A new year is often a time when people make promises to change certain things - either change a bad habit, or improve some aspect of life.
Being a homeschool parent sometimes means changing certain habits or activities. This might not be a bad habit or bad activity in life that has to be changed, but maybe it is just something that is using your time in one way when it should be used somewhere else.
As a homeschooler, it helps to evaluate how your time is spent during the day. What activities take you away from home or even take you away from your family? Are they good, productive activities - or are they just busy ones to occupy your children or yourself?
First, check inside your own home. How much time is spent on the computer or television watching? Do you have a house rule about the amount of time your child is doing these activities? How much time do you spend on the phone while your children are "waiting" to do school work? Do you need to create a chore chart for your children so they know their jobs around the house? Do you need to plan your day - or find ways to organize your home and life?
Next, check outside of your home. What activities are you and your children involved in? Are you doing too many activities? Which are the most important? If you feel like you are running around too much, it may be time to select the most important, most valuable activities for your children and then take away one or two that are just adding more pressure to your day.
As a parent you need to be able to direct your children in choosing the activities that are best for them. Sometimes that means a parent must sacrifice his/her own time and wants for the child. But sometimes, we have to direct our children so choose activities that also keep our home life and hours running as smoothly as possible.
What are the most important aspects of homeschooling for you? What things can you not do without as a homeschooler - what things may need to be changed or even be stopped to make your homeschool and life at home run a little more smoothly?
Take a little time in this new year to make some choices. Set your priorities - but be flexible. If the change doesn't work after you've given it some time…then just change it back or try something else. That's part of the beauty of homeschooling!
Being a homeschool parent sometimes means changing certain habits or activities. This might not be a bad habit or bad activity in life that has to be changed, but maybe it is just something that is using your time in one way when it should be used somewhere else.
As a homeschooler, it helps to evaluate how your time is spent during the day. What activities take you away from home or even take you away from your family? Are they good, productive activities - or are they just busy ones to occupy your children or yourself?
First, check inside your own home. How much time is spent on the computer or television watching? Do you have a house rule about the amount of time your child is doing these activities? How much time do you spend on the phone while your children are "waiting" to do school work? Do you need to create a chore chart for your children so they know their jobs around the house? Do you need to plan your day - or find ways to organize your home and life?
Next, check outside of your home. What activities are you and your children involved in? Are you doing too many activities? Which are the most important? If you feel like you are running around too much, it may be time to select the most important, most valuable activities for your children and then take away one or two that are just adding more pressure to your day.
As a parent you need to be able to direct your children in choosing the activities that are best for them. Sometimes that means a parent must sacrifice his/her own time and wants for the child. But sometimes, we have to direct our children so choose activities that also keep our home life and hours running as smoothly as possible.
What are the most important aspects of homeschooling for you? What things can you not do without as a homeschooler - what things may need to be changed or even be stopped to make your homeschool and life at home run a little more smoothly?
Take a little time in this new year to make some choices. Set your priorities - but be flexible. If the change doesn't work after you've given it some time…then just change it back or try something else. That's part of the beauty of homeschooling!