Posts Tagged ‘relax’

5 Ways to Homeschool Without Stress

Wednesday, February 24th, 2021

homeschool-without-stress

What are some ways to homeschool without stress, or to at least reduce the amount of stress we experience as homeschool moms? Today we are going to cover 5 simple things you can do to make your homeschooling a lot more pleasant and a lot less stressful.

5 Ways to Homeschool Without Stress

This is a collaboration with other homeschool moms who can be found in the playlist under this YouTube video:

Here are the top 5 ways to homeschool without stress:

1. Pray about what you are supposed to be doing, and drop anything you’re not supposed to be doing. The best time to do this is in the summer before the new school year. Make sure you also focus on character qualities that will make your homeschooling easier, and ask God how to grow in those areas. Ask Him what you should be teaching your kids, or if you need to switch programs with a specific kid who is struggling.

2. Prioritize what has to be done, so that you are doing those first each day, so that everything after that point is gravy. That might mean doing at least a math lesson before being done for the day on hard days. Other important things might include listening to Scripture on audio while eating breakfast, so that you at least accomplished something during the day. This gives a sense of satisfaction that you are not a failure, but that you’ve cut back just for the day, so that you can rest and be refreshed to do better the next day.

3. Have a time during the day that is quiet. If you have babies and toddlers, you can put them down for a nap. If not, have silent reading time or a quiet activity for the kids to do on their beds. All kids can learn to be quiet for an hour or an hour and a half. Noise pollution drains everyone, especially parents, and we re-charge with silence.

4. Simplify other areas of your life, like meal planning. Make simple meals. Make two meals at one time and then freeze one of them, or swap a meal with another family to not have to cook the next night. Simplify other chores like doing a load of laundry each day at a certain time, or clean bathrooms on Fridays so you don’t have to wonder how long it’s been since you’ve cleaned the bathroom.

5. Do more homeschooling outdoors to de-stress. There is something relaxing about the outdoors.

Hopefully by applying these tips, you will reduce the amount of stress in your homeschool.

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Posted in Organization | 4 Comments »

8 Ways to Relax with Your Kids

Friday, June 1st, 2012

how-to-relax-with-your-kids

If you are looking for how to relax with your kids, here are a few ideas:

  1. Lie down outside on a blanket, and look up into the trees, observing nature. I remember back when we had a hammock. I looked up into the tops of the pine trees, which looked like they were converging because of perspective. If I waited long enough, I would see groups of birds come and go. I had no idea how many birds came into my yard; they were so high up that once I brought out binoculars to see them. I heard the sound of the wind through the pine trees. I saw flowers waving in the wind.
  2. Go cloud watching. Either you can point out the types of clouds (cumulus, stratus, cirrus, etc.), or you can find pictures in the clouds. I once saw a cloud in the shape of a dragon. Just yesterday I saw a cloud in the shape of an airplane. Kids will quietly stare into the sky until they excitedly tell you they see a particular shape.
  3. Find a hill, and roll down a hill. Many parks have grassy hills. My kids love lying down on the green grass, and rolling all the way down a hill. Take your shoes off, since part of the experience is feeling the grass on your feet.
  4. Take a nap. After lunch every day, my children are trained to be silent for an hour and a half. Feel free to take a nap. You will feel much better.
  5. Sit and watch your kids play in a creek. The sound of the shallow water tricking is relaxing, and you are not required to do anything. Either they can wear their swim trunks, or they can roll up their pants and walk through the water. (Bring towels.)
  6. Watch fish swimming around in an aquarium. Many public places have aquariums, including pet stores. Waiting rooms with aquariums are better, because you can sit in a chair while watching the fish swimming around. You can also go to an outdoor pond to look at the fish.
  7. Throw a frisbee, football, or softball back and forth to your kids. It’s relaxing because you just stand there in the beautiful sunshine most of the time, with occasional throwing. I think this is why men like golf. It allows them to mostly do nothing.
  8. Play on the beach. Once again, the kids play in the sand and surf while you just sit there on a towel. If you have young children or non-swimmers, putting a life vest on them will help you completely relax instead of being paranoid that they are going to drown. Yes, I am a mother. Now lean back and soak in some sunshine…

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Posted in Fun Summer Activities | 10 Comments »