Parents’ Tips Part 1: A structured daily routine
Many parents are currently facing a huge challenge: How can school education and childcare, in times of Corona and the associated curfew, be balanced with work? A mother of three has found an individual way with her family. We thank her for an insight into her everyday life, including great tips.
As employees, we have to do our professional work in the home office and at the same time look after our children in homeschooling. A difficult challenge for which we have so far not found a solution. However, everyday life with our three children aged 4, 6 and 8, works amazingly if we stick to a structured daily routine. It is crucial that fixed learning, break, and bedtimes are obeyed.
In our home, the day starts at the same time as before the school closed down. We perform the normal morning routine and then start homeschooling at 8 a.m. So that our little one does not feel left out, she gets a coloring picture or a few letters to repeat, on the Internet you can find numerous free worksheets on every topic and for every age. I made a conscious decision to start school with the children in the morning. In my opinion, they have a fresh start and can concentrate better. The children are less distracted and do the tasks faster.
To maintain concentration and motivation, regular breaks are very important. We also incorporate movement games into our daily routine. For example, we are currently playing the “4-multiplication table” because our second grader is currently learning about multiplication. I wrote all the numbers in the series on small sheets of paper and spread them out on the floor of the living room. I give them a multiplication problem and everyone runs to the sheet with the correct result. I repeat this as long as the children enjoy it. The younger two children do not count, but they run after the older sister and are therefore busy. While I am giving them the math problems, I can tidy up the kitchen or put the laundry together.
Another game that we use is the post-run. The children set up five posts in the apartment, on the terrace or in the garden. I set the children’s favorite songs and the post changes with every new song. The children are very creative when they are set up when they are allowed to use a lot of different objects.
After the game of movement we have another round of homeschooling. If the children want to, they will help me prepare dinner. Since my husband is also in the home office, we can all eat together. After dinner, we have room for work. Every child plays in his room. We parents have a short break to have a coffee and chat together. The children may not open the door to our office, by the way. This is how we ensure that the working parent is at peace and that everyone is looking forward to the breaks.
If we did not finish the homeschooling in the morning, we will work through it together after the break. Our youngest may then play with modeling clay at the table, for example. Otherwise, the afternoon is for leisure time. The children are free to decide what to do while I take care of my work or the household.
But our children do not always have ideas to keep themselves busy. Do you sometimes run out of ideas for them? In the second part of our Corona special, you will find some tips on how to make the afternoon fun and enjoyable.
