Who knew we would miss school so much? I am talking about us parents!
Unexpected homeschooling has thrown our plans out of the window. Although we now get to lie in just a tad more, (since we don’t have to wake up extra early for the school run), our days are now filled with juggling homeschooling, working from home and housework. Just in case you wanted some proof you are not the only one struggling to handle all of your commitments, an article published yesterday by the University of Oxford surveyed 12,500 parents/carers and found high stress levels with depression have ascended with lockdown restrictions and descended with lockdown lifting restrictions indicating a clear correlation
So, how can we survive homeschooling during lockdown? We are not experts – but these tips helped us and hopefully they will help you too.
Create a schedule
Planning is the key to success. Create a basic schedule and timetable for your children to follow and talk them through the entire week so they know exactly what to expect.
Schedule time for exercise (preferably in the sunshine)
Talk a family morning walk around the park or schedule a 2pm breaktime in the garden. Exercise and getting enough sunshine (vitamin d3) is vital for physical and mental health. Aiming to exercise daily is important and will help keep depression at bay.
Give them age appropriate responsibilities and targets
Giving your children some responsibility will take the pressure off you. Make it small and age appropriate, so you don’t end up feeling frustrated or annoyed if they forget to do it. For example, 8 year olds can be given the task of making their own breakfast or 3 year olds can be given the task of pouring their own cups of water.
Create a reward system
Set up a reward chart and put it somewhere for everyone to see. The chart should reward the completion of their daily chores and school homework. Each task could represent one token which they can then swap for ‘treats’.
Organise some time to help your children with their work
As much as we wish they could work independently, children will need our assistance with something. Scheduling time to assist them with any questions in their homework will give your child/children the time they need and will give you some structure to fit in tasks for work and household duties.
Take it easy if you don’t complete all of your daily tasks
Every morning, we all aim to be the super parents we think we should be. But with constant interruptions, and squabbling to be broken up between siblings, we often do not manage to finish all of the tasks on our list. Be kind to yourself and lower your goals temporarily: now is not the time to try and increase your productivity. Everyone is finding it hard to cope, and you are most likely not going to be an exception.
Interested in some more ideas? Have a read of: How to enjoy parenting…even when things aren’t going right.
Do you have any tips to help survive homeschooling during lockdown? Please share with us in the comments below.
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