Being a Mom is a tough job at the best of times. Not only are you a primary caregiver, but you’re also a taxi driver, a nurse, a banker, a cook, a clothing stylist and the number one cuddler. It can be tough. Then, when you add the idea of homeschooling into the mix, you become their primary educator too.
As a busy Mom, you want to make sure that all of your lives are balanced. Not only are you trying to ensure that their education is varied, enriching and rewarding, but you want them to have fun being a kid too. It can be hard, but you actually can balance work and play when you’re a homeschooling family.
Have A Rough Schedule
It’s not always easy to have a set, dedicated schedule when you homeschool. Sometimes, you don’t even want one. But, you can allow yourself to find the perfect balance when you have a rough idea of when you’re doing what. It can also help you to make sure that their education is as varied as possible. Maybe it will work best for you to schedule in set times per week for play. This way, you can keep the education as free and flexible as possible, but know that a lot of playtime is allocated for too.
Be Adventurous
It can get a little tiresome if you’re in your home a lot of the time. To add a little variety to your school day, and ensure you’re getting play ticked off, it can help to schedule in weekend trips, if you’re free time and bank balance allows it. You can head across the country, get out and learn. Your little ones can also have a fun and educational experience that enriches them in different ways to being at home.
Have A Goodie Box
You can have a lot of control over playtime when you have set activities allocated for it. Yes, you want your children to have fun at playtime, but it needs to be balanced. So, why not create a goodie box that’s specifically for playtime. Fill it with toys and games, like drawing and cornhole (and add cool cornhole skins), that your children will love, but will also ensure that their education is balanced out. You could even reserve it for the end of the day, or use it as a reward when your children have finished a quiz or done well after a tough lesson.
Connect With Others
As a homeschooling family, you can often feel alone. But, the homeschooling community to so big and inclusive, there’s really no need. Connect with other homeschooling Moms and families to share ideas and experiences. You might find that something another family does would work really well for you too.
Listen To Your Instinct
Most importantly of all, do what feels right for you. You’ve chosen to homeschool your children for all of the right reasons, so you will know what suits you all. Listen to instinct and go with your gut. If you’re new to homeschooling, it might feel easier to follow other paths, but you’ll soon figure out what feels right for your family. Allow as much play as you feel necessary and work with what helps them to learn best and you’ll never go wrong.
