While the homeschooling idea might be a whole new concept to some families, it is one of the common trends in education which families and individuals are adopting and embracing. The ballooning numbers in private and public schools have led to poor quality education, and learners keep falling through the cracks, creating a ripple effect in their academic lives and poor performance. Parents who know the secret are homeschooling and reaping the huge benefits of this gem. Benefits such as a 1:1 student-teacher ratio, academic flexibility, and the ability to focus on the learners’ areas of weakness are some of the desired benefits of homeschooling.
Working from home and homeschooling
When you decided to work from home, you probably wanted more time with your family, more flexibility, and more value for your money. You may not get time with your family if your child attends school from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nothing has actually changed. Your child probably needs to gain more from a class of 50 pupils, which is sometimes a challenge; therefore, there is no value for the money you pay.
This article is for you if you are working from home. You need flexibility, value for money, growth and total control over your child’s education. This is what homeschooling brings to the table.
Here are some suggestions, tips, and tricks to get you started
Maximize Flexibility
Plan your tasks to meet the needs of your family and childcare options. Make sure you can prioritize less-important tasks for moments when distractions are likely and save tasks that are more demanding for times the times you’re free of distraction. If you have homeschooling and parenting duties with your spouse, you can divide and conquer to ensure that one parent works alongside the other at work and in reverse.
Explore A Relaxed Homeschooling Style
Accept whatever the day may bring. The time can seem rushed when you’re at work and homeschooling. When things do not go as planned, try to make the most of what you’re in a position to do and then pick up any lost threads later in the day.
Expect The Unexpected
Take frequent breaks from work to visit your child’s progress and see the progress. Expect unexpected interruptions and changes in your priorities. Hot water from the heater is likely to leak, your dog will become sick, the entire bag of beads will tip over, and you’ll not be able to find a quick lunch option all in one day. The deadline for your big project will be moved up; your internet will stop working, and then your email will overflow with “ASAP” demands. Relax, prioritize, give your child a huge hug and try to do the best you can. Certain days are going to be tougher. However, some days will be easier.
Manage Interruptions Effectively
How can your family members best communicate with you to reduce distractions while you work? If your child is older, the spiral notebook could be transformed into an “Ask me later” book. Questions or thoughts can be written down and secured until the time for work is up, and you can discuss the issues. Establish the appropriate guidelines for urgent and. situations that are not urgent, and offer them a method to keep track of when it’s appropriate to interrupt your work in a time-bound work session. Make everyone aware of how you’d like to be listened to when necessary. (Stand at the front of the building and sit there waiting to be noticed? You can say, “Excuse for me to …” Make an entry on a piece of paper and present the note to me?) In an emergency, all rules go out. Make sure your children know how to recognize an emergency!
Convey Your Attention And Presence At All Times You Are Able
When you’re not working, ensure you are as present as possible to your kids. Make sure they know they’re the most important thing in your free time, and take advantage of it for all that is. Rejoice when you’re done doing your job for the day. Take down your mobile and laptop, and reconnect with your family.
Communicate!
Homeschool calendars, planners’ chore charts, and even reminder lists can ensure everyone knows what’s to come daily. When you eat breakfast or dinner, review the plans for the next day to ensure that everyone is in the same boat about what needs to be done. Consider when an adult can assist them and when they have to work completely independently. Discuss what tasks are expected to be completed independently, with no assistance from adults, and which tasks may require effort from a group. Be clear about what you expect and invite suggestions from everyone in the family regarding how to help things flow more smoothly the next day.
Give your child tools to use when waiting for your attention.
Be clear on the times you work and do not work. If you can, adhere to regular “work time.” You could set an alarm or timer to ensure your children know when you’ll be theirs again. Children younger than five may need an easy-to-see image, for example, a specific cap on your head to indicate that you’re “at work.” The older children may be interested in a list of preferred activities (such as reading for free and art-related projects, journals, or other activities) to engage in when they are unable to proceed without assistance or are eager to get your attention. Tell them how much you appreciate your patience.
Help Children To Learn How To Help Themselves
Once they’ve acquired the ability to cook meals for themselves when they need to provide them with easily manageable meals, breakfasts, and snacks, foods that don’t require cooking and pre-cooked foods are great; Prepare these meals in advance, with the help of all family members if it is possible. Create routines and systems to ensure that your child can handle issues like changing bathroom paper, sharpening the pencil, or feeding the family’s pet. Encourage siblings to assist each other before asking for assistance. The ability to be a responsible helper may take patience to master; it, therefore, begins today.
Divide Household Responsibilities
Every person can be accountable for something in a manner that balances their strengths with the demands of the entire family. The routines and reminders of love can help everyone get their tasks completed. If you notice something that is falling between the cracks, hold an informal family meeting to discuss the issue and come up with a solution. If an older child is the one who has the responsibility of a younger child while you work to complete your work, make sure that you consider this when you come up with a reasonable way to manage things.
Keep Craft Materials, Games Books, Toys, And Books In Easy Reach
Remove the items that you would like them to have access to as well, and then put away the items you don’t want them to be doing or using on their own without supervision. Through trial and error, you’ll learn what items should be kept out of your reach until you can assist. Make sure you have many tools for cleaning and other materials in your home if your kids love to make with a flurry of enthusiasm! Set aside time for cleaning up the family every evening to clean things they could not handle by themselves.
Work Smart!
Try to stay organized and efficient. Make time every week to plan your schedule. Ensure you have a good planner and a workable task list (such as an organized notebook with a bullet). Eliminate distractions in any reasonable way. Ensure you have more time to work than necessary to complete the task. Set up a comfortable workspace and a routine that will allow you to return to work when you’ve been pushed away.
Learn From Others
Negotiate swaps and playdates with other parents to help create some kid-free time each week that you can use for long stretches of focused work. Seek out win-win situations. Two of my friends and I share a regular arrangement where one mother instructs three children for a couple of hours while the other parents work. A tutor could be a good investment. Find a “mother’s assistant” for children who are too old to go alone. Drop-off activities for older kids can be a great way to fill in areas of need.
Securely Care For Yourself
Make your health and well-being at the top of your list of priorities. Being at home with kids around demands lots of perseverance and endurance. Ensure you are taking care of yourself by exercising, eating well, staying hydrated, and taking time to sleep. Request and accept assistance from other people. Make time to recharge in any way that makes sense, given your circumstances. Give yourself due consideration!
For good reasons, you have likely set your sights on homeschooling as a top priority. Reconsider those reasons if you’re inclined to think about changing your mind. It’s not for everyone, but it allows learning to be done at home for families where the at-home parent is also working.
Stay calm, and keep going because you’re doing great!
While these guidelines can help you achieve equilibrium while working at home or homeschooling, there’s always an imbalance from time to time.
“During these periods, make sure to be patient with yourself and show plenty of patience, and your children even much more”, Dr Fox stated. “This is all new for you, particularly for your children. Be patient and understand that things cannot go as planned. If they don’t, you’re free to alter your course.”
There will be good and bad times, and you’ll make it through this period. Remember the most important things, have a positive outlook, and enjoy this time of chaos.
Conclusion.
Homeschooling your child doesn’t have to be a hair-splitting affair, not when we are here. We help families working from home successfully set up and hit the ground running. Contact us today if you need further assistance.
