Today is the last day of the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents. I was only able to share a few tips during the blog hop as I was a little busier than expected because my son was injured on Easter. I shared tips for homeschooling through challenges such as tips for homeschooling when a child is ill or injured, tips for homeschooling when you are ill or injured and tips for homeschooling through fatigue and stress.
You can check out all of my posts in the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents category which is also under the Homeschool drop down in my menu bar so the posts are easy to find.
Even though I only shared 3 posts, many members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew were participating, and I have read many of the posts, and they are amazing! There are so many different topics covered and they are shared from bloggers with different homeschool styles, family size, etc. You will definitely want to check them out!
Here are just a few of the participating bloggers:
Annette @ A Net In Time
Brandy @ Kingdom Academy Homeschool
Brenda @ Counting Pinecones
Carol @ Home Sweet Life
Cassandra @ A Glimpse of Normal
Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses
Cristi @ Through the Calm and Through the Storm
Crystal @ Crystal Starr
DaLynn @ Biblical Womanhood
Danielle @ Sensible Whimsy
To check out all of the participating homeschool bloggers be sure to visit the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents on the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog!
Homeschooling Through Stress and Fatigue
Fatigue and stress. Two unwelcome words that can wreak havoc on our day. Many times they can go hand-in-hand because excess stress can affect how we sleep. Sometimes they are completely independent. Regardless, homeschooling through stress and fatigue can be a big hindrance.
Over the past couple of days I’ve been sharing tips for homeschooling through challenges such as homeschooling when your child is ill or injured or homeschooling when ill or injured yourself. Just like illness and injury can be a challenge, fatigue and stress can be as well!
Homeschooling through Stress
Stress can affect our children as well as us. Sometimes it’s the homeschooling itself that can cause stress! Curriculum not a good fit? Things not going as planned? (Link) Get homeschool back on track to reduce stress for both yourself and your children. When things are running smoothly, everyone can relax!
Sometimes we can’t easily change the situations in our lives that cause stress like financial troubles, family situations, physical ailments, etc., but we can change how we react to them and make a conscious choice to shut it off during our homeschool.
We start each day with a prayer, and that’s a great time to pray over those stresses and then hand them over to God. Clear your mind and go into your homeschool day with God’s peace.
Homeschooling through Fatigue
Like stress, fatigue can affect your whole day. Fatigue can bring you down almost as much as an illness, which is why I would recommend many of the same tips I shared in homeschooling when ill or injured or even homeschooling with a chronic condition. In fact, fatigue goes along with my chronic condition! Here is a quick run-down of the tips I shared.
- Know your resources and use them wisely.
- Assign independent work.
- Homeschool from a relaxing place.
- Get help.
- Set a schedule that could reduce fatigue for both yourself and your children.
If your schedule allows – take a day off! Sometimes one day off is all you need to feel refreshed and rested!
5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents
Do you need some encouragement today? Are you having different challenges? Good news! There are a variety of members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew that are participating in the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents Blog Hop. You definitely don’t want to miss it! Here are just a few of the participating bloggers:
Dawn @ Double O Farms
Dawn @ Guiding Light Homeschool
Debbie @ Debbie’s Homeschool Corner
Desiree @ Our Homeschool Notebook
Diana @ Busy Homeschool Days
Diana @ Homeschool Review
Elyse @ Oiralinde: Eternal Song
Erin @ For Him and My Family
Jen @ Chestnut Grove Academy
To check out all the participating bloggers be sure to visit the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents on the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog! This is a series you don’t want to miss!
Homeschooling When You are Ill or Injured
Yesterday I shared tips for homeschooling when a child is ill or injured, but obviously children aren’t the only ones who get sick or hurt. Homeschooling when ill or injured can definitely be challenging particularly when you have children who need more guidance.
In the past I’ve shared information on homeschooling with a chronic condition, and a lot of the tips I recommended for the hard days definitely apply to when you’re ill or injured as well. Oftentimes my chronic condition makes me feel like I’m sick or hurting all over! All parents might not have a chronic condition, but most parents experience sickness or pain from time to time.
Homeschooling When Ill or Injured
As I mentioned yesterday, the ideal is definitely taking time off, but that is not always an option, so I wanted to share a few tips that have helped me get through those rough days!
Assign Independent Work
Although this may be more challenging for younger kids, there is generally independent work kids can do. Even if it’s work they can do *mostly* independently while asking a few questions here and there. This can give you some downtime while also helping kids work independently, which is an important skill. Relax nearby so you are able to answer any questions, but take it easy.
Anything can be independent work, but what I find makes the best independent work for our family is:
- Copywork
- Computer curricula and supplements
- Educational apps and curricula that is available on tablets
- Basic art such as coloring and drawing
- Math worksheets
- Educational videos
Obviously, this will depend on the ages of your children as well as abilities. All of our children are young (ages 9, 8 and 5), and only our 8 year old can read independently, so it really does limit what can be done as independent work. I definitely appreciate the computer and app related curricula during those times!
