6 Surprising Ways to Help Struggling Students (From Home)
by Laura Pearson
When your child is struggling with a subject in school, it’s normal to feel stressed.
Many children run into obstacles when it comes to remaining focused and staying on track in the classroom, but there are some ways that parents can help out at home.
Introducing your child to some fun and engaging learning activities can provide the boost they need to start learning more in school, but it’s important that those activities don’t feel like work.
That’s why you may find these unconventional learning ideas and tips useful as you try to help your child learn and grow.
Technology for Teaching Essential Skills
Most parents tend to think of technology as a treat for their children. In reality, technology can provide some pretty amazing tools to help children develop important skills that can take them further in the classroom. Here are just a few examples of technology that can promote learning.
Drones
Your kids may think that drones are fun toys, but the truth is that drones provide a valuable opportunity for children to develop skills for risk assessment, fine motor movements, and technical prowess. By playing with top-quality drones, your child will not only be having blast but he/she will be gaining abilities that can make succeeding in the classroom so much easier.
Smartphone Apps
We’re still learning about the effects of screen time on children but as long as you stay within recommended guidelines for your children, tablets and smartphones can be amazing educational tools. Kids already love using these devices, and you can download learning apps to help your kids make the most of the time they spend using smartphones and tablets.
Video Games
This one is likely to be the most shocking to parents, especially since video games tend to get such a bad rap. While it’s true that many video games are too violent or extreme to provide essential skills to young children, there are video games that are educational, fun, and appropriate for most ages. Many are so fun your kids won’t even realize they are learning.
KickstartReading.com
Children between the ages of three and six, who are just developing their reading skills, can boost their literary appreciation even further by utilizing Kickstart Reading. These two-minute videos make learning an enjoyable experience without being overstimulating or posing as a video game.
Activities for Hands-On Learning at Home
Yes, technology can be used in several different ways to keep your kids learning. Sometimes, you may want your children to take a break from screens and gadgets, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. These engaging activities can be perfect for providing fun for your entire family but they also provide some serious educational perks for your children.
Cooking
Getting your kids in the kitchen can teach them valuable life skills, but it turns out that cooking and baking can also be used for other educational purposes. As children measure and mix ingredients together, they are essentially helping you put together tasty little science projects using essential chemistry and math skills. Your little chefs are also developing abilities for planning, following instructions, and establishing both spatial and physical coordination.
Gardening
If you really want your kids to develop an appreciation for science, math, and a slew of other subjects, you should encourage them to grow their own food. That’s because gardening provides development opportunities in all of these subjects, and gardening can be a fun hobby for kids to learn. Gardening also encourages your little ones to stay active and to find productive outlets for dealing with any stress that may come up while at school.
Painting
Encouraging children to express their creativity is an effective way to improve their education. When children are allowed time to paint, draw, sculpt, or craft, they are dabbling in other subjects as well, including science as they mix together materials. Creating arts and crafts can also help students decompress, which can be important if your kids are already stressed out about school. Be sure to provide a good mix of free time and instructed creative activities.
Encouraging a love of learning is all about making that learning fun for your children. Finding stress-free and engaging activities that will help your kids develop the skills they need to overcome obstacles in the classroom is essential. So, try out some of the brain-boosting ideas mentioned above to keep kids learning at home.
Don't forget to check out the rest of KickstartReading.com