10 Tips to Help Parents (and Grandparents!) Who are Homeschooling

We scoured the web, asked our experts and compiled our best tips from personal experience to share some advice on homeschooling. Whether you’re a working parent, a retired grandparent or a stay-at-home parent juggling multiple kids, we have faith that you can make homeschooling work for you and your family! Check out these ideas to help you make the 2020-20201 school year less stressful, more organized and—dare we say, fun!

1. Take a virtual field trip! Many museums are offering virtual tours and there are tourism sites that let you explore the globe from your computer.

2. Take learning beyond books by encouraging kids to explore their interests. Teach measurements while cooking, go on a birdwatching hike or learn a new hobby by watching some YouTube videos.

3. Focus on school when energy is high. Teens may fare better learning at 11 a.m. and going homework at night. A sleepy 16-year-old may not retain as much information at 8 a.m.

4. Although you don’t need a rigid schedule, a routine can be very helpful. If your student had to stay up late for something important the night before, consider letting them sleep a bit later the next morning. You can still follow your homeschooling routine; just start later to accommodate a little extra ZZZZs!

5. Incorporate some quiet time into every day. Naps, reading, meditation or yoga can all help you and your student(s) recharge and stay grounded.

6. Remind yourself that not every form of learning comes from formal education! Spending time talking to an older relative, working in a garden or looking at wildflowers on a hike is an important part of growth and learning too!

7. Volunteer in the community with your student. Even during a pandemic, there are ways to safely help others and/or clean up the community! Bring some gloves and a trash bag and pick up litter on your next walk, make a lasagna for an elderly neighbor or offer to walk someone’s dog when they have to work a long day.

8. Play games! From Scrabble and LEGOS to puzzles and UNO, your student will be boosting their cognitive skills while having fun and bonding as a family!

9. Add movement into your daily schedule. Sitting in a chair all day can be difficult, especially for kids with ADHD. Consider purchasing a yoga ball to sit on during homeschooling sessions or kick a ball back and forth while practicing multiplication.

10. Use incentives. What motivates your student? Give them the opportunity to earn a reward for completing a particularly tough or lengthy project. This could be extra screen time, an ice cream cone, a movie or a new toy.