12 Tips for Homeschooling Children with Special Needs
With schools moving towards online and hybrid learning with COVID-19, many families have had to develop a new normal with homeschooling. The abrupt change in routine from a structured school day to learning at home is difficult for students of all ages and learning abilities. It can be even more so for students with special needs.
This major change to a child’s normal routine can cause challenging behaviors and bring up anxious feelings. Transitioning them to a different schedule can be very challenging for parents, especially for those already working outside the home or those having to teach multiple children at home.
While many schools remain closed until further notice, and other schools trying to adapt to modified in-person schedules, what can you do to support your child’s learning? We’ve put together a list of 12 tips for homeschooling children with special needs.
Set a routine
The first step you should take is to establish a schedule. Stick to the schedule even if your child grows bored with it. Once a schedule is in place, you can begin to prepare your home for where the different activities will take place.
You can involve your child in setting up the schedule if they express interest in that. Another idea is to write the daily schedule on a whiteboard and hang it in the room where your child will be learning as a visual reminder of what the day will hold.
2. Create a clean, quiet, clutter-free learning space
To maintain your child’s focus and interest, it is necessary to reduce stress and distractions. Avoid distractions like music, video and computer games, social media, TV, toys, and pets during learning time. If necessary, you can post a sign on the door with “school in session” to alert other family members. Your child might also benefit from wearing sound-canceling headphones for certain assignments or activities.
3. Take sensory breaks (for kids)
Require that your child take frequent breaks. This is also a good time for exercise and physical play before your child returns to more structured learning. Children benefit from physical activity after sitting down for a time to help get their energy out so they focus on their next assignment. A few ideas of simple activities are jumping jacks, wall push-ups, and stretches.
4. Take breaks (for parents)
You should also be sure to take breaks and practice self-care as the parent and now the teacher. The calmer you can be and the less anxious you are, the better. This is especially true when added stress can lead to meltdowns for some children. Children are quite intuitive and can often sense how we feel! In some cases, you might have to ‘fake it till you make it’ until you are able to take some time for yourself.
5. Limit duration of activities
Another strategy for maintaining your child’s focus and interest is to avoid any activity that is longer than 45 minutes. When necessary, break the activity into small and easy steps. You can demonstrate and then when applicable, ask your child to explain the steps to help engage them in the project. If they are unable to explain, you can have them repeat the demonstration back to you.
6. Include transitional warnings
When you are ready to transition from one activity to another, give your child a two-minute warning, but make it fun. For example, you can tell your child, ‘when the timer goes off, we’re going to finish up math and have a snack.’ This gives them something to look forward to, while also helping you move into the next subject or activity.
7. Set goals
Set goals for what you want your child to accomplish over the next two to three weeks. It can be eating with a utensil, dressing him or herself, washing their hands appropriately, etc.. When your child returns to school, they will have an added skill to take with them!
8. Allow downtime
It’s okay for your kid to have downtime during the day. It gives both you and your child time to have a break from one another. It’s okay for your child to engage in self-stimulatory behavior and it’s okay to have a little screen time or time to read a book. As a busy parent, these breaks will allow you to get some necessary cleaning done or start making dinner.
9. Connect with your child’s teacher
Since you are a brand new (homeschool) teacher for your child, it can be helpful to communicate with your child’s school teacher. You can address your child’s learning barriers through email, text, phone calls, or video conferencing. You can ask advice on how to help your child who is struggling with tasks like reading, comprehension, understanding, writing, and organization.
10. Talk to other parents of special needs children
Since so many of you are new to being a homeschool teacher, it will be necessary and beneficial to connect with other parents. You will be able to connect and support each other. No one has the perfect approach to this situation, so it is helpful to learn from and support each other. One easy way to find support is through Facebook groups. You can search for local groups, but you can also search for groups for parents of children with special needs.
11. Reduce stress at home for the whole family
Chances are, you are more busy than ever before! It can be hard to find peace and even time to relax. Going outside, seeing different scenery, and spending some time in the sun can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression. A few ideas for reducing stress during the day are to move the classroom outside, start using a meditation or yoga app designed for children for PE class, and build in enough breaks throughout the school day.
12. Stay positive
We can’t control what’s going on in the outside world, but we can control our mindset. One helpful tip is to place positive prompt cards around the house. Phrases like ‘You’ve got this’ and ‘You’re great’ are great reminders for both you and your kids!
We hope these tips have been encouraging and helpful to you to make the most of your time at home school. We know that the transition to teaching your kids at home during COVID-19 school closures is hard. We know that parents of children with special needs face unique challenges.
It’s okay if you as parents feel intimidated or not fully equipped to deliver the same level of education your children get from their teachers, specialists, and therapists. It takes time and a lot of positive reinforcement. But you may surprise yourself with how far you can go! Try to remember - you are not alone in this.
We are always available to provide resources, address concerns, and offer support during these times. Contact us today- for a free 30-minute discovery call to discuss your child’s unique needs.
