So, you are quarantined in your home due to the coronavirus pandemic, and you have the new title of teacher along with your other motherly tasks. Or maybe you simply want to start teaching your kids at home and you are wondering if you can really do it.
Let’s face it! Teaching your own children at home has its challenges! In this post we will cover some of the basic principles that will help you establish a great environment and routine for homeschooling success.
Problem #1: The Workload and Expectations are Set Too High
You may have one or multiple children to teach at home. If you are using distance learning programs offered by your homeschool or other online resources then this may pose as a problem if you have different assignments for different children. On top of this, if you work full time, then you still have your own professional tasks that must be completed. Also, this may be your very first time really teaching your kids at home, and you feel overwhelmed. Who’s work is more important? How can I make sure that everyone gets all of their work done without feeling exhausted by the end of the day, everyday?
Solution: Schedules and Communication
One thing you can do is create a schedule. This may seem obvious, but creating a schedule for your children, a schedule for yourself and then reconciling the two to a single schedule that works for everyone is a way to make sure everyone’s important responsibilities are seen and accounted for. I highly recommend laminating this schedule and putting it around the house. This is the laminator I owe: Scotch Thermal Laminator
To ensure that we are staying on schedule; and not getting lost in one tasks for too long of a period of time, I set alarms in my phone. I use my laminated schedule that I post around the house as a reference and set my alarms to go off when the next task is supposed to start within 5 to 10 minutes. Those extra 5 to 10 minutes gives us time to close down whatever we are currently working on, take a restroom break or just relax in general. Small breaks are extremely important. Surprisingly, I believe it is most important to the parents. You always need a moment to recharge instead of creating more and more unchecked anxiety or a spirit of rushing within the home.
When you are balancing your full time job and homeschooling you can try some of these tips to make scheduling more smooth.
- Do your tasks before the kids wake up or after they go to bed. This will ensure that you can work without interruptions. I like to wake up extra early to make sure I have time to myself and time to complete tasks without interruptions.
- Create a quiet time where the children are in the same room as you are, but working on something quiet. Maybe they can color or perform written homework assignments. If everyone is engaged in their work then you can freely work on your tasks and assignments as well.
Another important aspect is to make sure your expectations aren’t too high. This has always been a major problem for me, because my Type A personality is always on my shoulder telling me to do more. Sure, this can be very motivating at times. Other times it can be an unkind way to set yourself up for daily stress and anxiety. In terms of the children, make sure you communicate with their teachers who have given them assignments. Somethings may just be busy work, so ask their teachers what are the top priorities.
Problem # 2: Kids of Different Ages
Unless your child went to a Montessori school or any other school that may have mixed age classroom, you may notice that your children’s assignment each require for you to teach 3 to 4 hours worth of material per child, at the same time. Difficult. Stressful. Annoying. I could go on.
Let’s add that all of your children expect a certain amount of love and attention from their parents individually that they do not expect from their teachers. If you have a baby or toddler on top of all this then it may feel extremely overwhelming and impossible.
Solution: Divide and Conquer. Or Collaborate.
Distract the youngest one FIRST! Before you get into your older children’s assignments, make sure that the youngest (or the most likely to cause noise and destruction) is well entertained. If you are in full survival mode due to the lockdown orders for COVID-19, then by all means, use some screen-time with the youngest one as a distraction. Now, you can help get the older ones started and go back to retrieve the youngest child from the TV or iPad and begin teaching them from there.
If you have another adult in the house make sure to get a partner involved. You do not need to be the sole person responsible for the education of the children. As a team, you can switch between children or switch between who works on their own tasks and who is teaching the children. A nice rotation can be so helpful in making sure both persons (parents) feel productive at the end of the day.
However, if you are the only person capable or available to do this important work, then try to get all of the kids in the same room at the same time. Then you can all sit at a table and get to work. The kids can ask you questions about their assignments on a first come, first served basis. Since they are all in the same room or at the same table, you won’t have to move from room to room to check on everyone and whether they need your help.
Problem #3: Too Many Snacks
“I need a snack”. We have all heard it at some point or another. It can be a welcomed break or a personal nightmare if it goes unchecked everyday. Since we are currently dealing with the coronavirus outbreak as I write this, social distancing has limited the amount of times we leave the house. Safety is a bog concern of mine so I personally haven’t left my home in 3 weeks. However, Jeremy has left on 2 occasions to retrieve our groceries. With this in mind, snacks are few and far between. The last thing I want to do right now is run out of snacks because we did not set any limits or guidelines on snack consumption in our home.
Solution: Set Limits
Due to this, our children know that snack time happens twice a day. We have scheduled ALL the meal times. The maximum amount of snacks per day is 2. This alleviates the problem of not being hungry at proper mealtimes because the children are full of snacks. It has also cut down on the amount of times I find a mysteriously sticky iPad after everyone had a snack. Of course, everyone denies they were the last person to use it.
Problem #4: High Energy Kids
I wish I could bottle up all of their energy and drink it whenever I feel tired or in need of a boost. However, if the kids have a lot of pinned up energy then it can be even more difficult to get them to sit down and pay attention to a lesson.
Solution: Make Movement Ok
Try starting and ending the day with going outside or being active in some sort of way. Moms can even include their kids in their workout routine when it’s a rainy day.
Allow your younger kids (ages 7 and under) to wiggle and jiggle in their chairs. If you are teaching them a lesson or if they observing an online class, you may notice that they can’t sit completely. Naturally, I want to tell them to sit still, however, movement is normal and healthy for young children. As long as they are engaged in their lessons, try not to complain or criticize them for moving in their chair a little. This creates a less stressful, less annoying environment for the child to focus on learning.
Problem #5: No Alone Time
Moms!!!! This is a big one! If you didn’t have much alone time before I know this may seem nearly impossible to handle without going crazy. Since everyone is home 24/7 how will you get your must needed alone time to practice self care and to recharge?
Solution: Prioritize Me Time Every Day
It’s ok to escape to your car from time to time. You can even go to a room where no one else goes and take a breath. Go on a walk alone and just take in the time to clear your mind. When you separate from your kids or family you are not a bad person; you are a normal human being. We all need to be with our own thoughts sometimes without the demands of someone else interrupting us every second of the day.
In order to make sure I have alone time I like to wake up earlier than everyone else. On the days that I just can’t make this happen there is always the time after the kids go to bed. Even though we are practicing homeschool, we are not on vacation. The children have a set bedtime that we respect during the weekdays. Not only is this healthy for the kids since they need proper sleep to grow, it is always healthy for adults to have kid free time to themselves as well. You have probably heard the cliche, “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” So refill your cup and your recharge yourself so that you can be the happiest and most productive version of yourself for your family.
Me time is one of the most unselfish things you can prioritize, because instead of letting the ego fool you into overdoing your tasks everyday, you are preparing a mother who is full and happy for her kids. Make alone time a nonnegotiable part of your day.
These tips have really helped me to feel calm and at peace while homeschooling. It is the foundation that is needed in order to perform the lessons and be there fully for my family. Let me know in the comment section what has helped you overcome any stresses associated with homeschooling. Sharing is caring!
