Homeschooling Balance – Work Vs. Play

A new way of working as a family. 

As we’re hunkered down at home amid the coronavirus pandemic, parents and caregivers are now in the role of teacher, among their many other responsibilities.

Educating the kids at home is a new experience for most parents who are used to sending them off to school each day.

Many schools are providing a curriculum and/or online classes, but it’s still up to the parents to organize the process and implement the at-home teaching agenda.

Balancing schoolwork with time off can be challenging, especially since this dynamic is new for the children (parents too). That’s why parents must have structure to ensure the work gets done without interruption.

This system will be a test of cooperation and coordination, but as the kids get used to at-home education, things will get easier.

We don’t know how long homeschooling will go on, so it’s important that parents maintain decorum. Education can’t be put on hold, so setting strict standards is essential.

Here are some ways to find the right balance at home so the kids can learn, and have downtime when they can play and relax too.

Tip 1:

Find a place in the home dedicated to education. Pick a clean and clear area where the kids can sit down to learn. Try to choose an area where it’s quiet and well-lit. No toys or pets, no TV, etc.

Tip 2:

Dress for “school.” Get the kids dressed rather than letting them hang out in their pajamas all day. It sets the tone that it’s time for “school.”

Tip 3:

Eat first. A hungry belly will make the kids lose their concentration. Serve a nutritious breakfast and lunch, but don’t get to work while eating, otherwise they’ll be distracted, not to mention, messy.

Tip 4:

All work must be completed before playtime. You may want to set a time for a break, but it needs to be a specific amount of time, and then, it’s back to work.

Tip 5:

Assign “homework.” Yes, all the schoolwork is at home right now, but the kids will benefit from doing follow up work on their own later in the day to reinforce what they have been taught that day, just like they would have done had they gone to school.

Tip 6:

Make sure the kids play. It’s not all about schoolwork. Once they’ve finished the day’s work, it’s important for them to have free time for fun.

Tip 7:

Keep a steady sleep time schedule. Even though the kids aren’t going to school, they still need adequate sleep to learn properly. Bedtime rules still apply.

Good luck with homeschooling. This won’t last forever, so embrace this opportunity to get closer with your kids and have a hands-on experience in their education.

For more information like this, please visit All My Children’s blogs.

By: Melissa A. Kay