The Sudden Homeschooler's Survival Guide: Part 1
Unexpected Homeschooler?
Don’t Panic! Deep breath. You can do this. *I promise.*
School closures are happening across the nation. This is a guarantee.
But for how long? This is still an unknown.
If you find yourself in the position of a “sudden homeschooler,” but also need to get work done, you might be wondering…
- What do I do with the kids?
- How do I occupy them without the iPad or Netflix 24/7?
- How can I maintain some structure and order in the home when things feel utterly chaotic?
- How and what am I supposed to be teaching my kids?
- How do we all stay sane?
Look, Mama. You’ve got this.
And I’m here to support you through it all.
Before you continue to read, let’s start this post with a serious #mindsetshift.
So here we are. At home. With kids. For 2, 3, 4 maybe more weeks….
What a BLESSING!
Seriously. Before you let the panic, stress and overwhelm consume you, step back and think… in a few years, you’ll look back at this time as one of bonding, connection, and meaningful experiences with your young children.
This is a gift for us parents and for our children.
Let's shift our thinking from the catastrophic to one of opportunity, hope, connection.
We are all in this together, to support one another and to stay as positive as possible. Let's be shining examples of love and light for our kids and show them true strength and optimism at this difficult time. We are teaching and modelling RESILIENCE.
Once this storm settles, you'll look back on these days with fond memories of connecting with your kids under unthinkable circumstances.
What to do next?
Cuddle up on the couch in your PJ’s all day. Watch some Netflix. Play some games. Bake together.
Play hide + seek. Play the toilet-paper mummy game {just kidding!} Seriously though. It’s okay to just “do nothing.”
Even if your child’s school is sending assignments and lessons...I give you full permission to ignore that for now. {I don’t really have authority to do that as a blogger, but trust me. Your kids will not fail the grade or miss much if you opt for your own kind of family learning fun - the kind that fits your family’s vibe!}
Once you’re ready for a bit of routine and structure, come on over to Part 2 of this blog series.
I'm sharing tips for setting up an impromptu learning space; materials to gather for your basic supplies kit; a book list to explore GREAT read-alouds together; sample schedule and routines to add some structure to your day; and finally, easy, creative, tech-free ways to keep your little ones occupied and learning - ways that DON’t require...
- A ton of pricey supplies,
- Your precious time
- All of your energy
These activities are sure to fill up your kids’ days with FUN and important learning so they don’t skip a beat with academics! {they’ll be so engaged, your kids won’t even realize they’re learning!}
And you, mama. You're going to feel like you've got this!
This blog post series is like the next best thing to having a seasoned teacher right inside your living room guiding you step-by-step over the coming weeks.
*In fact, for those of you interested in a little more guidance and support for your children, next week March 16-20/2020, I will be offering an online learning mini-series for your children, called “Learning at Home {the FUN way} with Teacher Alana." I’m putting on my “teacher hat” as I walk your children through fun and meaningful literacy games and provide additional support for some really cool learning invitations.
READY?
Are you ready to take on the exciting role of Unexpected Homeschooler?
Of course you are!
Click CONTINUE to read on to PART 2 for some juicy ideas on how to set up an impromptu learning space, and inexpensive supplies to stock up on to keep your kids busy and learning {these supplies are 100x more valuable than that Kirkland toilet paper everyone's hoarding!} Press Continue Reading for Part 2 of this series.
