Homeschooling is one of the most rewarding experiences for many parents who choose to go down this route. It can be enriching and enjoyable for young people. However, it can also feel extremely stressful, especially if you’re not sure where or how to begin. 

In this blog, we’ve put together some tips to help you stay focused on your homeschooling goals. You’ll also learn to manage the typical issues that cause anxiety or frustration when it comes to homeschooling!

1. Being consistent & setting boundaries

You probably already have a homeschooling schedule in place. If not, then it’s definitely worth setting one up. Without one, you may end up feeling overwhelmed. Having a schedule will give you and your family more control over how you spend your time. It will also set expectations and goals for your child.

Once you’ve set up a schedule, try to keep it consistent so that you and your child can get used to it. Your weekly routine will develop over time, and you may find yourself updating it every week for the first 1-3 months of homeschooling. This may happen as you try to find a routine that works for you and your child.

When you set up your weekly routine, consider asking yourself questions such as:

• How much screen time will I allow each day or week?
• Are break times fixed, or are they determined by the completion of a piece of work?
• What is allowed during break times?
• Will there be any days off? If so, which days?
• How many hours of learning will there be each day?
• What time will they start and finish?
• Will there be any outdoor learning days? 

Your schedule will probably be updated every week initially as you start to come up with new ideas for how to make homeschooling easier. Whenever you revise your schedule, aim to stick with it for at least one week. At some point, you will find that you are making fewer revisions and your routine has now become a natural part of your lives. 

2. Sleep, Exercise, Hydrate & Get some Fresh air!

Homeschooling can feel a bit routine and boring. This is why you must stay energised by sleeping well, exercising, hydrating and getting fresh air. 

It sounds so simple, but these four things can make a huge difference to your productivity level. Set aside time during the day to stretch your legs and go for a walk (preferably together). 

Depending on your child’s age, consider going for a swim, playing tennis or going to a local gym. Something like going for a short jog or run can keep the two of you energised. 

Get to bed on time each night. Your child will struggle to learn effectively if he or she feels tired. You’ll also not manage to teach or come up with new ideas if you’re not in top form. 

3. Explore Learning Resources & Online learning website

At some point, you will need to build a bank of ‘go-to’ resources that you use for teaching. There are a lot of free websites providing unlimited learning for you and your child. There are textbooks, workbooks, and revision guides for every subject. You can also find premium subscriptions from companies that provide independent learning. 

This also gives you a break and guides your child. It allows you to focus on other things while your child continues learning independently. By using a range of free and paid resources, you can add variety to your teaching. You could teach your child through games, videos, worksheets, puzzles or other activities. If you’re unsure where to start, we’ve got you covered. You can find over 250+ free online learning resources on the GT Scholars learning directory. 

4. Consider Finding A Tutor

Do you need to get a subject expert for your child? Do you simply need a break so that your child can receive 1-to-1 or group tutoring? At various points in time, you may decide that your child needs to supplement their homeschooling routine. This is where a tutor may come in handy. With online tutoring, you can get access to a private tutor who will address your child’s challenges.

Before you choose a tutor, you must decide on the support you will need. You should also have some idea of what you want to achieve through private tutoring. You will need to set some clear goals with the tutor. 

It’s important to find a tutor who has suitable qualifications before you get started. You could also do a reference check and make sure that you are present for any tutoring sessions (online or in-person) for safety reasons. At the end of the day, the tutor should meet your criteria and assist in reaching your child’s goals. You can also look into any of the tutoring or mentoring programmes at GT Scholars.

5. Be Creative & Try to have some fun!

When was the last time you had some fun while homeschooling? Everyone carries a creative genius inside, and sometimes it’s just waiting to be unleashed! You may want your child to use this time to learn how to build and design things. Your child could learn by playing with Legos, doing building activities or learning to play a new educational game. 

You could even help your child learn to code and make their own online game. Learning the basics of coding will help your child understand how to build a game, a website, a quiz or an application. 

You could include activities that your child is more interested in, like learning to paint together or play a musical instrument. If your child enjoys writing, they could learn how to write a song, a short story, create a play or a musical.

