For real, Homeschooling is no joke! It's a lot of hard work, but it can also be a lot of fun, as long as you focus on what works for your child and your family. One way to make sure that homeschooling works for both you and your kids is by using these six tips to keep them motivated.
Homeschooling can be stressful and discouraging at times, but these tips will help keep it fun, rewarding, and successful!
Take time to relax. It's important for you to maintain your own health and well-being as much as possible. After all, if you're not healthy yourself then you won't be able to help your children with their studies.
Reward your kids for positive results. Treating them with love, affection, or even small rewards will encourage them to keep working hard in their studies so that they can earn more of those treats! We love to go to the farmers market, grab some ice cream, and play at the park! Azie was loving this orange swirl cone from Mixon Fruit Farm.
Keep your own enthusiasm up by remembering how rewarding homeschooling is for everyone involved. Yes there may be times when things get difficult or frustrating, but these moments are part of life so don't let them overwhelm you - they'll pass eventually! Remember that self-discipline is as important as book learning: if a child wants something badly enough then they'll find ways around getting it by studying harder instead of giving up at first sight of difficulty!
Tip #1 - Keep your own enthusiasm up.
First and foremost, you need to keep your own enthusiasm up. This can be a challenge for anyone, but if you start off with excitement in the morning, it will rub off on your kids.
For example, instead of just saying "Let's do math!" try saying something like: "I love math! Let's work on fractions today!" Your child will then automatically associate learning with fun because they see that it makes you happy! If they're having fun doing something as well as learning new things, then it makes sense that they would want to keep doing it (and maybe even learn more).
In addition to making sure you are enjoying yourself while teaching your children things, I also recommend finding out what each of them enjoys doing outside of school and taking advantage of those interests whenever possible throughout the day. For example, if one of my kids loves playing video games or drawing cartoons then we might incorporate these activities into our lessons whenever we can so that every lesson becomes a little bit more enjoyable for them too.
Tip #2 - Focus on using their strengths and natural abilities.
It’s easy to get caught up in the details of your homeschooling routine and forget that your child is a unique individual, with his or her own strengths, abilities, and interests. Instead of focusing on what they lack, use this knowledge about them to encourage them to do things they love and are good at. When kids feel like they are being challenged by something that comes naturally to them, it can be much more motivating than doing something new or difficult!
"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if you only try!" - Dr. Seuss
Tip #3 - Reward your kids for their effort.
Your kids will benefit from some type of reward system. Reward them for good behavior, and reward them for their efforts, not just the results. If your child is trying hard but isn't getting the results they want, then they are still working hard—and they should be rewarded for that!
Giving your kids small rewards can help motivate them to continue practicing their skills in school and at home.
Tip #4 - Remember that self-discipline is as important as book learning.
Self-discipline is as important as book learning. It's a lifelong skill, and it should be encouraged. Self-discipline is what helps you get up early to do your morning routine before you head off to school or work, even if you're tired and not in the mood to do so. It's also what allows you to stay focused on your work—instead of checking Facebook every few minutes—until it's done.
Self-discipline doesn't just apply while working: self-discipline can help with family relationships too! For example, when an argument starts heating up, self-disciplined people will take deep breaths instead of getting emotional right away; then they'll use their words (or silence) wisely rather than blurting out everything that comes into their mind without thinking about whether it will solve anything sensibly or not; finally, they'll listen carefully before responding calmly instead of flying off the handle because they're hurt or angry themselves at being attacked by someone else first.
Tip #5 - Don't neglect physical activity and exercise.
Physical activity is a key component of learning. It helps children concentrate, learn new skills and make connections between the activities they do at home and in school.
Physical fitness can also boost self-esteem, reduce stress, improve sleep quality and even help prevent obesity. It's important for kids to develop good habits early on so that they continue these healthy behaviors throughout their lives.
Tip #6 - Find the best times for learning and adjust your schedule to take advantage of those times.
After you've considered your student's learning styles, you can adjust your schedule to take advantage of the best times of the day to learn. If a child is a morning person, for example, start school at that time and make sure he or she has plenty of opportunities to exercise throughout the day. If your child doesn't learn well in the morning but does better at night, consider finishing his or her work early so that he or she can nap during the afternoon before engaging in creative playtime.
This approach allows you to use each child's natural habits as a way to help them learn more efficiently and effectively than would otherwise be possible if everyone were simply expected to follow a generic schedule that works for everyone equally well (or poorly).
"There is no one “best” time of day to study. We each have our most productive time of the day, when we have the most energy. Some people are morning people, who wake up with lots of energy. Others are night owls, and have more energy in the evening hours." - Oxford Learning
Motivation is an important part of homeschooling, and it’s something that you can improve in your own life. By taking these tips into consideration, you’ll find yourself teaching more effectively and enjoying the process much more than before.
How do you and your family stay motivated when homeschooling?
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