Moms are used to wearing more than one hat when it comes to taking care of their families, sometimes wearing multiple hats at the same time. Finding a balance for any mom can be tricky, but especially for moms who are homeschooling their older kids while caring for your toddlers or newborns.
Here are our tips for pushing through the madness and creating a schedule that works for the whole family:
Organize, Organize, Organize!
The best way to manage a family with very different daily needs is to get as organized as possible. Create daily, weekly, or even monthly schedules somewhere where the entire family can see, showing each of their daily activities. This serves as a visual reminder to you and will especially help in planning your times for homeschooling versus child care.
Pick a day to plan out your lessons for the week, and gather all the materials you’ll need so you don’t feel scrambled or rushed to get everything done. Reach out to any teachers or counselors involved if you need input or have any upcoming events, and work with your children to figure out how they’re feeling about their lessons and what activities they find most helpful. Staying on top of their schedules and your own will require clear communication and teamwork.
Plan Solo Activities for Your Children
For your older homeschoolers, this could be time for reading or silent study hall. And for your newborns and toddlers, this is a great time to line up their midday naps. Solo activities will help foster a sense of independence with your children, and it will give you a much needed opportunity to catch your breath and take a little time for yourself. Do laundry, read a book, whatever activity helps you recharge so you can return to your family activities energized and excited.
Involve the Whole Family in School
Create a toddler or infant proof area where you’ll be teaching your older homeschool children, or let them sit at the table and do their own activities. Your younger ones might be excited to participate in a lesson or help your homeschoolers with projects and crafts.
Moms with babies may find it helpful to invest in a sling or wrap for carrying your infant with you while you work around the house. Once you’ve worked through a lesson with your homeschoolers and they start their individual work, you can move your attention to your younger ones while being close by to answer any questions your students may have.
If you’re looking for additional help and resources for homeschooling your children, the South Carolina Association for Independent Homeschoolers provides around-the-clock support to both students and parents as they work through this process. Reach out to get in touch with one of our trained counselors today.