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  • About
    • Who We Are
    • Statement of Faith
    • Things to Know
    • How It Works
    • Common Questions
    • Testimonies
    • Common Core Free
    • Why Beacon of Hope?
  • Parent/Student
    • General School Supply List
    • Plans & Pricing
    • Student & Parent Expectations
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  • Free Resources!

5 Tips for reducing homeschool stress

10/28/2017

11 Comments

 
5 Tips for Reducing Homeschool Stress
5 Tips for Reducing Homeschool Stress


​1. Get up early

Tips for Homeschooling
Give yourself a few minutes of peace and quiet before the craziness of the day (aka your children being children) begins.  It is amazing the difference in your day if you are able to drink a cup of coffee, read your Bible, or just sit in silence for a few minutes before the kids wake up.


2. Get Organized

  • One of the best ways to get and stay organized is to create a schedule.  The 1st thing that you need to do have a schedule that will actually work is to pencil in all of the big items scheduled for the week that are recurring.  Then, write out those items that are most important so that you have time scheduled to do them.  
  • Find a cleaning list that works for you.  Not only do you want a list that will keep you on track day-by-day, but you need one that will also break up the deeper cleaning chores by week and month.
  • Create a Chores List for each of your kiddos.  Yes, even the young ones!  Any children that are walking can help with many different tasks around the house.  Little ones are always interested in helping parents and older siblings with household duties.  The more you let them "help" or watch, the earlier they will be able to take over the completion of that task and actually do it well.  You will be surprised at how quickly they pick up and master the tasks.  Here is a list of chores that can you can typically expect children to be able to do, broken down by age, that you can use as a guide.
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3. Know your Learning style and your children's learning styles

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You are more likely to teach in a way that makes sense to you.  That's great, but if your student learns in an entirely different way than you do, you will always be frustrated because you don't understand why they aren't getting it.  But, if you are aware of how your student learns you can tailor you lessons to them so that you can reach them in the way that suits them best.

Try out this free learning styles quiz to see how alike you and your children are in learning styles.  It may also give you a little insight into who they are as individuals.



​4. Teach life skills

There are some days where completing the normal Homeschool checklist just seems impossible and THAT'S OKAY!  Don't stress over trying to make every day run perfectly or you will burn out VERY quickly.  Here are some ideas of things to do when you just need a break:

  • Go on a field trip​​
  • Watch Documentaries or the History Channel​
  • Go to the Library and have fun researching a topic of interest
  • Spend the day outside to enjoy the beauty of God's creation
  • Help out at a nursing home (Teaching children to think about people other than themselves is a GREAT lesson.)

Schooling is definitely important, but there are many things that children need to learn that aren't in textbooks. So, it is important to give them opportunities like the ones mentioned here along with others.  Giving your children these experiences on days when a break is needed is just killing two birds with one wonderful stone!


​5. Don't be afraid to outsource

Let's face it, as moms we always have 1,000 things going on where we could use an extra hand (or ten!) to help out.  Don't be afraid to outsource some of your children's classes to an online program.  You may be surprised at how much stress it can take off of your work load.  You wouldn't have to plan, teach, or grade the material from those classes and you would be able to be a "helper" for your child's homework instead of the "teacher".  Sometimes being able to change roles, even for just a class or two, can help the parent/student relationship dramatically. 

There are many different classes and topics that can be studied online so do some research to find the program that will best benefit your family.  There are a few questions to ask yourself when looking for an online program:
  • Do I want my student to attend live classes where they can ask questions of their teacher in real-time, or would it be better to have the flexibility that a self-paced class offers? 
    • Some programs offer only one or the other where other programs may offer both types, depending on the class.
  • Do I want my student to use hardcopy textbooks or do they learn better by reading and studying using online materials?
    • Sometimes it is hard to tell how the materials are accessed for student work, but be sure to ask these questions up front before you join an online program.
  • Will my student work better with peers taking the same class, or would they benefit from being isolated so they can focus on the task at hand?
    • If students have joined a live class, more than like there will be lots of interaction with other students in and outside of the class.  If this is not something that will benefit your student, self-paced may be the best option.
  • Does my student need the accountability that a live class offers?  Would he/she fall behind if they were given the chance to work at their own pace?
  • How do I want my student's work to be graded?
    • Some programs require the parents to grade the work and just submit the grades, others require work to be mailed in at different times throughout the year, and another type offers the ease of scanning in the work where it can then be graded and reviewed online.  There are pros and cons to each option, so you should weigh out each option to see which best fits your family.

These are just a few of the factors to consider when choosing an online program to work with you and your family.  So, whether you choose to take a few classes with Beacon of Hope Online Learning or use a different resource, be sure to get all your questions answered to make sure the program you choose will fit into your family.

Have you ever tried any of these tips to make your Homeschool day less stressful?  What is the biggest challenge you have overcome since beginning your Homeschool journey?  We would love to hear below.

​May God abundantly bless your day!
11 Comments
April Kitchens link
1/16/2018 06:25:21 pm

We just started homeschooling so not stressed yet, but I want to keep these tips in mind for later.

Reply
Tiffany link
1/16/2018 08:34:44 pm

Let me know if you have any questions about Homeschooling, I would be happy to help!

Reply
Sheree link
1/16/2018 08:06:28 pm

Tips 1-4 are great even for moms who are not homeschooling! And as for #5 - all moms needs to outsource in someway - ask for help when they need a little break! Great read!

Reply
Tiffany link
1/16/2018 08:33:35 pm

You are right, all moms can benefit from 1-4. Hopefully you will be able to think of a way to delegate something so you will be able to get a little reprieve. :-)

Reply
Shannon Dewease link
1/17/2018 09:53:58 am

Great advice! And timely, I needed this!

Reply
Deborah Hunter Kells link
1/17/2018 01:58:37 pm

I'm a past Home Schooler and your post caught my eye. My current advice is relax, relax and relax... which I didn't do enough of :)

Reply
Amy Terry link
1/17/2018 03:28:12 pm

These are great tips to focus on. My favorite are the chores and focusing on life skills. I've homeschooled since my oldest was a Kindergartener. I love it. They are truly a gift!

Reply
Katie Bressler link
1/17/2018 04:09:05 pm

These are very helpful tips & suggestions. The chore chart is very helpful & a great visual for the kids to reference.

Reply
Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy link
1/18/2018 05:30:30 am

Such great tips! Also great for any parent even if they aren't homeschooling. I love the figure out what kind of learning your child is, as that info will help for so long!

Reply
Bailey
1/19/2018 07:01:22 am

It's amazing the difference that waking up early can make. Great tips!

Reply
suresh lukhi link
1/22/2018 11:35:40 pm

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