean bags or comfy couches for reading, particularly for younger children
• Allow your child to help set up and decorate the space, so they can make it their own
• Make sure the area is organised, free of clutter and easy to tidy up at the end of the day
• Keep resource materials for each subject in their own folder/tray/workbook so the volume of materials does not become overwhelming
• Make sure the space is well-ventilated, light and breezy

If you’re looking for more inspiration to jazz up a workspace for home learning, head online

• IKEA Australia
• Officeworks
• Kmart
• Target
• Big W

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