8 Tips for Parents Starting the Homeschooling Journey

This year has been unlike any year before. As majority of schools have already started the fall semester, some have opened classrooms back up while others remain remote. Some parents refuse to send their children back to school in the middle of a pandemic, understandably so. We’ve just seen a alarming number of children test positive for coronavirus and frankly for some parents it’s hard to put your faith in the schools that they are doing everything necessary to keep your child safe. For very young children, who are prone to touch everything and are walking germs, it’s going to be harder to get them to follow the rules, social distance, wear a mask, etc. because they don’t understand the extent of the virus. For those reasons many parents are opting to home-school their children whether their child’s school is back open or not. For those embarking down that journey, we’ve got you covered with some helpful tips.

1. Schedule: First things first a schedule is very important for both you and your child. You can start by creating a schedule similar to one your child would have in school. This will help them keep that same sense of routine. A schedule will also help you as well because you can map out when you have time to tackle your tasks (perhaps when they’re taking a nap or eating lunch).
2. Get Creative: We know it’s not going to be easy, especially if you have no experience being a teacher, but your best bet will be to get creative. As parents you have the luxury of knowing your child better than any teacher could, try incorporating their likes/hobbies into the lesson as a way to get them excited to learn.
3. Patience: Patience is a virtue, so remember to be patient with both yourself and your child. It might take some time to get into a good rhythm.
4. Work Space: For parents of younger children, it could be helpful to create a small workplace with a desk, supplies, etc. to resemble the classroom. This can help them feel like they are at school and not home.
5. Set Goals: It can be helpful to set some beginning of the year goals for your child based off of their age (for example maybe you want your child to be able write their name by the end of the year). This will allow you to track your child’s progress throughout the year and keep them up to date with other children their age. Also make sure they are on target for their age group with math, writing and reading skills.
6. Keep in Contact with your child’s teacher: Older children are homeschooling, so their teacher is still available for contact. Use this to your full advantage for any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s learning.
7. Family Activities: Have multiple children or a big family? Try making everyday family activities into a learning experience. This kills two birds with one stone. It is helping the children learn, but can also be something fun for the family to do together as everyone struggles to stay entertained in a pandemic.
8. Allow Break Time: Everyone needs a break, including children. Allow them some break time much like the recess they would have in school. You can come up with different activities everyday. This will help keep them active as well.
9. Work with other parents: The best thing about this, is that you aren’t going through it alone. There are parents all over the country embarking on the same journey. You can try contacting a friend with children or even contact one of your child’s parents to share what works for you and get some advice or tips from them. If nothing else, it may help you feel better to just know that they’ve experienced the same challenges as you.

Got some more tips for homeschooling share? Share them below.