DO NOT PANIC
You can do this. Some of the greatest minds in history were homeschooled for all or a large portion of their childhood education, often by mothers with little education of their own.
You have a few things to think through, research, and decide on, which will take a little bit of time. Do NOT rush this process! You have time. Rushing this process ends in rash purchases and wasted money, inconsistency, curriculum changes, confused children, headache, and a feeling that you can't do this. Don't set yourself up for failure by panicking and rushing here.
However, I understand that your child is staring at you and you're feeling the pressure to buy a curriculum and get started. You're worried that they are "missing school" and "getting behind."
You have a few things to think through, research, and decide on, which will take a little bit of time. Do NOT rush this process! You have time. Rushing this process ends in rash purchases and wasted money, inconsistency, curriculum changes, confused children, headache, and a feeling that you can't do this. Don't set yourself up for failure by panicking and rushing here.
However, I understand that your child is staring at you and you're feeling the pressure to buy a curriculum and get started. You're worried that they are "missing school" and "getting behind."
Public Service Announcement: Homeschoolers have taken entire years off of school to tend to dying parents and grandparents, newborn babies, and other emergent life "interruptions." Children still learn in passing during those times AND they learn about real life in the process. Anecdotal stories tell us that a bit of "lost time" doesn't matter in the end and that children still learn when you're not even trying.
Before jumping into the next steps, take a day or two to set your child up in being productive and getting out of the public school mindset. This will require a little bit of your time each day, but you will need a break from your planning too:
And if all else fails, let them be bored. Boredom, when left to blossom, breeds creativity and ingenuity.
- Limit technology usage. While this is tempting to use while you are busy making decisions, there are way more productive things they can be doing and this is not a habit with which you want to start homeschooling. If not used extremely wisely, it has serious negative effects.
- Start the day by spending some time together.
- read the bible;
- read a picture book or one chapter from a chapter book;
- watch a children's news program together and discuss,
- sing songs together,
- read a poem
- get some fresh air with a nature walk
- Give your child a simple list (see below) of options of things to do while you're working on school planning
- Audiobooks. Audiobooks can be downloaded for free on a hoopla account through your public library card. Audiobooks are a huge benefit to children's reading by increasing comprehension, hearing fluency and inflection in reading, and increasing vocabulary. Little House on the Prairie books are a good place to begin. Or check out Sarah Mackenzie's favorite audiobooks for different age groups here.
- Books. Check out some books from the library. If you have non-readers, they can read the story through the pictures. There is value in that too. Consider:
- a variety of non-fiction books on topics that interest your children
- pictures books of fairly tales, folk tales, tall tales, legends, etc.
- experiment books in areas of science - there are many DIY books written to the child of simple and fun experiments kids can do on their own without your help.
- craft books - there are many books for children on creating crafts, gifts, whittling, etc.
- how to draw books - there are how to draw books on all different topics - horses, trains, people, etc.
- Legos.
- Play outside.
- Write letters to family or friends.
- Write a story or draw a comic strip.
- Care for and play with the family pet.
- Baking. If your kids are bigger, encourage them to bake some cookies or make some pancakes AND clean up the mess.
- Take some time in the afternoon for some more fresh air with your children when they can tell you and show you what they've been working on.
And if all else fails, let them be bored. Boredom, when left to blossom, breeds creativity and ingenuity.
Action Items
- Establish technology limits and times of use; set up parental controls if needed
- Get a library card for each child
- Visit the library and check out books
- Get Hoopla accounts and connect them to library cards for each child
- Check out an audiobook for each child
- Jot down a Things to Do list for your kids to reference
- Jot down a simple Together Time Routine and follow it at the same time each day (Tip: Anchor it to an already established time of the day, such as right after breakfast or right after lunch.)
- Move to Step 3. Get Legal
