When it comes to home-schooling, one expert in educational mobility advises that families stick to a structure, but everyone needs to stay flexible, and forgiving of each other.
Right the ship
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 situation, and social distancing requirements, many families have found themselves trying to rapidly adjust to home-schooling. Many parents, all around the world, have undoubtedly experienced frustration at times. But, fear not, it isn’t too late to right the ship.
Flexible mindset
For starters, Corinne Owens, an education mobility expert from Edufax, advises setting a structure (one that works for parents and kids) but not to be too hard on yourself. It shouldn’t be set in stone. “There will be times when you realise you need to give them a break, so maintain a flexible mindset,” says Corinne. “If you have found it stressful, remember you’re not a teacher and that’s okay! You don’t have to strive for perfection. Be forgiving of each other.”
What can you prioritise?
Corinne also recommends that parents keep communicating closely with teachers. “Ask teachers what are the long-term goals for your child so you know what you can help them focus on. Just like you would in business, you can prioritise activities that will help your children reach their targets,” says Corinne.
Online meetings (for fun)
Corinne also suggests connecting with other parents. Not just to share experiences and advice, but also to see if your kids can ‘hang out’ together: “They miss their classmates so they would love to see each other on a video call or play together online.”
Fill in the gaps
If you are unable to assist your kids on certain topics, or if the school is not able to provide specialist support online, there are ways parents can ‘fill the gaps’ that their kids are experiencing. “Rest assured there’s a wealth of online resources available that can help you address your kids’ education needs, if you do need extra support,” says Corinne. “If that doesn’t work, you can always turn to an expert, for professional support.”
In the same boat
“Lastly, it’s important to remember that everyone around the world is in the same situation,” says Corinne. “I recently heard from a school principal in Germany, who said, very reassuringly: If the kids can do their online work, great, and if they can’t, we will still support each child when we’re back in school together.”
Photo: Corinne Owens, an education mobility expert from Edufax
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
