There are a lot of parents out there who choose not to spend a lot of time tutoring their child at home until it’s too late. The ideal scenario is to start homeschooling your children from a very young age. Don’t wait until you hear from your child’s school, as by that point you’ll have to work twice as hard to get back on track.

There is new research suggests that from the time children are babies, it is important to talk and read to them for their development. By doing so, we can help them build the foundations for effective speaking, reading and writing skills. It isn’t just the language we must be aware of, though; it is equally important that we instil the value of disciplined study and learning in our children:

  • developing effective communication skills early in life makes learners more empathetic and curious
  • knowing one's learning preference makes all future learning efforts less stressful
  • learning in an informal setting builds critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • fostering a sense of discovery early in life leads to a lifelong pursuit of knowledge

So the sooner the child can develop some form of regular learning habit, the easier learning will be for them throughout their academic life. It’s never too soon to start supporting young children’s learning. Engaging a tutor can also be an effective way of supporting their learning, especially when you are unable to provide your full attention.

When academic subjects are taught in a fun way, learning ceases to be boring. Instead, it becomes an opportunity to bond with your child and to show them that it’s possible to learn through play. What follows in this guide are a series of tips we believe could help optimise your child’s learning at home.

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Discover your Child’s Learning Style

According to the theory of multiple learning styles or intelligence posited by Howard Gardner, we can gain insight into how our children’s minds work, and how best to attract and hold their attention. By finding out what our child’s learning style is, we can come up with the perfect activities for them to thrive. Let's get started by reviewing some of the main learning styles.

A child with long hair sits at a wooden table in front of an open laptop that has a black and white decal on the cover. She's wearing a dark green jumper and has her arms raised as though cheering. Behind her is a wall-length wooden bookshelf filled with various books.
Figure out your child's optimal learning style for academic success. Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Linguistic

The linguistically talented student enjoys reading and writing. They will also have great communication skills, which show up in their interactions with others. Listening is another skill they will be proficient in, and they should be able to reproduce spoken information almost effortlessly. If you believe your child has a linguistic learning style, try to assign them written projects or have verbal lessons in which you talk about the task at hand.

Interpersonal

Interpersonal students are those who work best in groups and enjoy the meeting of minds to achieve a common goal. This type of student will thrive if given a task that requires communication, regardless of whether it is verbal or non-verbal. If you think your child fits this learning style, try establishing some form of a group study session or starting a book club. If it’s just you two though, make sure they know you are present with them, as they will do better on any task knowing they are in the presence of someone else.

Intrapersonal

The intrapersonal student is what we could refer to as an academic introvert. This student will enjoy setting their own goals and working towards them alone. They will likely be a little shy, and require their own space, but they love nothing more than getting stuck into a variety of resources to get the job done. To help a child with this learning style, provide them with all the resources they need and set up a space conducive to learning for them.

Kinaesthetic

The kinaesthetic student can be a handful. This is the student that will perform best when given hands-on tasks, and when allowed to move around. With this type of student, there should be an emphasis on the process of doing, as opposed to being passive while learning.

To help a child with this learning style, avoid the typical classroom environment. Instead, allow them to play around (within reason) so long as it is related to the task. Give them objects, and take them on trips to strengthen their connection to what they are learning.

Logical

The logical student can understand abstract concepts and explain them to others. They can recognise patterns and break tasks down into bite-size chunks. To help a child with this learning style, give them the tools to create their plans. Encourage them to organise their work schedule within a framework you set.

Learning Style Examples

Sometimes it’s the case that a child won’t favour one particular learning style, but a combination of two or three. Learning about the way your child prefers to process information will help you personalize your home tutoring sessions. For instance, if your child boasts high interpersonal intelligence, you may consider tutoring another child simultaneously so your child can indulge in the kind of healthy debate and discussion they find so stimulating.

On the other hand, if your child is a reflective or intrapersonal learner, they may prefer studying on their own and may require time alone for reflection on the material to be studied. An active learner, on the other hand, will probably prefer to learn by solving a practical problem rather than spending precious time reading manuals and instructions.

For some kids, graphs and maps are extremely useful while for others, written instructions are far easier to understand. If you are unsure about your child’s learning style, there is a myriad of top resources for home educators which can help you to accurately identify which one most fits them. If you’re still wondering how to homeschool, and what is involved, here are some steps you can take.

