8 Tips for New Homeschooling Moms

Homeschooling is such a privilege, but it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re a new homeschooling mom, you may be feeling overwhelmed or be wondering where to start. Whether you’re planning to homeschool long term, or are just homeschooling short term due to life circumstances, here are eight tips for new homeschooling moms.

Before we dive in, one of the biggest tips I can offer you is to PLAN YOUR TIME WELL. One of the ways I do that is by using a planner that allows me to organize and track all of the responsibilities on my plate. Grab your free mini planner below!

8 Tips for New Homeschooling Moms

1.Relax

Don’t let the pressure of homeschooling override the importance of connecting and emotionally engaging with your kids.

Slow down. Don’t rush.

Take deep breaths when you get frustrated.

Take breaks when you or the kids need them.

Make eye contact.

Smile.

Use encouraging words.

Address misbehavior and bad attitudes in your children before they escalate into bigger problems.

Related Post: Peaceful and Present: Emotionally Engaging Children in the Midst of Busy Mom Life.

2. Give yourself grace

Don’t strive for the “perfect homeschool day.” Don’t aim for Pinterest perfect or Instagram worthy. If your kids learned something today, you succeeded.

3. Set up a homeschool space

You don’t have to have a dedicated school room, but it is helpful to gather up some general school supplies, art supplies, and books that you plan to use and keep them in a spot where they are easily accessible throughout the day. Even if you have a small space, having a homeschool tote that can be easily tucked away when not in use is a life saver!

4. Set a loose schedule or routine

It may take some trial and error but having a loose schedule for the day can be helpful for both you and your kids.

Incorporate short breaks for the kids and yourself often.

Also be mindful to include snack breaks and make sure that your kids stay hydrated. Drops in blood sugar and dehydration will make it harder for your kids to focus on the school work.

You can use the Free Unhurried Mini Planner to plan a routine that will allow you to get all of your most important tasks accomplished AND that will work for your family. Grab yours below!

5. Remember that play is part of learning

Use hands on activities, manipulatives, and games as much as possible. You can also find educational games and activities in this post about educational resources to encourage learning at home.

6. Send them outside

When the chaos in the house gets a little overwhelming, get outside and let them get some fresh air and get some energy out!

7. Enforce an afternoon quiet time

Call it room time, quiet time, reading time, rest time… whatever you want to call it… a few minutes of quiet in the afternoon is the key to keeping your sanity as a homeschooling mom!

Audiobooks are a great resource for children who are too young to read independently for an extended length of time. Many libraries have them available for digital download if you have a library card! Librivox.org has free audiobooks available as well. Vooks and Epic also offer digital audiobooks.

8. Be organized and manage your time well

Being a homeschool mom means you’ll be wearing a lot of hats. You may be balancing work responsibilities, household responsibilities, and all the normal mom stuff along with your homeschooling. You may be caring for younger children while trying to homeschool your older kids. It can definitely get overwhelming! My biggest tip is to be organized and intentional with how you spend your time. Spend some time on Sunday evenings planning out the week in advance.

Think through the big picture.

What are the responsibilities that you need to accomplish in the week?

Take a look at the lessons you’ll be teaching during the upcoming week. Is there anything you need to prepare or purchase in advance? How complicated are they going to be?

Put thought into how your week will flow. Try to strategically plan more complex lessons into a time of the day that is calmer so that you and your child can focus on it. You may be able to save activities that can be done independently by your child for times when you are busy getting other things done.

I created a planner to help me balance all the different roles and tasks that are on my plate on a daily basis. It has been a lifesaver! Grab your free planner below!

While homeschooling has it’s hard moments, the joys far outweigh the challenges! It may take some time for you to find your “flavor” of homeschooling and get your groove, but once you do, it’s so worth it!