Re-Energize Your Homeschool

Re-Energize Your Homeschool: Coping with “Burnout” and Sparking New Ideas

Burnout is usually a result of trying to do too much or trying to stick to an old format. It can be a sure sign that it’s time to try something different, to broaden your horizons, to make changes not only in your homeschool, but in your lifestyle. Change can help us keep growing and lead to many happy years of exciting, rewarding homeschool experiences.

Encouragement for Your Homeschool Journey

Burnout can occur after ten years of homeschooling or after two years. Parents may feel that they have exhausted all the ideas that once seemed so fabulous and endless. After a few years of homeschooling, the kids might not be as excited about the homeschool experience as they were in the beginning. Getting them to open a book or finish an assignment seems like a losing battle. But it needn’t be a battle with the kids nor yourself.

Eliminating Stress

Stress is one of the main causes of burnout. Parents may find themselves trying to fill two full-time roles in the home: as a parent and as a “schoolteacher”. This adds unnecessary stress to your life. As we've noted in previous articles, learning is a natural part of living, and homeschooling should be a natural part of your family’s lifestyle. Homeschooling is not “school at home”. Teaching your children is simply a part of parenting your children.

Burnout also comes from setting expectations too high, then trying to reach them, day after day, and finding yourself falling short. If you feel you’d be a “better teacher” if your children were ready for learning every morning at 8:00 A.M., dove into their lessons with glee each day, stayed on task throughout the morning and afternoon, achieved 100% on all their assignments, and were able to deliver the Gettysburg Address over dinner, then you’re only setting yourself up for disappointment. Occasionally, a day may work out this way, but it’d be a miracle for nearly any teacher to experience such success.

If you, on the other hand, feel you’re accomplishing your goals when your children enjoy most of their lessons, like to explore things that interest them, are learning new information and skills, and can deliver the Gettysburg Address by the end of a school year, then you and your kids are probably enjoying the homeschool process, and you won’t be as likely to burn out.

Preventing Burnout

As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Lower your expectations for yourself and for your children, and you will lower your feelings of stress and chances of burnout. It’s true that you’ll want your children to attain certain goals, so you naturally have some expectations of them. Just remember that you have an entire year to reach those goals. And then there’s next year, too, and the year after that.

When you begin to get that nagging feeling that maybe you’re not doing enough in your homeschool, or read or hear about the fantastic adventures of other homeschool families, take some moments to step back and look at your own family. Consider the happiness and well-being of your own children. Consider how much they’ve grown, how much they’ve learned since you began homeschooling.

Overcoming Boredom

If your children are exhibiting signs of boredom, then they may not be challenged enough. Set the learning rail a little higher for them—just enough to entice them to try a little harder. But not so high that they become frustrated, which will lead to feelings of frustration and burnout for everyone.

Revisit areas of interest or new ideas for learning. Explore new hobbies. Learn new art techniques, try a different musical instrument, or try a new sport or recreational activity. Create something, invent something, no matter how simple. The fun and learning occur as a result of "doing" and "exploring".

Less Structure and More Flexibility

Remember that childhood is a time for being a child, not for squeezing hundreds of lessons or extracurricular activities into their lives. Remind yourself that childhood is a time for being curious and explorative, for daydreaming and thinking, playing and learning, having fun and being happy. The child who has plenty of time for these simple activities will grow into a curious, creative, thinking, happy adult who enjoys the freedom and fun of learning.

More Helpful Tips

For more Helpful Homeschool Help, visit us often at EverythingHomeschooling.com site. (Portions of this article are excerpts from our Everything Homeschooling Book by Sherri Linsenbach.)

Happy homeschooling!

Homeschool Mid-Year + Homeschool Spring Break

Spring has Sprung!

Remember that you can begin homeschooling at any time during the year. You can begin homeschooling during the middle of the year, during the middle of a week, or even during the middle of a school day!

Some states might require a "Notice of Intent to Homeschool" within 30 days of withdrawing your child from school, or within a similar time-frame. To check on your state's requirements, contact your State Homeschool Association. They'll have all the information you need on homeschooling in your state.

Spring break can be a good time to begin homeschooling, too. It allows children time to relax and decompress, as you make plans to pursue fun, educational activities for the weeks ahead. Summertime is another good time to ease into homeschooling your child.

Remember that homeschooling is not "school at home." Rather, it's a natural part of living and learning each day, and there's no limit to the fun, learning activities that are available to you and your family!

For learning ideas, crafts, and activities this Spring, see our Home page at EverythingHomeschooling.com.

Happy homeschooling!

Avoid Homeschool Burnout

Your family can avoid homeschool burnout by discussing what is still enjoyable each day and what is not. Try these tips to reduce the chance of burnout in your homeschool:

• Discuss what is working and what is not. Ask for suggestions and ideas to inspire and motivate learning.
• Determine the ways your children learn best and use those learning methods.
• Add more flexibility to your homeschool days, and take advantage of spontaneous learning opportunities.
• Avoid over-scheduling your days. You need a good balance of quiet activities with the busy activities.
• Add more fun and laughter to your homeschool lessons and homeschool activities.
• Set aside homeschool curriculum packages or programs that are not interesting to your children. (If your children aren't interested, they won't learn as well.)
• Switch from "busy-work" -- such as worksheets, writing assignments, or dull reading assignments -- to fun, hands-on learning projects and science experiments.
• Try unit studies or "unschooling" for a while, rather than traditional subjects. Remember that "homeschool" is not "school at home." Experiment with different learning methods.
• Ask children what they would like to learn this week, this month, this year. Encourage them to find and share fun ways to learn those things.
• Take field trips to the library and allow children to check out books that appeal to them. Also guide them in selecting informative books that look interesting. Use those books as the backbone of your daily learning, and discuss the books you read.
• Use arts and crafts as an excellent way to reinforce learning and to complement the topics you read, study, or explore.
• Find online homeschool activities that promote family learning projects. Many interesting projects and activities are available at EverythingHomeschooling.com.
• Reduce stress by lowering your expectations. Try not to do so much each day. Get support and help from others.
• Have children record their daily lessons in their homeschool logs, organize their homeschool books and supplies, and clean up after homeschool experiments or learning projects.
• Ask family members to help with daily chores around the home and to be responsible for specific aspects of the homeschool day.
• Take time for yourself to relax and unwind. Spend at least an hour each day on something you especially enjoy, such as reading, painting, knitting, or sitting in the sunshine.

When you are rested, refreshed, and recharged, homeschooling will be easier, and children will be happier and will learn more! Happy homeschooling!