Starting to Homeschool? Avoid Burnout with these 3 Tips
- Julieta Duvall
- Jul 27, 2024
- 3 min read
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The homeschooling explosion that happened in 2020 continues to grow between 2% to 8% annually according to the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI). July it's coming to an end and if you are new to homeschooling then you are feeling all the feelings about this new journey. You are excited, nervous and playing scenarios that look like a dreamy Pinterest board. Yet, reality may look a whole lot differently and it's ok. It's actually more than OK because there is only one of you and one of your children so it will look different!!! Embrace the uniqueness of your family life and just get started!
Starting to homeschool is often difficult for everyone and I am no exception. Back in 2020 I aimed for perfection and I wanted to have it all planned out but it led to burnout very quickly. Frustration came in and my early journals have plenty of notes of self-doubt and wondering if this road was for us. I kept going but my desire to continue homeschooling was brittle and ran the risk of shattering at any moment. So here are our top 3 practices so you can begin this journey with ease and trust that choosing your family is the best decision you will ever make in this lifetime.
Keep the curriculum to a minimum
I'll say it one more time—KEEP THE CURRICULUM BUYING TO A MINIMUM. At the beginning of our journey I spent almost 10K in curriculum that I thought we would need. The truth is that we used them for a few weeks before moving on to something completely different like field trips or just slower days. If you can, set a homeschool budget before you purchase anything and leave a larger amount for outings and experiences. Home education isn't about recreating school at home is about getting to connect with your children and the rest of this beautiful world. If you feel that you need something I recommend an UNO game for number literacy as well as fun with numbers, books that you can cuddle to as you move into the late days of summer and some parent books from amazing authors like Julie Bogart, Dr. Peter Gray and Ainsley Arment. I promise you that it will be OK. If you aren't much of a reader try Audible and listen while you fold laundry!
Librarians are super stars
Librarians should have Hollywood stars and streets named after them because they bring so much value into our community. It was a librarian that got me in contact with a local homeschool mom that was crucial during my "just-need-to-get-started" stage. Based on your state or country you may have more than one library nearby and if you do make sure you visit them and browse through all of their offerings. Libraries have amazing programs and if you can't find what you are looking for I can say that they will know how to point you in the right direction. Grab some snacks, a blanket, extra clothes and set out to explore with your children.
Our last library outing. Video created by Julieta Duvall.
Gut check every activity
If you have joined your local homeschool groups you will notice that there are activities to keep everyone busy for 20 years or more. It's exhausting. Yet, at the beginning of this journey the "how will my children socialize" it's at the forefront of our priorities. It took a while but finding balance between what I thought we should be doing vs what we wanted to do has been a life saver. And you can find this balance by taking a moment to gut check every activity that you have chosen for your family. I have created this easy to follow tracker but you can use a blank notebook or just a sheet paper. Homeschool activities tend to run with the school year and many will be listed months in advance. Our tracking list gives you space to write down important details such as date, location, cost and if pre-registration is required. Then there are some simple faces to see how that activity makes you feel—happy, meh or just sad. I hope you only choose the ones that make you happy but also serves to find out what you and your children are not willing to do. Keep gut checking every activity as you move forward to attract only what makes everyone excited.
Starting to Homeschool is a big step and it may feel scary and overwhelming but know that nothing is permanent. Take it one day at a time and enjoy the cozy mornings, tiny hugs and the laughter that comes from togetherness! You got this!!!!
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