The repeated lockdowns have caused children to miss out on approximately one-third of their school year in the UK. Schools are still considering the best solutions to help students catch up with the standards curriculum. You might have heard suggestions of shortening term and half-term breaks or adding more hours to the typical school days. As for now, it’s impossible to know how things will work out. Children are affecting at many levels. Unfortunately, after multiple lockdowns, it’s time to approach the next school year with a clear strategy to help kids catch up.
Keep a positive attitude
First of all, putting unnecessary pressure is not going to be helpful. Our kids are quick to pick up on emotional changes. If you are too negative about the things they couldn’t learn, you could be affecting their self-esteem and self-confidence. Ultimately, a positive mindset is going to be a great support as they tackle new knowledge. It’s going to be a tough ride to cram as much knowledge as possible into their next school year. So, staying positive and optimistic can help boost your child’s motivation.
Ask about their knowledge objectives
Young children may not be aware of what they’ve missed. But older teens who are planning for their GCSE and A levels have a good grasp of what they want and need to learn. So, it can be a good idea to start the summer holiday by working out your child’s knowledge goals. You can find 11+ tutors online who can help address the knowledge gap. A-levels and GCSE teachers can also help prepare kids for future exams. After a year spent learning mostly at home, it’s fair to say that taking real exams can feel daunting. The better prepared your child feels, the easier it will feel.
Don’t fill spare time with lessons
This might sound counterproductive but bear with us. You can find online tutors who are skilled and will help your child catch up. BUT that doesn’t mean you should pack every school holiday day with lessons. You need to hit the right balance with tutoring during the holidays. Being able to relax and enjoy some time off freely, without worrying about maths homework or biology lessons, is important. It’s been a tough time for everyone, children included. Therefore, relaxation this summer needs to come before education. Too much tension is harmful for concentration and the ability to learn new information. So, your priority in preparation for the next school year is not to overload your child with activities.
Accept that knowledge comes in different shapes
Academic knowledge may be typically associated with books, but there is more than one way to acquire and use knowledge. Using an app on their smartphone can be a great way of boosting language skills or listening to an audiobook. A DIY project can also combine maths and physics, such as building a bird’s house for the garden. Let the summer break be a time for experiments, where children of all ages can choose to use and play with knowledge as they see fit.
The next school year will be tough. But as parents, we can already prepare our children for the challenges to come. From tutoring to keeping a positive attitude, you can create a safe environment for mental focus and growth.