Do you have a lot of kids to homeschool? Do you feel like gentle is the last word that could be used to describe your home? If you want to rip your hair out by the end of the day and wonder how other families do it, then you're in the right place! Somehow, our family has figured it out this year despite having 6 kids, 7 and under. I've been able to gently homeschool my kids without turning into mommy Hulk. Keep reading to figure out how you can too!
You first
Yes, you first. One of the hardest things to do as a mom is care for yourself, BUT, if you don't, then your hangry, tired, unkempt body will make you turn on your kids so fast. A simple mistake on an assignment will make it feel like your child hasn't retained anything for months. It'll make you question your whole reason for homeschooling and have you breaking down in tears. I'm being so serious, and if you've been homeschooling a while, then you know how true this is. Gently is a word you need to use for yourself too.
So, take care of yourself first thing. For me, that means getting coffee and breakfast and moving all my pumping supplies and drinks to the homeschool room. I also make sure my tablet is charged and I bring my headphones in case I want to watch a video or make a call without distracting the other kids.
For you, it might mean taking a shower, getting dolled up in a cute outfit and makeup, or doing a 30-minute exercise. Whatever it takes to get you ready for the day and ready to be gentle with the kids, that's what you need to do. To make sure I have time for this, I have my kids complete their morning checklist, plus a chore on their Skylight Calendar. That will usually keep them busy until I'm ready to go.
For more help with this balancing act, read my other post about how to handle homeschool life while taking care of yourself. Master the Art of Balancing SAHM and Christian Homeschooling Roles with Ease.
The Ultimate Smart Wall Planner Calendar. A digital calendar and chore chart built for busy families. Assign colors, add events, and keep everyone in sync in one central hub.
Biggest second
It might seem like dealing with the smallest elephant in the room by figuring out how to homeschool the oldest kid first, but just hear me out. The oldest kid is the anchor to the whole homeschool experience. The oldest kid needs the least amount of help. They can read, get their own materials, and utilize a computer efficiently enough. This is typically the child whom you can almost always work with gently because their issues are legit, reasonable, and rational. Not something like, “the cartoon crayon isn't their favorite color.”
My daughter is 7 and in 3rd grade material this year. We are using BJU's online curriculum, so videos are the main source of material, along with a workbook. Every morning after finishing her checklist and a chore, she logs in to her dashboard and starts her lessons. There might be a question here or there, but for the most part, she is a low needs student. Of course, I always review her work with her at the end of the day, and I always administer any assessments myself.
Middles third
Now, take care of all the students in between. In my case, I have a 1st grader who needs a bit more support than my 3rd grader. She can read but doesn't quite have the confidence yet to do it on her own. I keep her nearby, but still far enough away not to be bothered by me talking to the youngest kids. We also use BJU for 1st grade, so her curriculum is in video form and a worktext. The videos will read the textbook to her, explain new concepts and vocab, as well as go through the worksheet and do a problem or two with the student. Switching to this curriculum has been the best choice for our family and my kids love it!
I love that the videos teach the basics, and I can go through the worktext with her, explaining anything more, and dive deeper if my kid is interested. The portal to keep track of assignments, videos, and grades keeps everything centralized and is kid-friendly. There are no kid forums, chats, or ways to interact with strangers. Being able to rely on the videos to give my kid instructions allows me to gently work with her because she isn't asking me every 5 seconds what she is supposed to do on the next section.
Littles Last
Finally, the most disruptive kids and the hardest ones to be gentle with. The toddlers and below. They need us constantly either for attention, sleep, food, or to save them from death. Free play only really works if the room is perfectly child-proof, which for most people, the room you do homeschool in isn't. There are manipulatives, coloring utensils, precious artwork and crafts, school work, and books. There are plugs, cords, outlets, and any other tools you use.
For us, we are currently homeschooling in the living room while our homeschool room gets a makeover. So there's everything under the sun for toddlers to get into. It is a never-ending chorus of “No!” “Stop!” and, “Share!” I struggled for a while to figure out how to keep them from being so disruptive to homeschool time, but also safe and under supervision. Gentle is not a word I would use for myself when trying to wrangle the toddlers during school time.
My solution to this is ABC Mouse. It is what I've used for early learning with all my kids. It's educational, progressive, and is a good intro to technology. I simply open it up, and their profile is set to “Toddler Time.” It took 2 uses for my 2-year-old to figure out how to open, close, and go to the next activity. They color, put together puzzles, listen to books, music, and play games. This activity will get them to snack time with few interruptions.
If ABC Mouse isn't your thing, then the next thing that I have found works is to get a giant play pen, this is the one I have, then fill it with your toddler's favorite toys and games. If you want to go a step further, have 2 bins of toys. One for before snack time, then switch out the toys with the other bin for after snack time.
Safe Baby Gate Playpen: Crafted with solid materials and breathable, viewable mesh, keeping your little one secure while you get things done.
But what about the babies?
Well, as those with babies know, they often have a mind of their own and rarely stick to schedules. The goal here is to be flexible and prepared to pause at a moment's notice. This plan allows for a few minutes to walk away if I have to soothe a crying baby. I often get back right as the toddlers notice I left the room. I will usually announce to the older kids if I have to step away so they can keep an eye out to make sure they aren't about to unalive themselves. If you have to step away for longer, try to bring the baby to the homeschool room if you don't think they'll be a huge distraction.
If the babies can't come into the homeschool room without significantly hindering others, then I would call for a snack break or play break. That means all the kids go to the living room and play together. This allows for everyone to have fun, and the older kids to have eyes on the littles. So I know that at the minimum, nobody will die while I'm busy. Just expect a mess on your return.
So no matter your family size or the number of littles you have, you can find a way to homeschool gently, or as close to gently as possible, without wanting to rip your hair out every day.
If you have any other ways to homeschool gently while keeping your sanity, please share below! I know there are so many other ways of doing this, including non-tech ways! So let's share the wealth of knowledge with our fellow big family moms!
