Pandemic Schooling Part 3: Homeschool Hacks
The cup of tea trick… somehow the kids accept this. Make a cup of tea and sit down (they will come flocking as soon as you sit down right?!?) the answer to everything during that is ‘ I will once I’ve finished my cup of tea’ Now here’s the key, don’t drink all your tea. I typically drink my drinks really hot so I’ve finished my tea pretty quickly, but I leave a few mouthfuls worth in the bottom of my cup and when they come and ask for something and I answer I show them my drink. I at least get another 5 minutes to sit and chill.
Use timers- when the clock is at this time or when the timer beeps then you can. Deferring to a timer avoids unnecessary conflict.
Room time- Have an ideas list or if they’re little make a box of stuff they can bring with them to their rooms for however long will work for you.
Print off ‘the organised mum method’ and use that as a guide to keep on top of the house! We’re all in the house together so it’s all our jobs to keep on top of our space. This was a godsend to me. I’m not a natural order keeper or tidier. I have to keep learning this.
Kids currency- find out what it is and use it.
Freedom and responsibility- this is different for each kid depending on age. It’s not fair for everyone. They’re wait of responsibility goes up if they want to have increased freedom. I’ll post about this in more detail if it’ll be helpful to you? Let me know.
'Refer to the timetable, refer to the timer’ my favourite phrase right now.
Have a start and a finish time. Know when you need to get to and for how long. Gives focus.
You don’t need to be 100% present with your kids 100% of the time. Aim to be 100% present with your kids some of the time.
I’ve found, all kids included, introvert or extrovert need to have time to recharge however we do that best. We use quiet time.
Use the kids currency as motivation- In our house devices are their money. Before we go on devices to have free time usually at 4pm and not educational stuff (which we try to minimally use through the day) all responsibilities have to be done. So while the kids are having free time I am not doing their responsibilities. I’m cooking dinner or catching up on a few things. Or if Ive managed to get dinner on I’ll make a cup of tea and chill.
Don't have all of the toys out or accessible all of the time. Keep some squirrelled away for a rainy day or a bad day when you need to be able to whip something out to distract the kids. We have some of our toys out and some in the garage.
Half hour of power: we currently have fallen out of the rhythm of ‘The Organised Mum Method’ but when we reboot this is what we defer too and we get it blasted in a half hour of power.
Reset button- we often deviate from the plan but we’ve established it enough now to know this is our reset button. When we need to reset this is what we reboot to.
Little kids:
H.A.L.T. - HUNGRY ANGRY LONELY TIRED
Hungry - feed them.
Hangry - feed them and give them a cuddle.
Angry - offer a cuddle. If they’ve hurt others, offer them a cuddle and then deal with the behaviour.
Lonely- offer a cuddle. Connect with eye contact and their love language.
Tired- have a cuddle then maybe a nap.
Essentially
Feed them, give them a cuddle, go outside or chuck them outside if they’re doing your head in or put them in the bath. Water is therapeutic.
And if all else fails…. Lock yourself in the cupboard with some chocolate and wine but I recommend the wine later in the evening closer to bed time. Good Luck.
NOTE: Ugly - just remember when reading this there’s a healthy dose of ugly smattered throughout the day.
Helpful websites:
https://simplehomeschool.net/homeschool2020/
https://www.theorganisedmum.blog/
Rachel x
