I am a big fan of homeschooling. I think the benefits are countless but this is not the post to discuss them. I know and understand that not everyone can homeschool. Maybe you have to work and there is no way you can fit homeschooling around your duties. Maybe you don’t have the support of your spouse… Maybe (just like me some time ago) you don’t feel you can teach or provide adequate education.
For many years living in a foreign country, I thought I couldn’t home educate because English is not my first language. It took Covid and school closures to push me out of my comfort zone into the world of homeschooling.
However, even when children were at school I still wanted to parent them intentionally and support their education as well as their personal growth. I knew I had to create a happy environment where my children thrive and have a space to process all the school troubles.
And mind you – it is not easy. They spend a lot of time at school, doing homework, enrichment activities, meeting friends etc. They get tired and grumpy, do not want to cooperate or I am not my best self in the afternoons. But there are ways to make it easier and things that help make the most of the time we are given for our family and kids!
Education does not take place only at school! Let’s just take it in baby steps.
Set up the vision.
Ask yourself what you want to achieve with your children. Is it to help them with homework? To ignite their curiosity and nurture their ability to think critically and reason. Maybe you want to teach your kids things they will not learn at school. For example, I wanted to make sure my children speak my language and show them our heritage, our culture and faith. Maybe your goal is to equip them with life skills that extend far beyond academic success, preparing them for the challenges of life itself.
Just don’t forget that at the top of all your intentional instructions, there’s something even more precious: the bond you forge – a lifelong, positive relationship with your children.
Plan it.
If you add to your calendar music lesson – you will not forget to attend, right? The same is true with football practice or a playdate with a friend. On the other hand, things that are not scheduled have a tendency to slip away. Be pushed out by clubs, meetings with friends, housework tasks etc…
That is why you need to schedule dedicated and consistent time for your children. A time when you will be fully present and distractions will be minimised. Your full attention will be on your family – not phone, not dinner, not work or another DIY project (although there is nothing wrong with planning and implementing a DIY project with your children!) Establishing a routine will make things predictable and everyone will know what to expect.
In your plan include a balance of activities: relaxing movie nights, competitive games afternoons, family sports, interesting outings or pleasant reading-aloud time (oh yes, do it even with your older children). Ask your children about their ideas and views.
Help with school work.
If you want to specifically help them with their school work – schedule blocks of time for this. But before you start calling all these tutors – consider other ways to help them with specific subjects. Don’t jump into the conclusion that if you are not an academic person you can not teach your children! Learning is not all about giving instructions, tedious worksheets and drills.
Do they struggle with maths?
While it is important to get to the bottom of the problem and assess the areas that need extra help do not underestimate the power of fun maths activities like board or card games, riddles and projects involving working with different aspects of maths (DIY – think measuring, volume, geometry, handling and analysing data). Also, look at activities that seem basic but help tremendously with understanding maths concepts and building a positive attitude towards maths. Shopping, baking, or even simply sharing pizza could be hidden lessons!
Look at this post for extra fun maths ideas.
Is it language that your child struggles with?
Schedule reading aloud. Choose books that are above the reading level of your child. It will expose him to a rich variety of vocabulary and sentence structures, enhancing language acquisition and comprehension skills. Not to mention a positive effect on children who see reading as an enjoyable and valuable activity, encouraging them to become lifelong readers themselves.
When we were spending a lot of time in the car travelling from one club to another I found it useful to use audiobooks. We were borrowing them from the library and for a while, I had subscribed to Audible. During these days we have managed to listen to quite a variety of books. Some were good, some were silly and some we turned off after the first chapters. Nonetheless, it was great fun and so much more pleasant journeys.
On the other hand plan time for easier books that your child can read aloud with you. Regular reading time improves literacy skills such as fluency, phonemic awareness (this will help with spelling), and comprehension. Always stop for questions, explanations and conversations.
Questions you could ask your child when they are reading to you (or you are reading to them):
What does … mean?
Can … have more than one meaning?
What happened at…?
Which word told you that …?
Why did …?
What does … think?
How did … react?
How was … different after …?
Why is … important?
How did you know …?
Are you looking for some books recommendations? Check out this post!
To improve their writing skills:
Try journaling with your children. What about a family diary? Together you could prepare entries to your family scrapbook. They can add their favourite jokes, interviews with family members, recall of fun outings etc. Look here to see how my family developed a scrapbook diary.
Compose letters to granny, cousins or friends. Share news about what’s been happening in your life. This could include updates about school, hobbies, friendships, or any exciting events.
Write a play script together or invite them to write a book! We do a lot of Lego animations in our house and they need some script writing beforehand! It is a great opportunity to train their imagination and creativity. You could choose some topics that interest your child so he can create characters, develop plots, and build entire worlds based on their daily experiences. But don’t be surprised if their story revolves around the golden toilet…. (yep, my kids made a story about a thief who stole a golden toilet…)
Prepare.
Once you have made your plans, preparation should be easy! Book ahead those sports halls for badminton or tennis sessions, tickets for swimming fun or cinema trips. Take a trip to the library or charity shops to choose the books you want to read. Personally, I prefer charity shops to look for books. You can find there old, forgotten gems and a better variety than in libraries. When I look for specific books that is when the library with its reservation system is a go-to place. Look at your games cupboard – maybe it’s time for a swap board games party with friends?
You have a vision, you have a plan, you are prepared – now just do it! To love someone you need to spend time with them and get to know them. So enjoy your time with the family, support your child’s education at home and treat it as a lifelong investment in lasting relationships. Have a roam at my website – I hope you will find some inspiration!
