5 Survival Tips for New School-At-Homers

Hi Friends!

Many of you are a week or so into being home with your kids.  You were used to sending them off to school for 6ish hours a day.  And now they are all home.  All day.  Bored and hungry.  They're looking to you for entertainment, escape from boredom, and as much screen time as possible.

And then their school assigned them work.  Great!  They will have something structured to do.  But wait...now you're the teacher.  You didn't sign up for this.  Unlike traditional homeschoolers, you had this thrust in your lap with no warning.  I thought they were going to have 2 weeks of spring break.  What?  Quarantined?!?  Social distancing?  Stay HOME with my beautiful but highly energetic, kids for HOW LONG? 

Here - now you do it.

Don't worry.  There is hope!

Seasoned homeschool moms know that starting a full courseload with kids cold turkey is epic chaos.  That's why we ease into it.  At the beginning of the school year and after holiday breaks or prolonged sickness.  Two subjects the first week, four the next, and keep adding gradually until they're up to a full courseload.

Brick and mortar school families, I have been thinking about you and your kids because I understand how stressful it is to suddenly be the one who is educating them.   It is a great responsibility and should not be taken lightly.  I hope to provide you with resources to ease the journey.  It is my hope that in my posts, you will find encouragement and a sympathetic ear.

Having school at home is a big deal.  You did not choose this.  It was thrust into your lap without notice and here you are with 1 or more kiddos at home needing instruction and you without a teaching degree.  Don't worry - many homeschooled parents don't have formal teaching degrees.  We figure it out over time. 

Here is a truth I have discovered:  You only have to do ONE day at a time.  When all of it seems overwhelming, remind yourself that you only have to deal with today.  No one has trained you, but you and the kids will figure out how to use their district's online options.  One day at a time.

We have homeschooled our kids for 8 years now and there are many, many lessons I've learned, mostly by doing the wrong thing.  (Sorry Art Girl - you are truly my guinea pig!)

You are not alone.

If you are fortunate enough to have a school district that hasn't mandated certain curriculum for your kids, you are the winner!  You can choose to do whatever you want.  If you have a budding artist, find art courses online.  If you have a build-happy future engineer, let him go to town with Legos or K'Nex.  Your older kids can binge watch historical documentaries or learn about countries they'd like to travel to one day.  Go on hikes.  Enjoy nature.  You have the freedom to read and discuss the Bible together.  You can discuss your faith.  What do you think Heaven will be like?  With all the discussions about the coronavirus, they probably will be thinking about what might happen if they or a loved one die.  You can have open, honest conversations.  You have the luxury of TIME in the comfort of your own home to help your children grow and develop in the way that you want.  What a wonderful freedom!

That being said, there are many hours in a homeschool day.  Here is a brief survival guide for you newbies.

My 5 Best School-At-Home Survival Tips: 

1.  Breathe and Pray

If you are stressed and the kids all need you to check their math work at the same time, take a moment.  Tell them you need 5 minutes.  Go somewhere quiet and breathe in and out deeply.  Pray to God for patience and endurance.  Pray to him for peace.

2.  Take breaks

If everyone is ready to throw their laptops out the window, it is time for a break.  You are at home.  The weather is beautiful.  Let them take a recess.  Sometimes for 10 minutes, maybe an hour.  How much time do you need to regroup?  Give yourself time.

3.  Grace

This is new to you and to your children.  It's strange and confusing.  They aren't seeing their friends everyday.  Lonely, frustrated.  We all are.  Give yourself grace, and give your kiddos a truckload of grace, too.

4.  Time

When you are doing school at home, you do not have to keep a 9 to 3 schedule.  You can set your own schedule.  Let your kids sleep in.  Choose a time that suits your littles to work on their skills.  Let your older children set their own schedule to complete each day's work.

You may be surprised.  My 11-year-old likes to hop on the computer first thing in the morning and get it all done.  She is usually done by 10 a.m!  I am super not a morning person, nor are my littles.  We have breakfast between 9 and 9:30 and start school at 10 or 11.  Whenever we're good and ready.   We usually do an hour, break for lunch, then finish up after lunch.

Yesterday, none of us (including me) wanted to do school, so we did fun stuff until we had it all out of our system.  We worked on schoolwork from 3-5 p.m.  

5.  Fun!

No one wants to sit at their desk, doing the same thing day after day.  The kids don't.  You don't.

So...have some fun!  Take a trip to park (or the backyard), watch a morning movie, have a picnic for lunch.  You can even have theme days.  Pajama day is every day, so maybe not that one.  Dress like a pirate day, be your favorite movie character day, etc.  It gives them something to look forward to.  You might be amazed how quickly they accomplish their schoolwork in the morning if they know something fun is coming in the afternoon.  And vice versa.  After a morning of fun, they may be ready to sit down to work and get it done.


At the top of this article, Shop Girl is pictured coloring while listening to an audiobook. 

We are currently listening to the Railway Children by Edith Nesbit.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18