COVID-19: 10 tips for parents to keep children learning despite school closure

By John Kamwaka Twesigye, Techincal Program Manager Education, World Vision Uganda

Uganda is under lockdown following measures to control the spread of the novel Coronavirus. With the lockdown slated to end on May 5, it is anybody’s guess whether there will be an easing of certain restrictions. Perhaps, more than most, parents are counting down the days, anxiously waiting for the news that schools will be permitted to re-open.

According to UNESCO, approximately, 9 out of 10 school-going children worldwide are out of school. The world has never seen a school shutdown of this magnitude.

In Uganda, the lockdown has kept 2,050,403 young children out of early learning development centres; 10,777,846 out of primary school learning; and 1,986,362 out of secondary schools.

It does not mean education for these almost 15 million children should be put on hold. Children can learn from home and parents can support each other to help every child receive a wonderful learning experience.

While there are some parents who have access to e-learning resources, the majority can't access distance learning because they lack computers and internet access. Some are struggling to participate because they have a learning disability.

Parents can fill this gap with a few helpful tips. Parents must remember that they are their child’s first and best teacher.

1. Stay in touch with your child’s school

Many schools are offering lessons online (virtual learning). Review assignments from the school and help your child establish a reasonable pace for completing the work. You may need to assist your child with turning on devices, reading instructions and typing answers.
Communicate any challenges you find while teaching your child to the school representatives. If you face technology or connectivity issues, or if your child is having a hard time completing assignments, someone at the school should know.

“For my child in P1, and with the help of our parents’ representatives, we opened a WhatsApp group for exchanging ideas,” shares Goretti, a single mother of three. “We agree on how much work can be given to the children and a time frame in which the child can finish the work.”

2. Create a schedule and routine, but remain flexible

Have consistent bedtimes and get up at the same time, Monday through Friday.
Structure the day for learning, free time, healthy meals and snacks, and physical activity.
Allow flexibility in the schedule—it’s okay to adapt based on the day’s activities.

3. Consider the needs of each child

The transition of doing school work from home is different for nursery, primary and secondary students. Talk to your child about expectations and how they are adjusting to being at home versus at school.

“I have enlisted the help of my oldest granddaughter to help her younger siblings in P1. That has helped me because what they are learning now is something I cannot help them with,” says a 69-year-old grandmother in Kiryandongo District.

Diana has two very different characters to deal with in this regard. “They both are very different - one is talkative and inquisitive, he does not concentrate on things too long, getting distracted easily. The other will sit down and do his work very well with no interruptions.”

To find a balance, Diana called a friend for tips on how best to help her overactive child concentrate. “I now constantly have to remind him to focus till we finish. Unfortunately, a lot of the time he gets lesser play time because he lags behind on his work. Overall, I now appreciate each of their uniqueness and I know where to put effort for either of them.”

4. Look for ways to make learning fun

Have activities like puzzles, painting, drawing and crafting things. Independent play can also be used in place of structured learning. Practise handwriting and grammar by writing letters to family members. This is a great way to connect and limit face-to-face contact. Start a journal with your child to document this time and discuss the shared experience.

“The school my children attend asked the children to write a poem about themselves and their families,” says Lillian, a mother of two, in Kampala. “This way, they are learning to be creative with words.

5. Limit distraction

A “digital quarantine” might be necessary to keep your child’s attention focused on their schoolwork. You should limit their use of devices, other than what is needed to complete their work, until their schoolwork is done. If you choose, you can allow your child to play on a device during a designated break, but make them aware that they only have a limited amount of time until they need to get back to school work.

Monica, a mother of one, in Bukasa, a suburb of Kampala District, says she limits her son to two hours of school work in the morning, another two in the afternoon. She then gives him TV time or video game time for about an hour in the evening.

6. Create spaces for learning

Many adults have a specific area of the home in which they do work, and it is important that you create a similar space for your child. Your children will achieve their best work in a quiet, comfortable and dedicated space that is strictly devoted to learning. This space should be a different set-up than where they normally play games or watch television.

7. Make time for literacy

Reading can mean many things. Children can read directions to a game, read a book to a younger sibling, read a comic, read a newspaper story, read a biography, cut up a newspaper and arrange the words into a poem. They can write a letter to a far-off friend or a nearby neighbor who might need support, or draw a picture of what happens next in a story or movie.
A number of Pupil/student worksheets are also available to keep your children busy. You may need to buy a grade appropriate pupils’ book for reference.

8. Maintain breaks

Routines and schedules are important for children even at home. The children will  function best with a routine that is as close to normal as possible. Setting alarms similar to those they would encounter at school can be helpful for keeping them on a schedule. Around lunch time, encourage them to get up, get some fresh air, go for a walk or bike ride, or have a snack so that they are not sedentary the entire day.
 

9. This should not be treated as a holiday or vacation

This time at home might feel like a holiday for your child, but it is important to remind them that their education still comes first. Obligations like class assignments, grades, tests and homework are not going away just because they are not physically at school.

10. Remember to schedule bonding time

While this is most certainly not a vacation or holiday, it is important to have some fun with your children while they are at home. This is a rare opportunity to have all this time with your children, so use it as an opportunity to bond. Play board games, pray together, have Bible study as a family and bring back family meals together.

But above all, allow the children to also have time for fun – time to be children and enjoy themselves. And, remember to keep telling them about the importance of staying safe during this time.

Learn more about and/or support World Vision’s global work to limit the spread of COVID-19 and support the children impacted by it on our COVID-19 Emergency Response Page.