Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Activity, Change, Progress

Welcome

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a fun hands-on butterfly unit study for kids. Also, look at my page Best Homeschool Unit Studies for more homeschool unit studies.

Also, I have a bit of everything you need to keep on theme with math, science, and language arts for younger learners.

And I have put in a few so we can include older siblings as well.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Fun is always the way to go.

Besides for any nature study, I encourage you to get out and do it first!

Since butterflies are found on every continent except Antarctica there are always some fluttering around.

Observe butterflies in the wild, caterpillars climbing on milkweed, flowers that they use for nectar, how they drink, etc.

There is no substitute for seeing it firsthand but there are plenty of great supplemental activities to go along with it to make the most fun unit.

Of course, when you are living life and learning through play you will find that multiple subjects naturally overlap creating a wonderful experience for you both.

Keep on reading for a cute and fun sponge stamping activity at the end that younger kids will enjoy as a unique art project.

Kids’ Books About Butterflies

First, look at these books about butterflies.

I love to add living books to our reading list and next look for reference books especially for science subjects.

10 Butterfly Resources and Book

Fun books and resources to learn about butterflies.

Next, look at these butterfly unit study ideas.

Math Ideas to Learn About Butterflies

  • You can’t get much simpler than using a handful of plastic butterflies for sorting, counting, patterns, and basic addition and subtraction for easy practice.
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Science & Sensory for Studying Butterflies

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Nature Anatomy, just look at these beautiful butterfly pages, there is also plenty of info on flowers.

This is a great field guide to take on every nature walk.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Language Arts Butterfly Themed Ideas

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Finally, look at how to make this butterfly sponge craft.

Butterfly Sponge Stamping

You will need:

  • Sponges
  • Pipe cleaners
  • Craft paint
  • Thick paper
Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Wrap a pipe cleaner around the center of a sponge tightly and twist to secure the middle.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Then curl the remaining ends into the shape of antennae.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

You can either dip the “stamp” into a solid paint color, paint directly onto the sponge, or press into blobs of various colors.

One of my favorites is to load up one half with paint by squeezing it directly from the bottle.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Then fold it in half to transfer some of the paint to the other side.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Now stamp your coated sponge onto paper.

This is a great intro to learning about symmetry as well.

Be sure to have your child press firmly all over the sponge to be sure it leaves a good imprint.

Repeat as much as they like. Incorporate ideas like patterning, and color symmetry, and talk about the parts of a butterfly after they stamp it.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

You can reuse these butterflies over and over, just wash them out in the sink and start all over with a fresh batch of colors and designs.

They do work best slightly damp, so they have a bit of flexibility.

If they have dried out just reset and squeeze out as much as you can.

Free Butterfly Unit Study For Kids and Fun Sponge Stamping

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I’m sharing a creative solution for homeschool high school when life happens. Also, look at my page How to Homeschool High School.

This made homeschooling my second high school son, Mr. Awesome, not only meaningful but one that I am really treasuring.

Although I had my reservations at first.

Let me back up first because you have to understand what happened when homeschooling high school with Mr. Senior 2013 to understand how I came up with the solution, which I am going to share in just a minute.

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens

When homeschooling Mr. Senior 2013, I had planned all four years.

And probably like most new homeschooling high school parents, I had a bit of over planning involved too.

Next, look at some of these resources to help you homeschool high school.

How to Homeschool High School Books & Resources

How to homeschool high school can be daunting at first. With a little help and these great resources, you’ll be a homeschool pro in no time.

You CAN still Homeschool High School!

However, though I didn’t feel like this in the beginning of my homeschool journey (that is another topic), I also didn’t want to turn the teaching reins over to somebody else.

I had not schooled this long to come to the point in my teen’s life to let somebody else make significant decisions.

Some of the best times I have had are homeschooling high school though I was terrified when we started.

I won’t be victim to the idea that somebody else can give my kids better. 

In other words, I won’t make any decision based on fear though many times I didn’t feel so brave.

Then right in the middle of high school with Mr. Senior 2013 as I mentioned in my post Should I Let My Homeschooled Teen Graduate Early, my hubby had a significant heart attack.

It was a set back for us in high school.

After we recuperated from that as a family, I realized that I had gotten behind on supervising some of the courses for Mr. Senior 2013.

However, we buried our noses in the books and he graduated on time and of course we had a huge celebration, Texas style.

The point I learned from what happened to my family was that I never wanted to be in that position again with Mr. Awesome of feeling helpless.

I also learned that instead of planning week by week with Mr. Senior 2013 (he preferred that over my 3 month suggestion of planning and I let him do it because I am teaching him to be responsible for his own methods of learning), that I could have planned out 3 months and still let Mr. Senior 2013 plan weekly.

High School Options for Teens

This would have alleviated the stress and helplessness I felt then.

