Many times when people think of parents who homeschool their children, they instantly think of a stay at home mom. Homeschool life is changing socially and Moms are not the only ones who take pride in their children’s education, there are homeschooling Dads too. In our house both Lauren and I partake in the homeschooling of the kiddos.
I know that more and more dad’s are homeschooling their children these days. I figured that some of the things that I have learned and things that I do in this homeschool life adventure will help other homeschooling Dads too.
These are my top 10 tips for the Dad who is homeschooling his kiddos, I hope they make your homeschooling life the best it can be!
10 Tips for the Homeschool Dad
Stay Organized
Staying organized is necessary in order to make your life go a little smoother. There is nothing worse than starting your lessons for the day and not being able to find your supplies.
It might take a bit for you to become organized. It might take a few times of rearranging your homeschool room or the section of your house that you use to homeschool before it fits perfectly with your family.
We have tried desks, no desks, bookshelves and many other things till we came up with a homeschool set up that worked for us. Right now we have a table and a bookshelf organized a certain way that works perfectly for us now.
Be Nurturing
Dad’s are tough, seriously I think it is built into our DNA and there is nothing we can do about it. But make sure not to be too tough on your littles. This is especially when important when new concepts take a little longer than you would like.
Remember that as a Dad you are tough because you want what is best for your kids. Also remember that not every Dad is going to have the patience that the next Dad has. Patience is something that has to be learned, especially if you have not been the homeschooling or stay at home parent previous to this.
Set an Example
Kiddos learn from watching. Act and speak the way you want your kids to behave when they grow up.
I have found that my kids learn much more about life and how to handle situations based on them seeing how I react. I have tried having conversations and while it worked a little the best way to have them understand how to handle something like struggling to understand a concept, is how they see me handle figuring out something new.
Create Memories
School does not have to be entirely strict. While you do want rules and discipline, also be sure to make extra fun memories with your kiddos.
One of the biggest things with homeschooling is the extra memories you will make with your kids. They are home with you, they are learning with you and that is extra time to make memories that you wouldn’t have if they were in a public school.
Be Grateful
Whether you are a stay at home dad, or a working dad who is also taking on the role of helping in his children’s education, be grateful! There are many dads who would love the opportunity, but cannot, due to a variety of reasons.
When you are starting homeschool, know there will be times that you are stressed out from the time that it takes to homeschool the kids. Know that at times it will seem like you would be grateful to send them to school. Those feelings will pass and it will get to the point where you wouldn’t want anything but homeschooling as the option for your kids.
I will also say that there are also situations that no matter how hard your family tries that homeschooling isn’t what is right for your family. If that happens, be grateful for the time you were able to homeschool and don’t beat yourself up.
Keep a Homeschool Schedule
Sticking to a homeschool schedule is highly important to make sure that you have enough time to homeschool, still take care of your household duties and having time for relaxing and fun.
I will be 100% honest with you here- if you don’t have a semi-schedule or a plan of attack you will lose your mind. Things will get overwhelming for the whole house and everyone will have shot nerves.
Get out of the House and Talk to Other Homeschoolers
It is nice to have other connections, and converse with other stay at home moms and dads who are dealing with the same things that you are.
We find a lot of our homeschool activities that are going on on Facebook. Search facebook for homeschool groups in your local area, or homeschool events that are going on.
It is not only important for the kids to have interaction with other kids but as the parents we need that time too. You might not realize it, but that time with other adults aside from your spouse is extremely important. Especially if you do not work outside of the home.
Add House Work to Your Curriculum
While a majority of your lessons will be math, science, social studies and language arts, also add a little bit of house work to your day, to teach your kiddos responsibility, and time management. Home economics is an important topic that should not be missed. It is important that kids learn how to cook, clean and everything else that it takes to run a house.
For real, kids should know how to use a vacuum, unclog a toilet, clean an oven and so much more by the time they are done with school. This will help them be much more successful when they are older because they won’t be having to teach themselves these much needed tasks.
Housework doesn’t have to just be the typically thought of housework. Things like household projects, putting in new floors, painting, putting in a new toilet are all learning experiences for the kids and great things to add to your homeschooling life.
Set Homeschool Goals
Every homeschooler needs goals. This goes for homeschooling parents, as well. What hopes do you have for this incredibly important journey, and what is your timeline? How can you help your children reach their own goals?
If your kids are older, it is a great way to get them involved with the planning and learning how to set goals. Older kids can share with you the goals they have for their learning and for their lives. Together you can come up with a homeschool plan that covers everyone’s needs and goals.
Remember Extra Curricular Activities
Your kiddos don’t need to be enrolled in public or private schools to partake in extra curricular activities. Check out the local soccer and baseball fields, or consider martial arts or ballet. Encourage your kiddos to find something that they enjoy, and will keep them busy for a while.
Also depending on the state you live in, homeschoolers can join in the after school activities that are held at the local schools including plays, sports, after school clubs and more.
Being a Dad who homeschools my kids, the best advice I have for you is stick with it. It not going to be sunshine and rainbows from the get go. It is going to be rough. You are going to have days that totally suck. You are going to have days when you are counting down the minutes until the school work is over. But don’t give up. The bonding with your children and memories that you will make are worth all of the struggles to get there.
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