Creating schedules that support your family

Tanya Kemp

I purposely published this blog on a Sunday given how Monday is often a preferred day to start a new schedule, intention, or habit. If your children normally attend a brick and mortar school, you have now been a home-schooler for a week. Congratulations on surviving week 1 of…..12, 24, 52, 104? Who knows?! 

I thought it may be helpful to share some ideas around scheduling.

The first thing I want to emphasise (again) is that your mental health as parent, is front and centre.  Schedules should support you, not stress you out more!

The second – equally important point is:

Your child’s mental health is more important than any educational goals or assignments you have right now.

Now read that again. 

Do your best to prioritise your relationship with your child, over meeting some expectation around education. This is unchartered territory for you both. Don’t worry about your child falling behind – every other child in this district, this country, this continent is in this boat right now. This period of crisis is one small window in you and your child’s life. It is going to end, at some point, and you may well both be changed people as a result of it. The priority now isn’t to push education to try to keep up with what was before. There is so much more going on around you both now. Focusing on the process rather than the product will be the most important learning that takes place during this time. 

If anything. see this period at home as an opportunity to reignite a love of learning. Be curious about how your child learns BEST and use that to help them feel competent, happy and excited about learning.

Here are my suggestions for scheduling. Take what is useful to you, adapt what may work in a different way for your family and discard the rest. You’ve got this!

 

Action Points:

Take some time to evaluate how your schedule – regardless of how loose or rigid it is at the moment – is working. 

Are there any of the suggestions above that may prove helpful?

Can you adapt any of the suggestions to suit your own kids and family circumstances?

Do you have any wins/suggestions to share with other parents – email me!

Connection:

A game for connecting as a family:

Musical chairs:

Find an area free of furniture and obstacles where the child(ren) can run around the parent(s) sitting on the floor. Parents start the music, or even better, start a made up song about the child(ren)/family, while the child walks or runs around the parents. The parent may sing softly or slowly or speed the song up and increase the volume and then slow it down again (small but noticeable differences) – add suspense and anticipation….

When the music or singing stops, the child has to run to find a parent’s lap. (play only with equal numbers of parents and children to prevent a child from feeling left out or ‘losing).

After a hug (if that is okay for your child’s sensory profile – adapt as necessary) – the parent might say: ooh I got you – I’m so happy you’re here! Or ‘I love to hold you’. Repeat!

Self-Compassion:

We consciously or subconsciously often strive for perfection – especially where our parenting is concerned. Perfection doesn’t exist.

MAKING MISTAKES IS BETTER THAN FAKING PERFECTIONS

Think of one mistake you’ve made recently. No matter how big or small.

Now think about why it is not such a big deal after all.

Something good…or maybe nothing will come of it.

It is okay. You are okay.