School Closed? Here’s How to Keep Learning from Home

Advice from a teacher on having your kids at home all day

Photo by Ben Wicks on Unsplash

With schools closing, you may be wondering, “What on earth do I do with the kids!” As an ex school teacher, I thought I’d offer a hand.

It can feel overwhelming being thrust into homeschooling and having your kids with you 24/7 if you’re not used to it. Hopefully your child’s school has given you some advice or work to do from home but if not, don’t stress — it’s easier than it sounds.

I’m a homeschooling mom and writer, so I’m used to having the kids around all day, schooling them, and working from home. There are things I’ve learnt over my teaching career and in 7 years of homeschooling that make it easier to survive as a working parent, while helping your kids thrive.

Here’s what you need to know about school at home:

The load can be light

First off, let me reassure you that school-time doesn’t need to be 9 am–3 pm. This is one of the first things I realized when I started homeschooling. One-on-one or in small groups, kids get much more done in a short period of time than they do at school.

A half-day of academic work is more than enough for any home-schooled child. If your kids are small, an…