Talk to a Teacher

A surface-level view of an open laptop and a person's hands poised on the keyboard, typing. In the background is a mug tree with a white drinking mug handing from it.
You can send your child's teacher an email or organise a meeting with them to discuss the best approach to learning. Photo by John Schnobrich on Unsplash

Find out what your child should be learning and aim to meet those criteria. You may even try to stay ahead of the curriculum a little if possible. That way, your child will be somewhat familiar with the material they encounter in class.

If the teacher does not provide you with a detailed enough plan, you can head over to the www.education.gov.uk site. It will provide you with valuable information on what your child should be learning at each stage and in each subject.

Invest in Good Materials

Any parent who has begun the challenging task of teaching a child to read knows how useful books like the Jolly Phonics or Oxford Reading Tree series can be. They are tried-and-tested resources written by highly experienced educators; you’ll often find that kids take to reading material like ducks to water. If you were wondering how to keep the kids engaged while on holiday. this book is one way to do so.

The financial outlay doesn’t have to be significant; entire sets of readers are available for less than £40, and many books are available from libraries or second-hand online bookshops. Moreover, there is a host of free e-books that you can use for home tutoring. Oxford Reading Tree offers new readers a host of free e-books and another site, www.bbc.co.uk, offers KS1 kids to play a host of incredibly fun maths, science and literacy games.

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Daniel
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Syed
5
5 (47 reviews)
Syed
£60
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Gokhan
4.9
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Gokhan
£45
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1st lesson free!
Marianne
5
5 (12 reviews)
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£30
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1st lesson free!
Dr fouzia
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5 (30 reviews)
Dr fouzia
£80
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1st lesson free!
Aya
5
5 (6 reviews)
Aya
£35
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1st lesson free!
Arif
5
5 (10 reviews)
Arif
£75
/h
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1st lesson free!
Daniel
5
5 (18 reviews)
Daniel
£90
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Siddharth
5
5 (39 reviews)
Siddharth
£70
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Syed
5
5 (47 reviews)
Syed
£60
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Gokhan
4.9
4.9 (22 reviews)
Gokhan
£45
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Marianne
5
5 (12 reviews)
Marianne
£30
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Dr fouzia
5
5 (30 reviews)
Dr fouzia
£80
/h
Gift icon
1st lesson free!
Aya
5
5 (6 reviews)
Aya
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1st lesson free!
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Use Practical Methods of Teaching

The Montessori method is a renowned constructivist approach, which encourages children to learn concepts and work with fun materials rather than relying on rote learning or standard textbooks. The method often astounds parents, whose kids can do arithmetic into the thousands while still at preschool. It's amazing how a few simple tools can simplify complex mathematical tasks for kids.

A maths workbook with its title printed in orange lays under a copy of the Australian Oxford dictionary sheathed in a black cover. A khaki pencil lays on the maths workbook and two jars of writing implements stand to its right.
Good materials facilitate engaging learning. Photo by Louis Keegan Skillcouter on Unsplash.

Give Feedback

It’s best to stay away from general praise with phrases like “You worked hard today”. Rather, be on guard and provide immediate feedback, focusing on specific achievements. For example, “It’s really impressive that you were able to read the word ‘loophole’; the ‘e’ at the end was silent and you read the word perfectly”. This is much more effective as a method of positive reinforcement as it will feel very personal to them.

Make Learning an Adventure

Don’t limit yourself to home tutoring sessions where you simply review the textbooks. Take them to the theatre and the museum, spend an afternoon together at the library, or even just take your study session outside on a sunny day. The more your child associates learning with fun and affection, the more likely they are to find their motivation to keep at it. For such a learner, there will be no question of whether university is right for them; it will be a continuation of the learning adventure they're so keen on.

Be Patient

If you’re feeling tired, you should take a break. Otherwise, there’s a chance that your child might sense you are annoyed with them for failing to perform tasks quickly or correctly. One of the key goals of tutoring should be about boosting your child’s self-esteem by showing them they can accomplish much more than they ever thought possible. Don’t risk undoing all your good work by losing your patience through overworking yourself.

Share the Workload

If you are a working parent, you know how hard it can be to find just one or two spare hours in a day to dedicate to a home tutoring session. Your partner and your child’s siblings can do their share as well. Each family member can focus on a specific task they would like to teach a younger child. The tutoring sessions can turn into a fun competition to see who’s making the most progress!

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Samuel

Sam is an English teaching assistant and freelance writer based in southern Spain. He enjoys exploring new places and cultures, and picking up languages along the way.