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Due to COVID-19 outbreak, we are all advised by experts and health authorities to stay at home for both our and everyone else’s safety. This means no going to school, no going to the park, no social gatherings of any kind. It may become overwhelming for those caring for a child with special needs. Your child might have to miss on education as they cannot go to their special education classes. These times may even have a direct impact on the child’s behavior as their routines will be disrupted for an uncertain period of time. We wanted to give a few tips on how to homeschool and entertain your child with special needs at home.
How to transition
Transitioning to a period with no going-outside-activities is tough. Children with autism may become attached to their routines and be irritated if their routines are disrupted. The first thing you can try out at home is to create daily charts. Daily visual charts can specify what you are going to tackle that day. If your child knows what is coming next, it will make a big difference, they will be calmer when transitioning from one activity to another.
Involving your child into this routine of homeschooling will help them tremendously. You don’t have to strictly stick to the curriculum at school. Including the topics or items your child loves into the learning routine will help them be calm and much more interested in the educational aspect. If you have the chance, you can remotely consult your child’s special education teacher on what you can incorporate in your homeschooling routine.
Allow your child some downtime for them to spend some time quietly and independently. Not every second has to be filled with educational materials. This essentially weighs the same importance in a child’s routine, amongst other things. Arts and crafts can also be a great way to include creativity into the homeschooling routine. Everyday items found around the house can be turned into arts and crafts projects. When they are engaged in the play, they learn and develop crucial motor and visual skills. Break the activities into small steps, demonstrate, and ask your child to explain the steps they are doing to engage them in the project.
This temporary fix is not aimed at replacing all school structures. It is to make children feel more secure, help them phase through this uncertain time, and make the most of the hours spent at home. It is important to figure out what your child finds important and what engages their interest. This way, the child will be intrigued and actively enjoy learning new things. At home, you will have a better idea about what works for your kid and what doesn’t. It can be a great opportunity to fine-tune and perfect the educational material your child consumes when you support their education at home. If you feel like something is not working, try something else.
We Are Here For You
We are truly saddened by what is going on around the world at the moment and deeply empathize with you about the unexpected new challenges you may be facing as parents.
At Otsimo, we have taken the necessary measures to, first of all, ensure our safety as well as the continuity of our work. With our experience and scientific background, we are ready to assist parents and caregivers in their attempts to provide education to and entertain their children at home. To facilitate homeschooling attempts of parents and caregivers, we wanted to offer Otsimo Special Education app at a 67% discount for everyone during this time of social distancing. Our hope is that you and your little hero can stay safe without compromising on their education.
If you have any additional questions or need anything, our team is here to support you. Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] .