However, that is water under the bridge and there is no way either my oldest son or I had any control over what happened in our lives.

Are you still with me?

I had to share all of that because it always helps me to make better decisions in our homeschool when reading advice if I understand why the choices were made.

So without giving up my control as the homeschooling high school teacher, I came up with a creative solution to high school.

I have taken at least two years homeschooling Mr. Awesome with subjects we chose together AND he is also completing an online accredited high school program with Penn Foster.

I rejected the popular notion that I had to either do it ALL myself OR give it ALL to somebody else.

The criteria for me choosing an online high school program was that it had to be basic, easy and able to be completed within about a year and half or so.

Creative Solution for Homeschool High School When Life Happens @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Penn Foster, unlike for example, Keystone High School program I knew was a much lighter high school program.

With all the upcoming doctor’s visit, recovering time and upcoming care my husband needed, I wanted to have a back up to my courses.

Too, I wanted Mr. Awesome to focus on the courses I had selected, just like I had with Mr. Senior 2013 and to be able to customize high school for him and spend that one-to-one time I had given Mr. Senior 2013.

Of course, Mr. Awesome had to be on board with this because I didn’t want him to think that I was making him repeat courses either.

Abiding Homeschool High School

In helping many homeschoolers, I was familiar with a wide variety of high school programs and knew that Penn Foster has been around for a while and prided itself on covering basics, which obviously would be a good choice if our life took another unexpected turn during Mr. Awesome’s high school years.

It has given Mr. Awesome a framework and still has allowed me to flesh in with programs like North Star Geography, some of my Bible lessons I want him to have and do our unit studies.

Thankfully, the Mr. has had as good as health as he will have living with the effects of the heart attack and Mr. Awesome has hammered through both the subjects we chose and those of Penn Foster.

It will have taken him about a year and half to finish Penn Foster but it also had some unexpected benefits of using Penn Foster that I will explain in an upcoming post.

Out of struggling, though it may be stressful to go through, I feel, always comes empowerment.

More Creative Solutions for High School Posts

I want each of my son’s homeschool high school experience to be unique and Mr. Awesome has certainly flourished with doing a combination of my subjects and ones we chose through Penn Foster.

Without giving up my goals of being able to give my second son a personal and unique high school experience, it called for creativity not compromise.

Homeschool High School

I am hoping by sharing this today, that if life throws you an unexpected curve, you will not give up but find a creative solution.

The end doesn’t always turn out as planned, sometimes it is better.

Also check out these other articles:

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

I have a list of 7 famous Texans. Also, you may love Free Texas Homeschool Lapbook and Fun Homeschool Unit Study Ideas.

Too, I have a highlight on one famous Texan.

It is an art project which is perfect for any Texas-sized unit study.

You might have heard of Davy Crockett and Sam Houston.

But do you know about the contributions sculpture Elisabet Ney made to the Texas art world and beyond?

Have you studied James S. Hogg, who was the first native Texan to become governor?

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Do you know about the exploits of Bonnie and Clyde?

To create a wonderful Texas unit, I have information on these famous Texans and several more to spark a deeper study.

We are focusing on Elisabet Ney in particular and incorporating a self-portrait art project to honor the contributions she made.

Now, for this bust, you can choose one of the famous Texans, someone that you know like a family member, or a famous historical figure.

Although you are not carving the bust it is a fun way to open conversation about Elisabet Ney.

For example, you can learn about the art of creating a bust sculpture. Elizabet Ney made them of marble.

Books About Famous Texans

First, look at these books about Texas.

When preparing unit studies, I like to add both living books and reference type books for a well rounded study.

27 Books For Kids Who Love Reading And Being Read to About Texas

 Forget a boring textbook and add some of these books about Texas to your unit study or add to your learning day.

Next, look at these famous Texans.

7 Famous Texans You Want to Know About

  1. Elisabet Ney (1833-1907)- or “Franzisca Bernadina Wilhelmina Elisabeth Ney” was born in Europe and migrated to the States at 39 years old with her husband, eventually settling in Austin. After settling in Texas, she built her home and studio named Formosa. And she was commissioned for many portrait busts. For example, including some of those listed below like Sam Houston and Stephen F. Austin.
  2. Sam Houston (1793-1863) Samuel Houston was an American general and statesman who played a very important role in the Texas Revolution. He fought in the war of 1812. Notably he also won two non-consecutive terms as president of the Republic of Texas.
  3. David (Davy) Crockett (1786 – 1836)– Was a frontiersman, Tennessee legislator U.S. congressman, soldier, storyteller, folk hero, and an icon of popular culture. He is perished defending the Alamo fighting for Independence.
  4. Gail Borden(1801-1874).  He was the first person to develop a successful commercial method for condensing milk becoming a dairy pioneer in his 40’s. You have probably heard of him and may have a carton of his still well-known milk sitting in your fridge. Not only was he a milk mogul he was a delegate at the Convention of 1833, where he assisted in writing early drafts of the Republic of Texas constitution.

