Hello Dear Readers!
It has been a whirlwind the past few months. Is anyone else still trying to catch their breath?
If you feel overwhelmed with the prospects of homeschooling your children, or at least being their temporary proctor, don't fret!
Here are some practical tips for the new-to-homeschooling parent:
1. Grace.
And lots of it. Not only is this experience new to you, it's most likely new to your child too. It can get overwhelming, and it's important to know that you are both learning together.
2. Patience.
As both you and your child adjust to a new routine of doing school at home (whether your child's school is now online, or you had always homeschooled), it's going to be messy for at least the first week. They may get overwhelmed and they may miss deadlines. It happens. But it doesn't mean that they aren't trying. Just be patient with them. Given a little bit of room, they just may surprise you.
3. A space of their own.
Maybe you have more than one child of schooling age, and a couple of them share a bedroom. That's good, but when it comes to school, every child needs his/ her own place to study. Not only does it help with attention span and work quality, but it also helps them to learn the simple components of being independent.
4. Wiggle time.
What kid doesn't have the wiggles? I'm almost 19 and I still get the wiggles if I have to sit too long! Let your kids have wiggle time. Breaks are important. Especially now that school means your child has to stare at a computer screen.
5. Routine.
Routine was never a bad thing, but it is crucial now. Attacking a school day at home can seem daunting unless you know where to start. If your child has more than one class/ subject a day, ask their school if there is a suggested "schedule" for the school day. This can be helpful for the younger students to know what to do, and how to prioritize.
6. Breakfast is special.
I know I am supposed to say it's the most important meal of the day and blah, but I think breakfast is special because it is a great time to do devotions as a family. (Or you could do dinner time devotions...) Starting the day off with with good food and good time in the Word is important.
7. Repeat...
Maybe not in this order, but you are definitely going to have to repeat!