Home Schooling

Home school families tend to be busy. They are busy because there seems to be more time available for many other activities along with schooling. Because of this scheduling is a priority. As a family, time is needed to not only school but to get along as a family. If you find your self running in different directions with out time to breathe or relax, you are in need of a schedule.

It is very possible to home school your children and have a work at home business. Many people I know have such situations are very successful. But again, the main reason is scheduling. It is important to have a routine set in place for you and your children. With a routine, you are able to school your children, maintain your house and run a successful business all at the same time. I am living proof of that very thing, and of course had to go through trial and error before finding what worked for us. I hope to share some insight on that so that you can be successful too.

Here are some tips to guide you:

* Family Calendar - sit as a family and design a calendar. It can be very simple or more elaborate with color coding for each family member and their activities. Determining the time needed for each activity including schooling will help you design your hours to work at home.

* Set time limits on electronics such television time and computer time. This is very important since this seems to take up a lot of precious time. We limit computer time for each child to an hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. Sometimes it changes because of the school work that needs to be accomplished with the computer but setting time limits makes them get their work done quicker.

* Do not use the television as a babysitter. Having many children, it is very easy to rely on the television to entertain your children while working with another child, but this can also be avoided. Choose some quiet time toys or games for them to play with in place of the television.

* Incorporate siesta time or quiet time into your daily routine. During this time children can take naps or read books or color which in turn will give you time to work at your business or other chores you may have. The children must be made aware that this is quiet time and you can use this time wisely for your business.

* Use a helper. You may either hire a helper or have an older child help with the other children, so that you can get work accomplished. This is a great opportunity for a fellow home schooler to earn extra money or for an older sibling to learn responsibilities in caring for the younger ones or help tutor them as well.

It has taken me some time to develop a schedule that works for our family and it is one that continuously changes, but with a daily routine the children know what to expect. It is amazing home much time we truly have if we remove the distractions of electronics. We read together as a family and cook as a family. These are times that we are not only bonding as a family but the children are learning as well.

The beauty of home schooling is that we are not restrained by time schedules. What I mean is that we do not have to be up at the crack of dawn to catch a school bus. We can determine our schedule according to the activities we have planned for the day. We can schedule classes to begin at 10am or schedule ourselves to be finished by lunchtime. We are able to take family vacations and still school our children if we choose. Every moment is incorporated into our home school life.

Having the flexibility enables us to have a work at home business. The children will see us incorporate our time wisely and will learn valuable lessons from watching us. Scheduling has worked for us because of our home business. When not working we are schooling and because home schooling is basically one on one tutoring, the time spent teaching is valuable. You will be amazed at how much schooling can get done in a short amount of time. Use your time wisely and you too, will have a successful home school environment and a business you can be proud of.