GON Organizing for Kids

Back to Organizing for Kids and Family Index Organizing for Kids and Family

Keeping kids motivated

and organized when

doing schoolwork at

home

by Maria Gracia Join our newsletter to be notified when the newest Organizing for Kids and Family is available. Kids who are homeschooled are used to doing schoolwork at home. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, kids everywhere are now home from school…and parents, caregivers, and older siblings have to be sure they’re staying organized, on track, and motivated to get things done. Here are a few tips that may help: • Time for schoolwork and time for play. Just like regular school has a defined schedule, the same should be true for schoolwork being done at home. Define a definite start time, time ranges for each subject, lunch time, snack times, and end times. And don’t forget, whether your kid is displaying it or not, this is an emotional, difficult time for many kids…like taking fish out of water. So be patient…and realize play time is just as important to partake in as learning time. • 30 minute bursts. While a schedule is important, be sure that you’re not making it unrealistic or overwhelming. The kids are home…so that’s a big deviation from regular school routine…and it’s hard to stay on task when a teacher isn’t walking around the room and your classmate isn’t sitting next to you. Kids generally work well in 30 minute bursts…with 15 minute breaks in between before they begin the next subject. Also, most schools are not expecting kids to do seven to eight hours of schoolwork a day, like the typical school day. This is the expected hourly breakdown (Mondays through Fridays) for Wisconsin students: o 4K: 30 minutes per school day, 10 minutes per day of choice reading should be included in this o Grades K-2: Two hours per school day, 20 minutes per day of choice reading should be included in this. o Grades 3-4: Three hours per school day, 30 minutes per day of choice reading should be included in this. o Grades 5-8: Four hours of learning per school day, 30 minutes per day of choice reading should be included in this. o Grades 9-12: Four hours of learning per school day. • Give them some control. Time management is a good life skill, and now is an excellent time to have your child begin working on that skill. Perhaps you can help by making a schedule “form” with days and time ranges on it…and the night before (based on what your child has to do for school the next day), he or she can fill in when he or she will be working on each subject. Most kids do better when they feel like they’re setting up their own schedule. Besides, we’re trying to teach them to be independent, right? • Keep them active during breaks. Chances are, your child will be sitting for at least 30 minutes at a time while they’re doing schoolwork, so taking phone or video game breaks afterwards is not really going to get them up and moving…and may result in difficulties stopping those fun activities when the 15 minute break is up. If it’s a nice day outside, maybe encourage them to go into the backyard to jump rope or hula hoop. If it’s rainy, maybe time to head to their room for some dancing or singing can be suggested? Adults need break times too, so if you’re home, maybe you can break to do something fun and active with your child. • Be cognizant about non-stop snacking. It’s very easy for kids to get into the habit of snacking all day…and very often their choices are not healthy ones. High-sugar snacks can negatively affect their energy and focus. Encourage a healthy snack between breakfast and lunch, and another between lunch and dinner…rather than constant grazing. • Choose a designated “family space.” Unless you’re absolutely certain that your child can work independently and is getting everything done, choose a central space (the kitchen, perhaps) so you can keep tabs on what’s going on. It’s very easy for lots of kids to lose focus and spend way too much time watching TikTok or scrolling through Instagram if they know nobody is watching. • Give them high-fives and hugs. Most kids want to know that their parents are proud of their efforts. Take every opportunity you have to let you child know that you’re so proud of what he/she has been to accomplish…many times every day! Back to Organizing for Kids and Family Index