Apr 30, 2020 by Yolanda Fontanez-Coleman | On-line Learning, Online Tutoring, Parent Blogs
We are in week 7 of our “stay at home” orders. At this time we have probably settled in to some kind of new normal or new family routine. Even though we may have our new family routine, one thing is for certain, the homeschooling struggle continues in almost every household. Some days are great and most days aren’t. These frustrating times can cause a ton of stress on our lives and right now parents do not need that added stress. How can we break through this homeschooling stress and find peace in our days? Here are few strategies that may help you work through these stressful times.
Identify The Issues:
Take the time to think of the top 2 most frustrating things surrounding homeschooling your child or children. Is it getting started? Is it your child’s motivation or lack there of? Is it your busy schedule? Identifying your 2 most frustrating concerns surrounding homeschooling is the first step to creating a solution.
Write Them Down & Understand The Issue:
Once you have identified your 2 most frustrating concerns with homeschooling, you will want to write it down. Once you have written it down, ask yourself, why is (insert the issue here) so challenging? What happens right before the issue arises? Take the time to brainstorm the WHY your issue exists. Is the time you are starting too early? Does your child need more time to sleep? Is the content too complex for you to teach? Is your schedule too rigid? Understanding the issues will give you the clarity to move into your next phase….. creating solutions.
Creating Solutions:
Once you have a clear understanding of your top 2 most frustrating homeschooling concerns, you are on your way to creating solutions. Write down all possible solutions that can help solve the issues. Don’t think of any barriers to your solutions, just write. Take a good 20 minutes and free write all possible scenarios that could alleviate these issues. Once you have created your possible solutions, ask yourself are these realistic? Can I implement these solutions? If they are possible, great you are on your way to more peaceful days. If they are not, continue to find ways to help alleviate the problems even if its shifting slightly, it can make a big impact.
Implement These Solutions:
Once you have created solutions that are realistic to your situation, try implementing them. I would suggest implementing one new change a week. See how things go for a solid week before changing it. Give it time, be patient. Change takes time and it also takes a growth mindset.
Parents, remember we are all experiencing an enormous amount of stress and so are our children. Set realistic expectations and be flexible with your homeschooling efforts. Practice more compassion and allow for many brain breaks. These brain breaks are important for your child and for you too. You are doing a wonderful job and remember your children will be ok.
For additional support, feel free to reach out to us for any of your homeschooling support needs.