When the Homeschool Day Doesn’t Go to Plan…
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Whilst homeschool routines are often very helpful โ familiarity and scheduling can be beneficial both to learning and mental health โ if things go awry, this shouldnโt be a cause for concern.
First of all, relax. Some days will go according to plan, and some wonโt: thatโs life (particularly during a global pandemic!). Even if most days donโt go according to plan, everything will be fine. Weโre all in the same boat across the globe, struggling along as best we can, and your child will not fall behind if you donโt manage to perfectly recreate an eight-hour school day every day. Please donโt be hard on yourself: this is an unprecedented, challenging situation for everyone.
Next, have a think about the homeschool routine in general. Is there a particular reason that it isnโt working? Are your children resisting it โ or is it just โone of those daysโ? If itโs the former, hold a family meeting and assess. Are there any elements that can be fine-tuned to make the schedule better for everyone? Can you mix things up to make the day equally productive but more enjoyable? Remember, you donโt have to emulate a school timetable: outside of any prescribed lessons from teachers, you can be more creative with your children. Baking, exercise, arts and crafts, nature walks: these are all fun activities that also present an opportunity for learning, and will stop your children from getting bored. Donโt be afraid to think outside the box and deviate from the schedule if tempers are flaring and nerves are becoming frayed.
If your children are resisting your best efforts to impose a schedule, ask them what they would like to do instead. You may be surprised by the results!
Be wary of any suggestion that a morning of television or PlayStation is the way forward, though! Whilst virtual contact is so important at the moment, itโs crucial to avoid the development of unhealthy dependency on devices: too much screen time can negatively impact on mental health and disrupt sleep. Variety is essential.
However, you might well find that trusting your child has great benefits. If the homeschool day is simply not going to plan and your son or daughter wants nothing more than to stare at their iPad, allowing this to happen โ within reason โ can work very well. Too much of anything gets boring after a while, and most children will enjoy their break from school for a fairly short time period, after which theyโll actually want to get on with the work they have been set. As Chris Dyson, Headteacher at Parklands Primary School, has said, giving your children the freedom to get bored with their โholidayโ from school can have real benefits: โThe homework is there not to improve standards but to ease boredomโ.
This is an unsettling time; as such, itโs no surprise that many children are feeling overwhelmed. You may have noted an increase in emotional outbursts, tantrums, or even full โmeltdownsโ. These can be worrying to witness and difficult to handle, particularly if itโs been a trying homeschool day and youโre attempting to focus on your own work, or if you have other children or family members who need your attention. The important thing to remember is that children are unable to behave rationally when they are overwhelmed with emotions. If they burst into tears, grow withdrawn, or have an outburst, itโs likely to be because they are feeling under pressure.
Our advice is that you donโt avoid such situations โ in fact, you should make the most of this time. Remember that whilst at the moment it feels like youโre responsible for your childโs academic progress, they have teachers for that (albeit in a virtual/remote manner)! In fact, perhaps the most valuable thing you can help your child with right now is the development of an emotional โtoolkitโ for managing stress, as well as the creation of a safe, accepting homeschool environment in which to test these new coping mechanisms.
At Mentor Education we focus not only on academic excellence, but also overall wellbeing. If your child would like some support โ in any area โ please donโt hesitate to contact us. Our experienced tutors are available to work online throughout the current crisis, and will work with your child to ensure that they feel confident and ready to do their best.
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