Back-to-school routines: how to support your child’s learning at home this autumn

After a relaxed holiday mindset, transitioning into a structured daily routine for the new school term can feel daunting for both parents and children. At the same time, autumn is a great opportunity to build small habits that make room for learning and keep curiosity alive throughout the academic year.

It’s about small habits, not big achievements 

When it comes to reading and maths, it’s not about sitting down for long periods, but rather having shorter sessions and letting it become a natural part of daily life.

Here are a few tips, but the most important thing is to adapt them to your child and your everyday routine.

1. Let your child wind down after nursery/school
   One idea is to create a moment to wind down after nursery or school with a healthy snack, some physical activity or free play.

2. Short sessions make a big difference
   You can try focusing on one subject at a time. For example, maths one day and reading the next. Short sessions are often better than long ones.

3. Turn everyday moments into learning opportunities
   Weave learning into daily routines by letting your child measure out ingredients for a recipe while cooking, or write the shopping list for the groceries.

4. Switch to “active” screen time
   When your child uses a screen, you can occasionally choose content that encourages them to think, solve problems, and make their own choices, for example, in the Albert app.

Make Albert part of your daily routine

The Albert app can complement other learning moments at home. Your child can practise maths and language through interactive, age-appropriate exercises, while you can track which areas they are working on in the parent portal. There are also printable worksheets and workbooks to supplement the in-app activities.

Summary

1. Wind down after school with a snack, play, or movement

2. Short learning sessions are better than long ones

3. Make learning a part of daily life

4. Replace “passive” screen time with “active” screen time focused on learning

Read more

• Education Endowment Foundation. (n.d.). Teaching and learning toolkit: Parental engagement. Education Endowment Foundation. 

• Education Endowment Foundation. (2019). Using digital technology to improve learning: Guidance report. Education Endowment Foundation. 

• Fridolfsson, I. (2019). Grunderna i läsundervisning (2:a uppl.). Studentlitteratur.

• LegiLexi. (u.å.). Läsning under sommarlovet. LegiLexi Kunskapsbank. 

• Specialpedagogiska skolmyndigheten (SPSM). (2023). Tydliggörande pedagogik: Struktur och förutsägbarhet i vardagen. SPSM.