Change Location
Something I shared on the Homeschool Post was how our home is not a school. If you tend to have a structure more like a school or are very particular about where homeschooling takes place, this would be a good time to be flexible. Relax on the couch with your feet up while the kids sit and work. Read them a book while they sit next to you. Have them do work on the coffee table next to you so you can oversee and help with their work while also resting.
Recruit Some Help
I know this may not be an option for some. In fact, it likely isn’t an option for many, but perhaps if you truly consider the option, it may be possible. For example, if your spouse works, you can change around your schedule so your kids do some homeschool work in the evening rather than the morning. Perhaps there are people from church or a homeschool group that would be glad to help out as well. It’s OK to ask! Even if others may not be able to help with homeschooling, they may be able to help with the household tasks so you can focus on homeschool and recovery.
It’s important to remember that while homeschooling when ill or injured you have to take care of yourself or you could potentially prolong your illness or injury which could further complicate the homeschooling challenges.
5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents
Do you need some encouragement today? Are you having different challenges? Good news! There are a variety of members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew that are participating in the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents Blog Hop. You definitely don’t want to miss it! Here are just a few of the participating bloggers:
Jeniffer @ Thou Shall Not Whine
Jennifer @ A Peace of Mind
Jennifer @ Faithful Homestead
Joelle @ homeschooling for His Glory
Joesette @ Learning Curve
Kari @ Random Acts of Boyhood
Katie @ Katie’s Daily Life
Kemi @ Homemaking Organized
Kim @ Homestead Acres
Kylie @ Our Worldwide Classroom
To check out all the participating bloggers be sure to visit the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents on the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog! This is a series you don’t want to miss!
Homeschooling When a Child is Ill or Injured
As a mom homeschooling special needs children as well as homeschooling with a chronic condition, we definitely experience regular challenges. ALL homeschool families experience challenges, though, and homeschooling when a child is ill or injured is definitely no exception! For the next 4 days I will be sharing tips for homeschooling through challenges as part of the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents Blog Hop.
Homeschooling when a child is ill or injured is a reality for many homeschool families. Though I have heard of families going an entire year (or more) without any illnesses or injuries, it’s more common to hear of those days or weeks when someone has the sniffles, allergies flare up, a stomach bug hits, a child has a bad fall, etc. Sometimes it’s one child, sometimes it’s all of them at the same time! So what is a homeschool parent to do?
Homeschooling When a Child is Ill or Injured
Take a Day Off
One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling (or, at least, *I* think it is) is the fact that we can be so flexible. Just like a child would take a sick day from a school outside the home, a child could simply take a sick day from homeschool as well. If more than one child is sick, it might be best to take a whole day off for everyone. We actually plan our schedule in a way that allows for days off.
Sometimes taking a day off just isn’t an option, though. Maybe you’ve already taken too many days off and can’t afford anymore.
Stick to the Basics
Your child already isn’t feeling well, so now is not the time to cram in all the extra curricular activities. Besides, if illness is the culprit, you surely don’t want to go to extra curricular activities outside the home and spread the illness!
Although I, personally, think the arts and science are very important, when a child isn’t feeling well, it’s best to keep things as minimal as possible, so I focus more on language arts and math and go from there. If they are still feeling OK then we will add in others one at a time being careful not to overdo it.
Keep it Relaxed
Maybe you have a very strict schedule and even location in your home for homeschooling. Sometimes we just have to loosen those reigns, though, to keep our child comfortable. If they aren’t feeling well, and they aren’t comfortable, they won’t get anything done. Their comfort is important for healing, so pull a TV tray up to the couch or pull the coffee table closer. Allow them to watch video lessons while stretched out on the couch.
If you are a little particular, you may feel uneasy like maybe you’re setting bad habits. Changing your routine to help your child heal isn’t going to set long-term bad habits. Simply make it clear you are only changing your schedule while they get better.
Take cues from your child. Only they can tell you how they’re feeling and what they can (and can’t) handle. If you do end up needing to take some extra days off, it may not be fun for anyone, but you can always make them up on Saturdays as well. It’s important to remain flexible and remind yourself you’ll get through it and focus on nursing them back to better health!
Of course, while homeschooling when a child is ill or injured, don’t forget to pray for and with your child over their illness or injury as well as your homeschool!
5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents
Many members of the Schoolhouse Review Crew are participating in the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents Blog Hop. There is a wealth of information being shared that you don’t want to miss! Here are just a few of the participating bloggers:
Kym @ Homeschool Coffee Break
Latonya @ Joy in the Ordinary
Laura @ Day by Day in Our World
Leah @ As We Walk Along the Road
Lisa @ Farm Fresh Adventures
Lori @ At Home: where life happens
Meg @ Adventures with Jude
Megan @ My Full Heart
Melanie (Wren) @ finchnwren
Melissa @ Mom’s Plans
To check out all the participating bloggers be sure to visit the 5 Days of Tips for Homeschool Parents on the Schoolhouse Review Crew Blog! This is a series you don’t want to miss!