Even the most dedicated homeschoolers will have seasons when things begin to feel too routine. Dull. Lacking joy. It isn’t necessarily a sign that you need to change all of your curriculum or even abandon homeschooling. What it might mean is that you need to make some choices to refresh your homeschool.
There are many ways to bring a fresh perspective to your homeschooling. They range from costing nothing to a small financial investment. Let’s look at three ideas.
Refresh Your Homeschool by Having Some Fun
This might seem like a given, but it’s easy for homeschool moms to become so focused on crossing things off their academic checklist that they forget the need children have for play and fun. Fun and play really aren’t optional for children.
Especially if your children are younger, it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Go to the park or the lake. Go sledding. Build blanket forts and eat a special lunch inside. Take a field trip you keep putting off. The important thing is to take a break and make a fun memory together.
Focus on Relationships in Your Homeschool
Sometimes what children need is more of their mother and less of their teacher. Providing them with more of your attention that isn’t related to schooling can refresh the relationship and, in turn, refresh your homeschool.
Spend time with your children, talking and laughing. Get cocoa and hang out at a cozy coffee shop. Give them your undivided attention and talk about the things that interest them, not school or chores or regular parent/child topics. Connect with them as your children, not your students.
Take a Week Off from Homeschooling to Refresh
Yes, you read that correctly. Take a week off. If you and/or your children are weary, what you may need is rest. Sometimes we do need to push through challenging times. But not every time.
There is a reason employed people have personal days and vacation days to use as needed. Maybe you and your children need some as well. It’s not a sign of failure that you need to take a break. It’s a sign of being a good mother who understands the needs of her family living in the real world.
So take a week off and spend some time doing restorative things. Sleep in, spend hours at the library or bookstore, or go to a bouncy house. Lay on the grass and watch the clouds. Build a snow fort. Rewatch favorite movies or shows. Have fun and focus on strengthening relationships.
Above all, take a break from the schooling routine and mental focus.
Homeschooling is a joy, but it’s also hard work. It demands a lot of both the mom and the children. Don’t be afraid to take a break and refresh your homeschool. In the long run, you and your children will be better off for it.
