Learning and Teaching With Children at Home
Obviously, I am living in one of the countries that is under lock-down. Go nowhere but work, and to the supermarket. No grandma to help because of social distancing implications. I not only want to write an article, but I want to begin a discussion to coincide with this article. What in the world are you doing when you need to have an online lesson, but your kids are home?! There are many suggestions online of what to do with children while they are home, however most of these are suggestions that can be done along with children, not independently.
My children are 5 and 7, so I can talk to them and explain that I have a lesson. Sitting in a separate room isn't enough sometimes. They tromp in and start peeking into my lesson. This I do not mind too much, because so far my students just wave and say "hi". That's usually the end of it. Curiosity quenched. Then there are the dreaded times when my younger son's mischievous side becomes uncontrollable. In he comes yelling, or doing something crazy to get my attention. Do I lock the door? If I lock it and they really need me, what happens?
I guess the best thing to do is experiment with what works best with your child(ren). Before my lessons I make sure there is a snack and drink available on the table. Some kind of quiet activity is also set on the table. I wait to let them use their electronic devices until the last lesson of the day. By that time they have usually ran out of things to do, and I can use it as leverage during earlier lessons. I remind my kids that I have a lesson, so if they need anything, now is the time to tell me. At 10 minutes before my lesson I double check they do not need anything. Of course I've also notified all of my students that my children are home with me.
Discussion
Please let us know what you do with your children while they are home and you have a lesson. We can all benefit from new ideas during this complicated situation. Are you a student or a teacher? How old are your children? What works for you and your children while you have a lesson? What tactic has miserably failed?
March 24, 2020
