Finding Balance in Homeschooling
I have a great homeschool question for everyone to think about and answer this weekend. It is one that I hope a lot of people will chime in on, as I am sure it is something many homeschoolers have dealt with or are dealing with themselves.
How do you do balance everything(the house, shopping, school, outside activities) and along the same lines, how do you balance different learning styles? In my house I know that I have 1 child who works best with a schedule and another who doesn’t like schedules at all. He does best when he is in charge more. I just want to know how other homeschoolers find a balance.
Trying to find a perfect balance among kids who are all different can be hard to do. Unlike a classroom where they can move on with the majority, in homeschooling a parent wants each child to be able to progress at their own pace. When you have children requiring different things from you that can be difficult to do.
And then there is the added work of finding a balance in the housework that needs to be done and the homeschooling. Trying to care for the household on top of teaching requires balance that some cannot maintain. What are your tips and suggestions for this issue?
homeschooling, housework, balance, children, education
October 12th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
I’ll be honest and say I have yet to find balance. My ADD, my daughter’s ADHD, and the medical stuff just makes me all loopy. Of course, I’m ALWAYS loopy. lol.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:16 pm
I really don’t know. I am still trying to find that balance. I look forward to your answers.
October 12th, 2007 at 10:38 pm
Well not that I have found “IT” but a couple of things that have helped.
I have always done all housework in the morning before we start any “school” at noon. I’m thankful that both my son and I are not morning people and I can’t “do school” if I’m surrounded by stuff I think I need to do. So by getting it done it helps me focus. Now I have a 4 year old who is raring to do school as soon as he wakes up in the morning so there have been some “adjustments” on our parts to accommodate his needs.
The second thing that has really helped me find a balance is less cooking. I know it sounds strange but I was cooking way too much. To many “meals”, too many 3 meals and a day and snacks. How I cut down? I drastically changed our menu to much simplier fare and I’ve asked for help and little help really goes a long way. For example every Monday morning my preschooler (who LOVES to bake and I never did enough of that with him) we make up batches of muffins, loaves and cakes as part of our “schooling” routine in the morning”. What we get done on Monday lasts easily all week long for breakfastes and snacks and sometimes lunches. My 12 year old is in charge of lunch, he makes a soup or simple sandwiches or pasta with cheese. He enjoys the responsibility of feeding us (especially me because I forget to eat). And he now understands what effort it takes. Suppers are much simplier now too, One big “sunday” family meal a week, leftovers another night, vegetarian night (pasta or a no meat dish), appetizer or pizza night on Fridays where everyone makes their own or helps. Anyways less cooking is good!
Lastly I keep certain “days” aside of certain kids. Mondays I spend doing “book work” with Joshua (12), focused time where the preschooler gets to do something something special while I work with Josh. Likewise the preschooler gets Thursdays. Josh does more independent work that day so I can “focus” on Noah’s needs and school the way he likes. The other days? Sometimes we do stuff together sometimes we just see how it goes and if it isn’t “going” we stop and do something else, watch a movie, read a book again something simple.
I really believe simplicity is the key.
Sorry for being so long winded, this is a great question that I think I will forward onto our homeschool group for input, I really look forward to others comments.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:59 am
I remember something our doctor told me when I was fretting that my fussy toddlers were not eating balanced meals. He reminded me that with kids it is sometimes best to strive for a balanced day, or even balanced week.
I apply that same concept to our lives. I use a planner where half the page are lined columns for each day of the week, and hte bottom is just lined. I can visual designate items to specific days, or just add them to the bottom. Things like post office, library, craft time, or write thank-yous can happen at any time. This gives more flexibility for kids moods and ilks.
Also, take a good stock of activities, and trim the fat. Get rid of anything that you do that the kids hate, or you hate. Say no to obligatory guilt. If the only day you can sleep in and have a breakfast as a family is SUnday, then go to church every other week. While waiting for one child’s piano lesson, do work with the other in the car. Don’t let activities take on a life of their own while sucking yours dry!
October 13th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
[...] on Finding Balance by Summer Minor Yesterday’s big question was on balance in the home with homeschooling. It seems to be something that many homeschoolers have trouble with. When a parent is home all day [...]
October 13th, 2007 at 5:25 pm
Ah, balance! I don’t think it matters if you homeschool or public school, have 1 child or 6 - if you’re a mom, you’re looking for balance. The difficult part is that balance looks different for each of us.
Each family has it’s own set of priorities. Folks usually feel more balanced when they’re spending the majority of thier time and energy on the highest priorities.
I think moms can really benefit from taking a time out and figuring out what’s important to them. No one can do it all, but with specific, realistic goals in mind (and on paper) things don’t seem as out of control.
October 13th, 2007 at 7:25 pm
We try to do a half hour to an hour of housework every morning and, if possible, about 10 to 20 minutes at night. Morning cleaning includes quick kitchen clean-up, vacuum main living areas, tidy living room and everyone has one bathroom job. I do laundry when I can fit it in between subjects. More in-depth cleaning happens either one afternoon a week or on Saturday.
Evening clean-up is just a fast pick-up.
Of course, it helps that my youngest is eight. The younger years were a lot less tidy!
October 17th, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I just wanted to echo what Angela said. Rather than trying to get everything in a day, shoot for a balanced couple days/week.
As your boys get older, the different learning styles may seem less of an issue. If the older is drawn to do so, you may find ways to let him teach the younger things- or vice versa for that matter. You’ll be able to give them more independent work.
Also don’t forget to recognize that kids learn from everything they do. Helping with meals for example might teach a little math, a little science, a little about health etc.