One of the benefits is that you may also learn a few things while teaching your child something new.

6. Find Extra-curricular Activities 

Every child needs to socialise and meet new people. Extra-curricular clubs can be a great way to do this. Just because you’re homeschooling, it doesn’t mean that your child can’t take part in extra-curricular clubs. Whatever their interest, they could be part of Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, gymnastics, horse riding, swimming, and more. As a homeschooler, you can invest more time in your child’s social activities, enter competitions, and take hobbies to a more advanced level.

You can spend more time in practice for that activity or consider getting a coach. Even if you can’t get involved in local activities, there may be online group events that your child can join. The most important thing is that your child has some hobbies that help them socialise. Meeting other people and forming connections will ensure your child does not feel isolated.

7. Use game time to make learning fun

Your child can learn a lot through games, as they carry great lessons. The right online games, board games or games specifically designed for learning can function as teaching tools.

Games like Scrabble, Rummikub, Sudoku, Chess, Card games, Pictionary, Articulate and general knowledge quizzes provide a fun way of learning. They also teach your child about focus, strategy and patience. Many games involve nothing but a pencil and paper, so you don’t need to fill your home with board games! You can even turn a normal worksheet into a game by using a timer to beat your last record. A good example is times table practice! When you think creatively about it, you can turn anything into a game!

8. Introduce Outdoor Lessons To Bring Education To Life

Sometimes, when thinking of learning, we think of a classroom setting only. This can lead a person to assume that learning must take place indoors. However, working in the same environment every day can dull down the excitement towards learning. 

A great learning experience could be a visit to museums, art galleries, cultural shows or book launches. Visiting new places, near or far, can help expand your child’s mind and change their view of the world. If you can’t travel physically, you could always do a virtual tour.

It is a great advantage that we live in a time where we are surrounded by technology and so many resources. This means that we can go outdoors and use apps and videos for learning. You and your child can go for a walk and discuss content from a TED talk, or listen to an audiobook or podcast together. You can take the laptop or textbooks outside, where the garden or park can be your classroom. 

This might add to what your child remembers about the day and lesson. Learning outdoors can also be used as a reward for your child. Your child might want to choose where you have your next outdoor learning session. You could also move the lesson outside as a surprise for the day, depending on the weather. This also depends on how well your child can concentrate outdoors. The aim is to help them learn, not create hindrances to their learning.

The most important thing is that you build in some flexibility during your child’s educational journey. Give your child the gift of understanding that, when it comes to learning, they are not confined to the four walls of a room.

9. Reinforce Knowledge By Getting Children To Teach Each Other

If you have more than one child, why not build in some weekly activities where your children teach each other? This is a really good way for you to get a break! This will also be a great way for one child to boost their confidence by teaching their sibling something new. When your child is teaching, they will be reinforcing their knowledge and helping their sibling learn differently.

You could also assign a project to your children and allow them to lead a ‘masterclass’ on a topic of interest. They will get to share their knowledge and improve their teaching, presenting, speaking and preparation skills.

10. Reflect Together & Discuss Progress

This is important for your child because it gives them a voice in their learning experience. You may like your children to look back at homeschooling and remember it as a positive and enjoyable experience. For this to happen, you should make time to talk about progress. Ask your child for feedback, reflect on what is working and discuss any progress or changes. 

Ask your child what they think is going well. Ask your child what they would like to do differently. You can explore what they feel confident about or where their concerns lie. The more questions you ask, the more likely you are to agree on a way forward. You can decide on a homeschooling routine, schedule, content and format that works well for you and your child.

The homeschooling experience will change as your child gets older and as you become more knowledgeable and experienced. Try to keep things in perspective. Setbacks won’t erase the progress you and your child have made. Build some support by learning from other homeschoolers, parents, teachers and anyone who works with young people. 

Always remember that homeschooling is a never-ending learning process for parents and children. There may be days when you need additional support. This can come in the form of external tutoring. 

Our 1-to-1 tutoring programmes support young people to help them achieve their academic aspirations. This is achieved by working with a private tutor who tailors the online sessions according to your child’s needs and goals. To learn more about our 1-to-1 online tutoring and mentoring programmes, click here.