It’s Important for Children to have a Designated Learning Space
At home learning can be a transition for many families. It may be helpful for some children to have a separate workspace from the kitchen table or coffee table where other household or parent’s work activities are taking place.
These Learning Tables are great for giving any area flexibility. They provide an ample activity surface for individual use. Tabletops feature stain-resistant and easy-to-clean laminate on both sides. Use these affordable and stackable Berries™ Chairs for child friendly comfort seating! They feature heavy steel frames, and the polypropylene surface is easy to clean.
Check out other options for desks and also seating here.
Being Comfortable with Alternative & Flexible Seating
Comfortable seating for reading and other more relaxed learning is something that more and more schools and classrooms have been implementing for children. Alternative or flexible seating allows the learner to be comfortable. This type of seating helps students release energy in a quiet productive manner, which can be a big plus in the classroom and at home. We have highlighted several seats that seem to be very popular options this year.
This High Back Lounger is a classic beanbag with a twist. Cozy and comfy and filled with polystyrene beads that form to your body while you sit, and are lighter and longer lasting, making for a comfy seat every time while offering a little more overall support for sitting in a more upright position than traditional beanbags.
These Round Ottomans make a comfy flexible seat option for kids. Whether used in classrooms or at home, they’re ideal for distance seating. All ottomans are topped with soft-but-sturdy foam and covered with a leather material that’s soft to the touch and easy to keep clean. A non-slip bottom keeps ottomans in place during use.
You may also like the Padded Floor Chair or the Back Jack Floor Chair for floor seating options.
Other great flexible seating options are those seats that allow movement. Typically, these are more of a stool or unique seat type design. It’s the concept of an exercise ball applied to kids seating which increases oxygen flow to the brain, blood flow and core strength, and in turn burns more calories and increases metabolism. It helps keep young minds more alert and focused.
This Vidget 3-in-1 Active Seat is safe and quiet and is designed to prevent users from falling back or tipping over. It features side-to-side and front to back movement help to increase core muscle development & improve balance. Fidgety fingers naturally find the sensory bumps in side handles. The sensory bumps are a fun surprise and provide sensory input.
Another great option is the Sit and Spin Seat. It is a fun way to provide children with vestibular input. The ergonomic design features a 360-degree rotation for a natural and smooth spin experience.
Check out other flexible seating options here.
Visual Tools
Promote learning, Bulletin, White, and Dry Erase Boards
Whiteboards are simple to use and require no special skills. They are reusable and can be erased quickly and reused for quick explanations interactive exercises and brainstorming. Whiteboards are great for explaining math problems, reading texts, matching exercises, ranking activities, discussion activities and much more. Whiteboards are non-messy to use and do not produce harmful and allergenic dust particles. Most whiteboards are magnetic so with a magnet can hold a photo, illustration or document to start or enhance discussion or instruction. Here are three awesome options for at home use! Don’t forget the dry erase markers!
- Magnetic Dry-Erase & Chalkboard Tabletop Easel
- Dry Erase Pocket Sleeve Class Pack
- Magnetic Dry-Erase Boards
Smaller bulletin boards are also good for home use. They can display subject matter and be as an inspiration board. These sorts of visual tools can help show what children value, offer opportunities for reflection, and help learners make connections within and across subject matter. And let’s face it, sometimes they can be just a place to pin stuff we cannot afford to lose!
Check out other boards and visual tools here.
Keeping it Organized & Uncluttered
Usually parents or caregivers would only need to keep homework and a few other home readings organized (as far a school goes anyway), which for some is tough enough! Now with more of the day to day learning to do and keeping track of work being done in the home, keeping things neat and somewhat organized can be you and your child’s biggest ally.
There are all sorts of organizing tools – from large to small, stationary, mobile and portable. Here are a few options that offer some variety to fit different needs and were most affordable:
- Sterilite® Portable File Storage Box with Handle
- Classroom Keepers® Paper Organizer
- Sterilite® 3-Drawer Storage Cart
Check out other storage options here.
Schedule, Routine, Schedule – Easier Said than Done!
It’s tough to keep kids in a routine when things feel so out of the norm. Experts agree that keeping to a normal schedule is beneficial. Get up at the same time, school at the same time…with all that is going on, this may be near impossible! That math lesson may have to be after dinner, not at 10:00 am. If you can’t stick to a normal routine, don’t panic! What can be helpful is setting more of an agenda with your child. Use a calendar or a to do list to set the weekly expectations. If that seems overwhelming or you are having difficulty managing, take it one day at a time and build from there. No one is going to be an expert overnight. These calendars ideas can help:
Keeping the Focus
Keeping focus and stress free during these unsettling times can be tough. But is important for both learning and overall well-being. Make sure students take breaks doing something active, have healthy snacks where possible and drink plenty of water. At school there is gym, recess, music class, and much more. Students may walk to the bus, from the bus, from one class to another. Many times, school can become more active than home if you let it. This can heighten distracted learning. Here are a couple of ideas that may help.
Students bounce their feet on the Bouncyband to release excess energy without disturbing their classmates. This gentle motion relieves anxiety, stress, and boredom. Why should students sit uncomfortably still for hours when they can utilize pent-up and nervous energy to:
- Stimulate the whole brain to enable what is known as “active learning”
- Improve focus
- Enhance creativity
- Improve memory by engaging more senses in experiences
You can also introduce several fidget toys and sensory items to your group in order to help with stress and sensory stimulation.
Set up an obstacle course like this one that includes some sensory items and helps get kids’ energy out!
Hurdle Activity For Sensory Input & Balance Training
Inspire & Motivate
Celebrate the successes! Use stickers and other incentives and rewards to motivate your child. Everyone from 1-100 likes to be recognized for a job well done! Now more than ever it is important to spread positivity and kindess. Here are some items that can be used for your program:
You can even plan a craft activity where everyone decorates their own positive velvet art poster.
Submitted by: Denise Carter, Product Manager at S&S Worldwide
