5 Tips for Creating a Peaceful Learning Environment (at home)
Raise your hand if you never signed up to be a homeschool Mom (we are raising both hands)! Lets be real, this year has been quite a whirlwind, and now this? Homeschool our children? Its a scary thought, but we are here to tell you… LETS MAKE THE BEST OF IT! It all starts with setting the mood; if you are stressed and anxious, don’t you think your children will be too? The answer is yes. So, start by creating a PEACEFUL ENVIRONMENT. We can’t change that schools are closed this fall, but we CAN change our attitude and environment (at home at least).
1. DESIGNATE A LEARNING AREA
First off, do you have a designated area you plan on using for your “school” area? If you don’t yet - I recommend it. It will help you keep the messiness of papers, books and whatever else you need to keep little hands busy- in one designated area. Otherwise, these things will quickly end up EVERYWHERE and I don’t know about you… but this is something that gives me anxiety real quick. If you’re sitting there thinking “I don’t have an extra room for this!”, you don’t need to have an entire room for this… right now I have set up my “learning area” in the breakfast nook. Its somewhere the kids can sit and work while I prepare a meal, work on my laptop, poor a glass of wine in a mug… I mean coffee!
2. GET AN EARLY START
Yes, I know… all of us are already tired emotionally from this crazy year… why would we want to lose some rest on top of it? But let me tell you, early mornings have become my little tiny secret vacation from everyone. I make the coffee, sit outside or get a little work done in the quiet. The extra time I get to wake up and think about what the day holds really helps me prepare for what is at hand. I clear my head and make a list of what needs to get done, then I enjoy the quiet. Clearing your head a form of self care that ALL of us need, and I often underestimate. We’ve all heard the saying “you can’t give from an empty cup”, it is 100% true.
3. BE GRACIOUS
If things are not going smoothly, take a breather. Kids are going to feel uneasy about this as much as we are… so let’s be gracious with ourselves. Part of learning at home is also learning the WAY our kids learn. We might find out some learning loopholes if we are willing to bend the rules a little and have fun!
4. YES TO RECESS
Have set times for “recess” where everyone gets to jump and play (including yourself). Its healthy to get up and move, and if the weather doesn’t permit you to be outside, turn some t-swift on and move your body, I promise you’ll feel a little more alive.
5. DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP
There’s a good chance you are reading this thinking “yeah right”… and I agree with you. I don’t know your life, work schedule or children’s behavior. How on earth could we give any advice without knowing this you ask? Well, these are just things that have helped us. If you need help, don’t be ashamed to ask other mom’s in your life what works for them… it takes a village for real. There will be days you want to give up, but we are here to tell you friends… this will pass and there’s always tomorrow to start fresh.