Many parents are making the shift to homeschooling their children. If you’re one of these parents, first off—God bless you. 😂 Secondly, good for you! You’re taking the initiative to do what YOU think is best for your kids and that’s what being a parent is all about.
It’s not always fun and it can most definitely be challenging, but at the end of the day, all of us have to follow our parental instincts and get the job done. 👏🏻 We thought we’d share some helpful tips that will make your transition to homeschooling run a little smoother. Check out our three tips below! 👇
TIP 1: Follow the Rules: Homeschooling has mandatory requirements, too!
Even though you’re taking the physical school away from your child, you still are required to deal with the school system. Homeschoolers are still required to abide by certain rules and follow a certain curriculum to stay on course. This may seem a bit intimidating to research, but luckily, the internet makes everything easier!
You can simply look up your state’s education website or learn all the details through local or national organizations. Home School Legal Defense Association is a great resource!
TIP 2: Create a functional, designated classroom setting.
When you first introduce homeschooling to your children, there’s a good chance they may have difficulty separating their at-home routine from their at-work routine. Whether your child has been in a school setting before or just turned old enough to start school, it’s going to take some getting used to for everyone in the beginning!
The best thing you can do to make the experience run as smooth as possible is by having a designated classroom environment within your home. Ideally, this space should be set aside for school and work only. If your children are learning in a room they play or relax often, they will be more likely to misbehave, getl distracted, or feel less motivated to learn. It may require you to clean out that guest bedroom but we’re pretty sure that’s doing more good than harm… 😉(You’ll thank us later).
TIP 3: Follow a daily schedule OR checklist.
When you start homeschooling, there’s a good chance that, in the beginning, you’re going to feel like you didn’t accomplish much. If you plan your schedule down to the minute, you’re basically setting yourself up for failure. Kids are bound to misbehave, run off course, or take longer than expected on a specific section. Don’t set insane expectations. Be realistic with yourself and leave windows of time in your schedule.
If a schedule altogether stresses you out, you might want to start with a checklist! Your child will also LOVE checking things off the list and feeling as if they are conquering the day with you rather than being instructed on what to do.
You got this, Teacher!
You are a natural teacher. You have done a GREAT job at raising your little one so far. Teaching them an education is no different from teaching them their manners! Give yourself grace, share your excitement, and always encourage your child when they do good work.
Before you know it, you’re going to be a pro at this! Happy learning!
