3 Tips for a Happier Homeschool (Mom)
Homeschooling my kids is truly one of the greatest privileges and joys of my life, but even so, I still can find myself in a rut - feeling under-qualified, overwhelmed, and maybe even a little bored. And if I’m feeling these things, you can bet my kids are feeling some of it too!
If you’ve been feeling stuck in a rut, bored, and maybe a little joyless in your homeschool lately, I’ve got three tips to help you move through rough patch and get yourself (and your kids) excited about homeschooling again!
READ ABOVE THEIR LEVEL
I am a big fan of read-aloud, but one surefire way to guarantee I’m going to get bored of them, and dread doing them, is reading books that I don’t enjoy. And worse yet, the kids are sure to feel my resistance, and are far more likely to disengage. I highly recommend choosing read-alouds that are fun of you to read - and reading above your child’s reading level is a great way to increase their vocabulary and literacy, too! Don’t feel like you have to stick to first grade books for your first grader - go ahead and read those meatier chapter books, and you will all be happier for it!
LET YOUR KIDS TAKE THE LEAD
Ask your children what it is that they would like to learn about, and dive in! It may be marine biology or gardening or dinosaurs or how electricity works - but one the best ways to keep your kids engaged and having fun is to learn about the things they are interested in! Bonus, they will retain far more of the information if they’re invested in it! And as a homeschool mom, I love learning alongside my kids, and following their lead may just inject new life into our daily routine and learning. Find documentaries to stream, check out books from the library, create an art project - all based on the topic they’ve chosen. I bet you’ll all have fun doing it!
REMEMBER THAT NO SCHOOL COVERS IT ALL
As a homeschooling mom, I guarantee that you’ve felt like there is no possible way that you can teach your kids everything - and guess what? You can’t! But don’t fret, mama, public and private schools don’t teach everything either! Make peace with the fact that there will be gaps in what your child knows and learns - but there would be gaps no matter where they receive their education. Take the pressure off yourself for everything to be perfect. It doesn’t have to be. When you take the pressure off, a happier homeschool is practically a guarantee!
BONUS TIP!
If you’re looking for more support, encouragement, and a guide to help you feel more confident as a homeschool mom, I have just the thing for you! My masterclass, Master the Art of Home Education, is a 6-week Online Course to guide you out of homeschool overwhelm and turn you into an inspired home educator! I’d love to have you join me!
Tell me, what is your favorite way to bring the fun, and create a happier homeschool environment?