Homeschooling Help and  Resources    March 20 2020    

As the nation starts homeschooling on mass I wanted to try and help and share some  homeschooling help and resources that I have gathered from those who have already  homeschooled their children.

For those of us who aren’t teachers it is a daunting thought that we will be in charge of our  children’s education over the next few months. So perhaps one really useful piece of advice is:

DON’T try and replicate school. 

It is hard enough being a parent without also trying to be the maths, science and english  teacher! Remember you and your children are going to have to live under the same roof for a  few months now and unlike the summer holidays many attractions are not open. So cut  yourself and your kids some slack.

Getting Outdoors and Online PE

On the subject of attractions the National Trust is letting people into their larger parks and  garden properties for free. Just remember that the tearooms will be closed at these venues so remember to take a picnic. Keep at least a 2m distance from others outside. If you can’t get away from home or get the  kids moving in the house or garden, Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, is going to be doing a live PE  sessions online every morning starting on Monday 23 March, search up The Body Coach TV on youtube.

Online Printable Resources   

There are masses of printable resources available online, especially on pinterest, or just google  what you fancy as there are lots of free resources out there.

Household Management 

Involve your children in the household chores – teach them to run a house. How to budget, how  to do the washing, how to bake a cake, how to cook… their future partners will thank you! There  is an amazing amount of science and maths in everyday household management.

Virtual Grandparents 

Link your kids up with activities they can share virtually with self-isolating grandparents – this  will be great for both groups. Get grandparents to read a story on Skype or FaceTime. There are  online games of noughts and crosses or chess so they can be played remotely.

Screen Time   

Like it or not, you are probably going to have to relax your screen time rules, especially if you  want to stay sane! Ensure your computers’ settings are set at the appropriate level for your  children to make sure they don’t go off exploring things they shouldn’t.    From a more academic point of view BBC Bitesize is a great resource for all ages from primary  school upwards and there are a number of museums offering virtual tours.

Stress – yours and theirs 

I cannot promise that this time is going to be stress free. It is going to be a very challenging  time for many people so think about ways you can relax as a family and enjoy some quiet time.  Headspace is a great tool for trying some mindfulness, and I’m going to be doing some videos  on breathing and relaxation techniques to help .    Most of all try to find the balance for you and your family, reach out to friends and share  resources, and make the most of all the great online resources available.

We will get through this!

Elizabeth Curphey  Registered Osteopath  The Therapy Rooms, Macclesfield