So, your kids have been released from school for three weeks on an extended spring break to help flatten the curve, now what?
Let Them Have a Spring Break
I think it’s an unreasonable goal to expect your children to happily forgo their spring break to do school at home. If I were to tell my homeschooled children that they’d be on a break from school but must do schoolwork, they’d riot!
If I was in your position, I would let my kids have a spring break from home for a week, play video games get on Skype, Facetime or Discord with friends and enjoy themselves. I would however, make sure they are getting outside for at least 30 minutes each day. We currently homeschool so, not much is changing over here.
Seven days later when spring break ends…
When Spring break ends, I would ease into some academic activities. I would block time out each day to do the following activities:
1.Non electronic playtime: I don’t care what they do but electronics will not be involved.
2.Outside time: at least 30 min. but more if the weather is good.
3. Reading time: everyone gets cozy with blankets, pillows and maybe some hot tea while reading a book in the same room, mainly to make sure everyone is reading. This would be a good time to squeeze in some work on your laptop if you are working from home.
4.Educational electronics: get online and find some free resources that your kids can play keeping some skills fresh on this extended break from school, there are plenty of them out there to choose from.
5.Play a board game with your kids.
Number 6 is what I would focus on as the core of educating at home. If you do none of the other things listed above, I suggest you work on #6 every day, do it together, and make your own. You will be amazed at how eager they are to do it, if you are doing it right alongside them.
6. Have your kids start a journal either on a computer or on paper about the COVID-19 quarantine. Watch the news with them, find articles online and keep them in the loop with what is going on. This will be in the history books someday!
Talk to your kids about what is going on, educate them on the science behind this virus and answer any questions they may have. If you don’t know the answer look it up together because teaching children HOW to get an answer is the most important skill you can teach them.
We know about history now from journals left behind hundreds of years ago maybe theirs will someday be used to explain to future generations what happened. Make it fun, have them draw pictures and write about what they did that day, what they ate, or how this is affecting them. All feelings are valid let them use this as an outlet to express themselves.Even is they write,”This sucks. My mom is making me write in this stupid journal!” Ideas will start to flow soon enough especially if they see you working on it as well.
COVID-19 Schedule.
There’s been a COVID-19 schedule floating around the internet these last few days, I have adjusted this one below to what I feel is a reasonable goal feel free to adjust to suit your family.
8:00-9:00ish WAKE UP – Make bed, eat breakfast, get dressed brush hair and teeth.
9:00 – NON ELECTRONIC PLAY – Blocks, fort building, drawing, puzzles, board games etc
10:00 – LEARNING TIME- Math fact drills, reading, online educational games, daily journal entry etc
11:00 – MORNING MOVEMENT – Yoga, fitness video, outside play, or group walk.
12:00- LUNCH
12:30 DOCUMENTRY TIME – Pop some popcorn and pull up Netflix, Hulu or Prime or Youtube and watch something educational. Some of our favorites are: How it’s Made, Mind Games, or nature shows about storms or animals. There are so many to choose from.
2:00 – OUTSIDE TIME – Play ball, go on a walk, draw with chalk or play frisbee (my favorite.)
3:00 – FREE READING – Kids choice to read whatever they want.
3:30 – FREE TIME- TV, Video games, whatever.
6:00 – DINNER
6:30 – CLEAN UP- Tidy up all rooms picking up all toys, blankets, games or books left out from the day.
7:00 – FREE TIME- TV, video games, whatever.
8:00 – BEDTIME – or later if you have older kids.
If I am being honest here, there are days that my kids drive me batty, so I let them play video games or watch TV all day.
I am far from perfect, I wrote an entire book on it with its release date quickly approaching. There are days that I don’t have the patience, or the right mindset to teach my children, those are the days, documentaries come in handy.
The government doesn’t expect you to take on the full education of your children. This should only last for three weeks, if people practice social distancing and stay inside. Be a part of the solution friends not part of the problem.
Kid Approved Fun
Well not as fun as the Xbox….but still more fun that worksheets.
If you have Amazon Prime here are a few fun kits, crafts and books to try while cooped up with your kids..
Disclaimer: If you use the links provided to purchase the above items I do make 1% back from so please consider supporting a fellow mama!
