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Homeschooling is a lot of work! As homeschooling moms, we have a full-time job educating our kids, plus we still have all the other commitments of motherhood. Laundry, dishes, taking the dog to the vet, dinner, cleaning, doctor appointments, bills, tending boo-boos… AND all these things must be done with a house full of kids. The dishes alone seem never ending when you are cooking 3 meals a day- every. single. day!
I know it can be completely overwhelming at times but here are a few simple tips that have helped me to stay calm and enjoy our homeschooling lifestyle. Yes, some days are crazy, but I wouldn’t want it any other way!
Top Tips for Staying Sane while Homeschooling
1. Don’t Overschedule!
In an attempt to ensure “socialization” and expand learning us homeschool moms love to sign our kids up for every activity possible. I beg you- please, please do not do this. Be picky in what you say yes to. If you are out of the house 3 mornings and 2 afternoons every week you are very soon going to burn out and feel behind (even if this isn’t the truth, this is how you will feel). Protect your time like a mama bear! Choose activities wisely.
2. Read Aloud with your kids
This one thing will create discussions and memories that you will treasure- Forever! Make sure that you carve out time to read with your children every day. We do this via our morning time (or couch time as Sonlight would call it). Every morning we follow a reading list like this:
- Bible
- A missionary story
- An Aesop fable or poetry (or holiday books if we are near a holiday)
- Novels (we usually have 2 going from our Sonlight read-aloud list)
- Anything that interests the kids (if my seven-year-old is fascinated by snakes then we will read a bit about snakes that week, if my daughter wants to know more about a particular poet then we will read about that poet’s life, etc)
- Review CC memory work
We all look forward to this time and overall it makes our homeschooling experience more enjoyable.
3. Audiobooks
Invest in audio books and stories. We love the stories by Jim Weiss. Audiobooks are a great way to get things done when you are on the go. They also are a great way to engage younger children in an educational activity while you work with another child. Our son is five years younger than our daughter making his school day significantly shorter. When I am done with him I need to work with my daughter, so audiobooks are an awesome way for him to continue learning while he colors or plays legos or whatever other activity his seven-year-old brain decides to do. Also, sometimes this mama’s voice just needs a break!
4. Consider year-round schooling
We school year-round. This alleviates the stress of having to get school done in a certain amount of time. We are able to take breaks as needed and just keep plugging along in our studies as the year rolls on. One of the great joys of homeschooling is the ability to have a flexible schedule. If we have unexpected guests- no big deal- we can enjoy spending time with them and pick up with school when they leave. If we have an amazing snowfall and want to go skiing- we can head to the slopes. In seven years, I have never gotten to the end of a “school year” and not had enough “school days” to fulfill our state requirement of 172 days. We actually typically have at least 180 days or more. If you desire a homeschool year with more flexibility and room to breathe- give it a try!
5. Have a plan for errands and appointments
In addition to homeschooling, all the typical life chores still must be done- and very often your kids will be coming along. Have a flexible plan for these things to save yourself from constantly being out of the house and feeling like no school is getting done. There are several ways to do this and you really just have to figure out what works for your family.
I have found that if we schedule these things in the morning then no school will get done. By the time we get home and eat lunch we never end up doing school in the afternoon. It just doesn’t work for us. So, whenever possible I schedule appointments and errands for late afternoons. Now this will not always work- sometimes you will have to go to a morning appointment. Hence the schooling year round tip above:)
Since we attend Classical Conversations one day a week, we do school at
Another option would be to do a 4 day school week and leave an entire day open for errands, appointments, field trips, or whatever activities your family needs to do each week. A 4 day school week allows your family the flexibility to get all those life chores done.
6. Take a break
Let’s face it- kids can be frustrating. Now imagine trying to teach that child how to do a complicated math problem for
Remember, a huge part of homeschooling is creating a strong bond with your child. I want to build healthy relationships with my children. Bonds are broken if my children and I are constantly fighting or crying due to frustration. So, I repeat- Don’t attempt to teach when you are frustrated! Once everyone is calm re-evaluate what is going on and adjust your approach as needed.
7. Build your home library
We love books and enjoy having them readily available on our shelves. Over the years we have scoured used book stores and garage sales (plus we purchase Sonlight book packages) and we now have a hefty home library to draw from. We do not live in an area with a large public library so building our home library makes sense. I love being able to just pull a book off the shelf when a child shows an interest in something. It’s a little thing that makes me happy.
8. Build your craft supplies
Nothing is worse than not being able to complete a project or experiment because you are missing one or two items. My advice is to build up your craft supplies. Over the years I have made it a point to look for sales and purchase craft items anytime I see a good deal. It took time, but we now have a well-stocked craft shelf and rarely need to go purchase items for activities or science experiments. That’s one less errand for this mama- yay!
9. Consider Outsourcing
Look at your schedule and your stressors and identify if there are areas that you can outsource. Consider a math tutor, an online Latin class, grocery delivery, a meal service, or a housekeeper. Everyone has different lifestyles, stressors, and budgets so you need to do what works for your family. Just know that there are seasons of life where it may make sense to lighten the load in order to keep your household functioning and maintain your sanity.
As homeschool
10. Take time to have fun with your kids
These are precious times and we only have so many years before our kids are gone into the adult world. Checking all the boxes and getting school work done definitely has its place, but not at the expense of enjoying our children and making memories. Take time to play games, go for hikes, explore your city, bake with your kids- whatever it is that you enjoy doing together. All of those things are not only important life skills, but they are excellent learning experiences as well! Playing cards and baking a cake with mom= math. Hiking with the family = P.E. and nature study. Building something with dad= math
11. Make social connections
Find a social group for you and your children whether it’s through a homeschool group, church, sports, 4-H, or some other activity. A supportive social group will help you avoid burn out. Plus, it’s important for our children to learn how to navigate friendships. Find your people- online and in real life- that can support you on this journey!
12. Grace
We all have tough days. You will have hard days homeschooling your children. There will be days when you feel like putting all your children on a yellow school bus and waving goodbye. This is normal and this is why the above tips will help you keep your sanity. Give yourself and your kids some grace. Not everything is going to run smoothly and perfectly every day. Focus on the big picture. When you feel discouraged seek comfort in the happy, little moments you are sharing with your kids and know that because you have created a flexible homeschool routine you can take a break day. Do something to rejuvenate. Or do nothing at all, if that’s what you need to feel better. Sometimes just taking a day to snuggle with your kids on the couch while reading a good book can help re-set your homeschool. Or sometimes I just need to sit and drink a hot cup of coffee by myself with no interruptions. Grace.
Settling into a homeschooling lifestyle and routine takes time, but it is so worth it! Give yourself, and your children, grace as you travel this road together.
Do you have an amazing tip that helps you get through your homeschool days? Share it here or comment below. Also, if you have any questions just let me know in the comments below.
