Some parents choose to educate their kids at home, but if you’ve been forced into homeschooling because of the pandemic, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and over-stressed. These feelings are completely normal, and it helps to know you’re not alone. Many parents have found themselves in the same situation in these chaotic times.
Whether you homeschool by choice or not, stress can still play a big role. Schooling your children at home can be unpredictable at times, but if you develop a routine and don’t put too much stress on yourself or your children, homeschooling can be fruitful and enjoyable for everyone. Here are a few ways you can take the stress out of educating your kids.
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Get Support
If you feel like you weren’t cut out for teaching things like math, science, and English, that’s perfectly normal. Parents don’t need to know everything! When you come up against subject matter you don’t feel confident helping your child with, set them up with online tutoring from another parent, a teacher, or a professional tutor. If you have expertise in a certain field, you could offer to tutor another parent’s child in exchange for them helping your child with the subjects you’re not confident with.
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Remember Why You’re Homeschooling Your Kids
Homeschooling children can be tough, so on the days that seem particularly rough, remind yourself why you’re doing it. Instead of thinking of it as a chore that has to be done, consider the fact that you’re safely continuing your child’s education during a global health crisis. It’s okay to struggle so long as you are keeping your family safe and healthy.
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Adjust Your Expectations Daily
Don’t expect too much from yourself or your children because it only makes things more stressful when no-one lives up to those expectations. Some days will be less productive than others, and that’s alright. Approach each day with a fresh mindset and be flexible in your expectations as homeschooling can be tricky and unpredictable a lot of the time.
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Get into a Routine
If you’re like most parents, you’re probably working your full-time job in addition to homeschooling your kids. And of course, there’s also the housework to think about. It’s a good idea to get everyone into a routine so each member of the household is on the same page at the same time.
Use a calendar to plan out events and appointments and to assign chores to each individual. Put it in an oft-visited spot in the house where everyone can see it and add to it as necessary. When each family member knows what the others are doing and when they are doing it, it makes for a much less stressful existence during a very unpredictable time.
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Take Time to Unwind
At the end of the day, when work, school, and housework are done, make sure to take time for yourself. Read a book, take a bath, go for a walk, engage in some mood-boosting hobbies – whatever it takes to calm your mind and rejuvenate your soul. If you have a partner, this time can be spent talking about each other’s day and any thoughts on the homeschooling front. Conversations like this can really help you get rid of stress so you can do it all over again tomorrow.
Homeschooling is hard work. There never seems to be enough time in a day to get everything done, and the pressure of all that responsibility can be overwhelming. Though it will always be a challenge, the tips above should at least take the stress out of homeschooling your kids.
Photo: Ketut Subiyanto/Pexels
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