Most parents have no choice but to homeschool their children. Most schools are on a closure order due to the current pandemic. It’s still unsafe for children to be at school, but learning has to push through. If you’re one of the parents who feel stressed out because of this setup, you have to do something about it. You can’t let this new educational method create friction between you and your children.
Let your children create the rules
The first step in the process is to set rules. In doing so, you have to allow your children to get involved. The problem when you’re the only one who decides the rules is that you can be too strict. It’s the reason why you end up fighting along the way. Another reason why you have to involve your children in setting the rules is that you want them to take ownership. If they misbehave, you can tell them that you didn’t set the rules. They were the ones who created the rules, and they need to be responsible in following them.
Give time to relax
Just because you’re studying at home doesn’t mean you have to spend the entire time doing the assigned tasks. You also have to give your children a break. Even at school, they have time to rest. There’s no reason to spend a full day reading lessons or answering tests. It could be exhausting not only for your children but for you.
Allow your children to play video games or other chosen activities if you already covered the essential lessons for the day. While on a break, you can have a relaxing bath. It’s even better if you have a shower cabin at home so you can have a more relaxing bathing experience. When you start studying with your children again, you will be in a better mood.
Focus on life skills
Learning shouldn’t only be about academic lessons. You also have to give attention to life skills. You don’t want your children to be too smart but unable to survive the practical aspects of life. Teach them how to cook, plants trees, take care of pets, clean the house, and fix broken items. They might complain and not realise the value of those tasks, but they will eventually understand why you’re asking them to work on those things.
Take a break if it’s getting stressful
There’s no need to keep moving forward if both of you already feel stressed. Take a break for a while, especially if things are getting heated. You will end up hating each other if you force the learning process. Besides, even if you continue studying, you can’t expect your children to absorb the lessons. They will ignore what you say and pretend that they’re learning.
Hopefully, you can change the atmosphere at home while studying. You want your children to learn the lessons, but you also don’t want to feel stressed out. Your relationship with each other is still more important.
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