Remote learning is new for many parents. Here are a few tips for managing everything without getting overwhelmed by homeschooling.
Remote learning is new for many parents. Even if you gained a little experience with distance learning when the COVID-19 pandemic started, homeschooling in the long term will take some getting used to. Watching over your kids as they learn takes a lot of time, and it’s hard to juggle that with your own work and other responsibilities. Below, find a few helpful tips for managing everything on your plate without getting overwhelmed by the new normal of homeschooling.
Managing Your Work
Whether you work a full-time job, do side gigs, or have a hobby — such as running a blog — that takes up a lot of your time, it’s important to find ways to keep doing your work as your kid’s transition to homeschooling. Luckily, there are many ways you can excel with work while still providing the attention your kids need. If you’re a blogger, for example, becoming a member of an organization like the International Bloggers’ Association can help you get support from other bloggers, as well as more sharing and exposure.
Working from home can sometimes feel overwhelming when you’re also responsible for overseeing your kids’ schoolwork. In situations where you can’t handle everything alone, you might want to hire an assistant on a freelance basis. A virtual assistant can handle phone calls, deal with emails or set appointments, among other things. The benefit of working with a freelancer is that you can get help with tasks when you need it, but you don’t have to worry about benefits or employee taxes.
Creating a Routine
No matter what you do for work, An Off-Grid Life explains that it’s important to start by setting priorities for your own tasks as well as your kids’. If you earn a significant portion of your family’s income, you can’t justify putting your work on the back burner. Likewise, if your kids struggle more with certain subjects, it might be beneficial to start with these topics first-thing while they feel more energetic.
Many homeschool parents agree that it works better to have a routine rather than a rigid schedule. Your Morning Basket says that working in chunks or blocks of time can help your kids complete all of their work without getting burnt out. This approach can also be effective for your own work.
Figuring Out Your Child’s Learning Style
Setting routines and priorities can help you map out your day, but it’s also important to consider how your children learn. Taking a quiz can provide helpful insight into how your kids process new information. Knowing their style can help you make important decisions, such as when to start lessons, how to design a school space and how much hands-on help you really need to give.
For example, a visual learner might benefit from having a color-coded planner as well as a study space filled with maps and pictures that aid learning. A kinesthetic learner might do best when they’re allowed to move around or do hands-on activities. And an auditory learner may perform best if you read lessons to them or play music as they study.
Creating a Study Space
No matter your child’s learning style, it will help to create a distraction-free zone for them to do their work and keep their school items. Having a separate room or area of the house can work well for creating a homeschool space. However, if you don’t have much room to spare, you can set up a space just about anywhere.
No matter what space you choose, it’s important to have a dedicated table or work surface where your kids can leave their school work undisturbed. Setting up at the kitchen table might be fine in a pinch, but for the long-term, you won’t want to be moving school supplies every time you sit down for a meal.Â
Being a work-from-home parent is tough, but it’s even more challenging when you also dive into homeschooling. Setting up a workspace, creating a routine, and taking the time to determine your child’s learning style will help you succeed as you launch into homeschooling.
