When kids don’t want to work.
Here is a great question for homeschoolers that was emailed to me. I know I have my own ideas on this, but I would love to hear some of the more experienced homeschoolers add their responses to this. I know that kids aren’t alone in there, there are days when mom just wants to kick back and relax too. So share your thoughts, ideas, and tips on what to do when the kids (or yourself) just wants to do nothing all day.
Thanks for making your experiences available to others! I’m looking forward to your Friday answer days.
I have not begun homeschooling yet, but the more I explore, the more I want to try this with my family. I have 2 daughters - 5 and 8, who are entering Kindergarten and 4th grade in a private Christian school.
While I am convinced that Homeschooling is a great option for us, my husband is still skeptical. One of his main concerns is that he will come home at the end of the day and our school work will not be done.
I guess my question is, how do you deal with those days when the kids are uncooperative, especially when there are things that I feel are necessary to their education, but they don’t particularly enjoy.
homeschooling, kids, education, work, children
July 13th, 2007 at 9:56 am
I get out the games. If we are working on multiplication for instance, and my kids are feeling sluggish or balkity, I have a few great games, such as Mythmatical Battles, that they really enjoy, and do a great job at drilling the facts. It is worthwhile making your own games up as well, to practice the specific things your kids are doing right now.
Secondly, don’t sweat it. If (for the most part) the kids are doing alright, take them out for a field trip, a park day, a nature walk, a movie, something different than your usual stuff. Learning doesn’t end because they’re not looking at a workbook (or whatever). If they don’t feel like reading right now, then put in a book on tape and let them draw. If they don’t feel like writing, take a narration. There are lots of ways that you can cover the same ground without following the same path as yesterday. Don’t worry, learning happens.
July 13th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
[...] 13th, 2007 Mom Is Teaching posted a question from someone considering homeschooling. I’ve opted to answer here as my response is rather [...]
July 13th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Games and laughter are ALWAYS an ideal way to get things rolling along again. You can turn just about anything into a game (even if it’s just timing how fast you can do a few problems, or playing Simon Says to reinforce something). If they’re learning, they’re learning!
We’ve taken bookwork outside, to Starbucks, to the park … you name it! We have also occasionally just taken a break, when it’s a bad day emotionally (or when we’ve had some very busy/latenight days and the kids really do need a “down” day). You can always “catch-up” later. You can teach while you’re driving the car. You can talk about something while you’re cooking dinner. There are sooooo many options, which is why we all love educating at home.
You can do some online googling for things like “learning games” or “games to reinforce learning.”
I know I’ve said it before, but things have improved drastically in our home once I started focusing on spending TIME on certain subjects each day, instead of how MUCH we should accomplish. Granted, it has taken four years to reach that point. You’ll find that you’re overly structured in the beginning. You’ll grow with it as the kids grow.
Another idea is to have your kids make a presentation one night a week to your husband, just to show something they have learned. They can do it however they want: oral, written and read, make a movie, act it out in a skit, with props - whatever! He’ll start to feel more relaxed as he sees them absorbing knowledge, and focus less on how many worksheets are completed.
July 13th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
That is always a call for us to head out for a field trip, outside or inside, zoo or library, any change of scenery is a good reminder that homeschool does not mean “at home all the time”! Also we make sure to have down-time everyday for everyone, free choice of what they want to do. The best part of homeschooling for our family has been the freedom to choose when, where and how we do school; this has practically eliminated boredom and “I don’t want to’s” because the learning is tailored to each child’s strengths and interests. Hope this helps
July 13th, 2007 at 8:39 pm
My answer is different depending on how often this happens. If you are just talking about the occasional funk, History Channel or Animal Planet,and games and field trips are all great starters into interesting educational topics.
But, if this happens even weekly, it is more a problem with discipline and respect. I’ve always raised my kids that homeschooling is a priveledged lifestyle. Their part is to do the work without much fuss, because that is their responsibility to the family. Even young kids can be held accountable, just like chores. Since a successful day is usually as short as 3 hours, they can easily commit to that and still have tons of time to do other things.
July 14th, 2007 at 11:00 am
These are questions that I find there are no real answers for until the times comes that you are dealing with it. Each situation is different and individual. SOmetimes maybe you are puching them to do too much, trying to keep up with the other homeschoolers you know..it is so easy for it to be come a parental competitive sport! Sometimes the child really needs a break to assimilate what they have all ready learned..sometimes it IS disciple. You have to take each situation in stride.
I have been homeschooling continuously since 1989. I have graduated 2 from homeschool and on to their own adult lives. In that time I have counseled ALOT of people and the best advice I have is that if your husband is resistant then stop…go to the Lord in prayer…and do not try to homeschool until he is supportive. Homeschooling is a difficult, as well as rewarding lifestyle. You will need support and you do not need a spouse that is waiting for you to fail. Pray yourselves onto the same page and then proceed. Best of luck!
July 14th, 2007 at 8:00 pm
[...] kids don’t want to work- a response July 14th, 2007 by Summer Minor Yesterday’s question was a really good one, one that I am certain many homeschoolers face. I got a lot of great [...]