How to help your child learn at home

Choice

Give your child as many activity choices as you can by providing and pointing out the resources available in your home, such as:

• crafting materials
• recipe books and ingredients
• science equipment (e.g. a thermometer)
• musical instruments
• online subscriptions

Independence

It is important to make plenty of family time to play board games, eat meals together and even just sit around and chat. However, it is also important for you and your child to have time alone. Explain your own need for time to work, clean or relax without interruption. Encourage your child to problem solve when they aren't sure how to do something. They will have a richer learning experience figuring something out for themselves than having someone else solve every problem for them.

Trust

Children and young people have so much potential to be innovative if given the chance. Don't worry if your child is not being "productive" at any given moment. After being given the time and space to be bored, they will find something to do that interests them. Also, let them make their own mistakes. If you smell cookies burning because your child is too distracted playing Minecraft, don't turn the oven off straight away - ask them if they were hoping for cookies with a smoky flavour! Give them the benefit of the doubt as much as possible and you will see them rise to the occasion.