Guest Blog by Annabelle Short

Learning is a major part of our lives – it is how we can do things; we must first learn them. We go to school for years to learn things about math, science and language.

But, learning can also take place right in the comfort of our own home.

While we are constantly figuring things out and learning new things in our home – such as how to turn the television on and off or how to plug up our computer – we can enhance our home to be more conducive for learning.

By incorporating learning into the home, we make it easier and can even make it fun. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to tie their shoe by having their adorable little doll teach them? Engaging toys and activities make learning more fun, increasing the drive to want to learn more and more.

Below are ten tips for how to make your home more conducive for learning:

1. Organise your home

There is nothing more distracting and disruptive than a messy learning area. Even make it a game for your kids to help you clean up! Come up with a motivating clean-up song, lay out the bins for different toys and have your kids see if they can put all the toys in the right box. Then, you end up with an organised house and they have learned how to organise.

2. Make learning enjoyable

Incorporate something fun, something that your kid enjoys so that you can keep their attention during the learning process. They will also begin to relate something positive to learning, such as their favourite doll. If your child loves dolls, incorporate a Lottie doll to help them with their learning for the day. Your child and their doll can learn together!

3. Design a designated “learning zone.”

By separating the learning zone from the play zone, your child will know that their actions in each zone should be different. When they are in the learning zone, it is time to be serious and learn. Incorporate a variety of different learning tools. Items such as personalised labels and ribbon will make your child feel special, because they have their own materials, and it can also help them learn to read and how to label things appropriately. Even try grabbing some personalised stickers from your favourite store for a reward when they’ve done a good job.

4. Get into a routine

Learning is much easier when it is already incorporated into your day. Set a schedule and get into a routine of doing learning activities when they are the most efficient. This will also ensure that you don’t forget and skip a day of learning/

5. Switch it up

While getting into a routine is important, don’t get in a rut and a routine of doing the same activities. Make a routine of learning, but switch up the activity or the focus of the learning. If boredom occurs, your child will be distracted from the task at hand.

6. Always make time for play too!

Children also learn through play; learning does not have to be strictly sitting at a desk and reading or writing. Allow their little minds some time to wander and develop their creativity. They will be teaching themselves new things without even realising it.

Children also learn through play; learning does not have to be strictly sitting at a desk and reading or writing. Allow their little minds some time to wander and develop their creativity. They will be teaching themselves new things without even realising it.

7. Incorporate school into at-home learning

Young children already spend all day at school, so they don’t want to feel as though they must come home each day and start all over. Try to connect what they are learning at school and expand on it at home. This will maximise their productivity and make

Young children already spend all day at school, so they don’t want to feel as though they must come home each day and start all over. Try to connect what they are learning at school and expand on it at home. This will maximise their productivity and make school even easier for them. If they are learning the alphabet at school, try practising at home with alphabet magnets on the fridge.

8. Make learning extraordinary

This goes hand in hand with switching it up. Try to incorporate activities that are more advanced, or more interesting than what they might experience at school. Remember, at school, it is not one-on-one, but you do have that luxury with your child at home. Make a normal activity something extraordinary to grab their attention.

9. Explore the strengths and weaknesses of new technology

Of course, we don’t want our children on an iPhone or an iPad the entire time, that can be distracting and is not good for their eyes. However, there have been great advancements in technology which have led to some creative and effective ways or learning. Try incorporating some new technology into their learning.

10. Start by setting the mood

To maximise their learning time, your child must be in the “learning mood.” Ease them into a learning routine and make it fun, get into the mood yourself and show them how excited you are about learning. By incorporating the mindset for learning, you enable your child to open their mind and be creative.