I feel like this last fortnight I’ve seen so much ‘stuff’ for those who find their children’s schools shut. There are so very many fabulous organisations making their output free for the time being. I have seen endless colour co-ordinated schedules of how your days should look and each time I give a wry smile.
This is truly amazing; so many organisations wanting to reach and help.
But I am sure it’s making many unexpected home educators a bit overwhelmed!
When we made the decision to home educate there was so much stuff to wade through and choose from. So much opinion to listen to and read and decisions to make. And I didn’t have work to juggle and a worldwide health issue at my doorstep to contend with as well! I can only imagine how overwhelming the current situation is with so much free stuff being offered and not really knowing where to start.
With that in mind, I wanted to offer a few words to those who find themselves in this position. I will start by saying that what you are doing is not home education. What home educators are doing right now is not true home education. We are all muddling through this uncertain time facing our own challenges. What you are doing is being a safe and loving space for your children during these uncertain times and helping them through the work their school are setting for them. This time will pass!
What I write is relevant for everyone, parents of school children and existing intentional home educators.
Comparison is the thief of joy
This is a lesson I wish I would heed more myself!
Do not compare what you are doing with what school friends or intentional home educators like me are doing. This is your own situation with its own complexities and pressures. Do what works best for you and your family right now. You might change tack in a month’s time when you’re all settled in but comparing children takes away any joy you might otherwise derive from this strange time we find ourselves in.
Only you know your child and the specific and unique circumstances of your family. Step back and enjoy this time together, and don’t worry about what others are doing.
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Really – don’t sweat the small stuff! What’s important now is that you create a safe space for your children and family. They will be worried and they will be unsure about why they’re no longer seeing friends, their teachers etc. They may think it’s an early holiday, and how we all wish it turns out that way! But you could be in this for the long haul.
Pick your battles with your children.
If completing their maths work is non-negotiable then agree that ahead of time. Let them know that you’re adjusting to and that you all need to muddle through the best you can but some things just need to be completed.
How you speak to your children now and how you reassure and encourage them could set the tone for the rest of this unexpected journey, however long it lasts.
Don’t try to replicate the school day
You simply cannot replicate the school day at home. Schools are dealing with bigger numbers, there’s an element of moving children around, getting them registered and activities set up. At home that is all a much quicker job. We can very often cover in half a day what a school might take 1.5 days to do. Having seen some of the primary learning packs that have been sent home I think some parents will be surprised at how little teaching takes place. There’s lots of time for children to move around activities in schools (as there rightly should be) but at home, this is not the case.
Having a routine is, I think, important. Especially if you too are juggling working from home. Let your children be a part of this routine; agree with them what will happen and when. We too are adjusting our routines and we have agreed two movie afternoons a week. The children have compiled their list of films to watch and have agreed the afternoons these will happen. They know we cover off maths and English first thing and screens come in the afternoon.
Having a rhythm to your days will make everyone know what’s expected and when and hopefully means you can focus on work at the times you need to.
Children are innately curious
Children cannot help but be curious. Once things are settled in your new pattern and rhythm at home, you might find in a few weeks’ time your children are off exploring topics that interest them. Run with it. Don’t worry about ‘school’ work. They will learn much more by following their own interests. Turn it into a project! Projects are a great way of covering lots of different areas and projects that are child-led offer so much.
D has recently displayed a rather impressive knowledge about Ancient Egypt so we will soon be looking at that (once we have finished our Vikings work). He is motivated and interested and will learn so much, rather than me telling him what we are studying.
What is a well-rounded education?
There’s been so much in the press in recent years about the pressure on children to do SATS and GCSEs and all other manner of testing and the such. We read about the narrowing of the curriculum and how children are being told to reach an ever-higher bar.
There is more to education than the academic side. A well-rounded education will allow time for exploring languages, art, crafts, creativity. Save the cereal and egg boxes, the loo roll inners and let your children make something.
Set them a challenge to build the tallest free-standing structure or the longest or strongest bridge. Let them loose with fabric and cotton, yarn and any other scrap materials.
Play a board game together or set a quiz for each other for a family quiz night. Bake cakes and play with lego. These are all worthwhile things to do and offer a counterbalance to the academic side of life.
Read a book together. Choose a read aloud to share together in the afternoon. Go out into the garden and learn some poetry.
Please don’t feel that your children need to be working from 9am – 3:30pm – this isn’t achievable and you’ll all end up resenting this time.
Relax!
This time will end.
The education of your children will be picked up by the school again. Let your children remember this as a summer of fun and laughter when they got to do more with you.
