Are you trying to juggle homeschooling and all of your kiddo’s activities? Homeschool parents constantly feel pressure to fill every moment of their kids’ days with educational instruction or extracurriculars.
The struggle is real, folks.
Yet, there is much to be said about leaving space in our homeschool. Learning happens is in those unplanned spaces.
Leaving Space in Our Homeschool Year Allows for New Interests and Discoveries
In years past I have found our homeschool completely overwhelmed with one activity after another. You see, I had panicked.
It happens.
Surely, we weren’t socializing enough. The kids weren’t in enough extracurricular activities, were they?
I planned, and I scheduled, and I worried that I wasn’t doing enough or being a good homeschool mom.
We all have those moments, don’t we?
By the time summer came around, we had lost our homeschool joy and I was burnt out.
Leaving Space for Unplanned Time
Our homeschool wasn’t fun and cozy anymore.
We rushed to get things done so that we could rush some more to the next planned activity.
And our homeschool magic fizzled out.
Yet even with all the planning and scheduling, we missed out on so much. So many opportunities.
I remember on more than one occasion my kiddos asking for poetry teatime, but I had to say no because we had to be at the next scheduled homeschool thing.
That stuck with me.
I don’t want to say no to poetry teatime! I don’t want to feel stressed about homeschool activities.
Enough.
I want to build connections with my kiddos.
Learning doesn’t happen by filling in a worksheet any more than by staying busy and scheduled.
When we leave space in our homeschool for all the things unplanned, we are making room for our children to discover new interests. They have the freedom to create, discover, explore, experiment, and learn!
I know my kids come up with the best ideas when they can be bored. Tinkering and creativity seem to explode as does creation and art. Then there are the book topics that suddenly interest them. Boredom creates a space for my children to think and learn.
But when I’ve got everything scheduled, there is no room in our day for all that extra goodness.
Leaving Space for Slowing Down
This homeschool year I’m leaving space in our schedule for everything that’s not planned. Space to take things slow. I want to enjoy our poetry teatimes, ice cream breakfasts, on a whim field trips, and allow lots of room for those rabbit trails of learning.
I’m leaving space for experiences, art, and games.
Leaving space allows for independent projects that can springboard into more self-directed learning. True learning happens in these spaces.
Yes, there are still a few things going on outside the home like a monthly 4-H Horse Club meeting, weekly homeschool group, and reading to Shelter Animals…. all things we wanted to do last year but didn’t leave space for.
Let’s not fear the empty spaces between all our homeschool academics.
I’m giving you the OK to say “No” to the extra stuff and leave a bit of openness in your homeschool schedule.
I hope this year allows that space for breath and a bit of homeschool magic for you.
I want to look back on this year and remember loads of fantastic experiences, rabbit trails of learning, cozy cuddles, sweet moments, and my children’s hearts full of joy and inspiration.
If you need more homeschool encouragement, then you may enjoy these posts:
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Self-Care for the Introverted Homeschool Mom
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Embracing Our Strengths as Introverted Homeschool Moms
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When You’ve Lost Your Homeschool Rhythm
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Homeschooling with Joy and Sometimes on Impulse
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When You Can’t Do Everything: Overcoming Homeschool Burnout
We’re going to have lots of space this year.. whether we want it to or not. Two of the homeschooling groups we got together with just about weekly last year either broke apart or altered so significantly we don’t want to be a part of them anymore. Other than our once a week hikes we have nothing planned outside our school days and I’m actually feeling like that is just too much free time… but we’ll see how it all works out and maybe we’ll just be exploring on our own for much of the year.
Some seasons of homeschool…or life for that matter, are busier than others. I’m looking forward to this slower season. Hopefully, you will find just the right balance of activities for your family. But I understand. Loads of freedom can be scary. Especially when you’re coming from two previous homeschool groups!