Famous Texans

  1. James S. Hogg (1851-1906). The first native governor of Texas, he championed 5 major pieces of Texas legislation that changed the local government.
  2. Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836). He is known as the “Father of Texas” and the founder of Anglo Texas. He lead the second and, ultimately, successful colonization of the area. Also known as the Father of the Texas Rangers, he founded the earliest precursor of the famous law enforcement organization. Many places are named after this famous Texan, including the capital!
  3. Jane Long (1798-1880)– The “Mother of Texas” was a powerhouse of a woman. She became widowed at just 24 and survived a long hard winter at the fort with very few supplies along with a twelve-year-old servant and her six-year-old daughter, even keeping Indians at bay by tricking them into thinking that the fort was still protected by a troop of soldiers
7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Grab my 22 Famous Texans Notebooking Pages (editable) For a Fun History Study,  it includes these 7 famous Texas and 15 more.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

The book The 50 States is a beautiful oversized reference and I found loads of information including some more famous faces from the great state of Texas.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

While the simple craft idea is not exactly a sculpture, it still gives your learner a peek into what goes into creating an art piece replica of someone else or themselves.

Take note of details that make you or the person you are recreating unique such as eyes, scars, freckles, hair color and texture, glasses, etc.

 Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

You will need:

  • Styrofoam head
  • Craft paints
  • Paint pens
  • Paintbrushes
  • Yarn, ribbon, felt
7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

The first thing you want to do is lay something out on your work surface.

Be it a spread of newspaper or a silicone mat, these are great for many craft projects.

Then, paint a thin layer of flesh-colored paint all over your bust and let it dry until it is at least dry to the touch.

Go back and add another layer or two until you are satisfied with the coverage and again let it dry completely before continuing.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

You can start wherever you like but one way to get your ” sculpture” looking like something or someone is to start with the eyes here.

I highly suggest using paint pens as you can get more detail and have a little bit more control over it.

Spend some time adding details like freckles, eyelashes, eyebrows, scars, or anything that makes you or the person you are creating unique.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

While the paint is drying, you can determine how you want to do the hair.

Elisabet Ney Bust Texas Crafts for Kids

You can use ribbon, string, yarn, felt, or any other art supply you can think of.

Cut plenty of pieces to cover the head, you may find that you need to come back and do some more, you just want to get a bunch started.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Curling ribbon would be great for curly hair, or you could even just paint on the hair to keep it simple.

To add hair, including beards and mustaches you can use any kind of tacky glue. I like to work with hot glue because it dries so quickly.

Be sure not to touch the hot end of the hot glue gun to the foam or it will melt it.

Just squeeze from an inch or so above covering small areas at a time to add in hair.

7 Famous Texans and Easy DIY Elisabet Ney Bust

Once you are done you can give your “bust” a little trim to even it up and give it a little style.

The hair makes it even more top-heavy so you may want to mount it on a piece of wood or cardboard to make it a little sturdier.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

| Leave a Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Hands-on time activities are the way to go when it comes to teaching your child how to read an analog clock.

Another thing I like to do is apply learning to real life situations as much as possible.

When a child is learning time, it helps to attach it to things like 12:00 for lunch, 8:00 for bedtime, etc.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

It’s a simple but effective way to begin teaching your child about AM and PM.

Today to give your child an activity that they can use to learn this new skill, I have a cute little tutorial.

It’s a simple watch craft your child can design and then use to practice telling time on as they go about their day.

But that’s not all, there are 7 more fun hands-on time activities to try.

They will get your child moving, thinking, and eventually telling time all day long as they move from meals to playtime to bedtime.

Books For Kids About Telling Time and Clocks

Next, look at some of these hands-on resources for learning about telling time.

Also, include older learners by reading some of these living books about clock and time.

9 Time Telling Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To

Add some of these resources to your day for telling time.Your kids will love hands-on games and ideas.

Here are a few suggestions for games and other resources that will have them calling out the time on analog clocks all day long.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities

  1. Check out this rock sundial that will help your child learn small numbers and tell time using the sun to the hour.
  2. Find out how Teaching Time Made Fun works kids gross motor skills while teaching them time.
  3. These Telling Time Clock Playdough Mats are a fun way to incorporate sensory learning in a simple lesson.
  4. Using a basic learning clock you can play Rush Hour Game – How to TEACH Kids How to Tell Time! In a really entertaining way.
  5. Make use of the free resources in the yard like rocks by creating a Rock Clock and teach kids how to tell time with a creative twist.
  6. Use up those leftover eggs by creating the Telling Time Match Up game, what a great way to get familiar with matching numbers and clock faces.
  7. This Easy Telling Time  Craft For Kids shows examples of both analog and digital clocks for practice.
7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Finally, look how to make this simple watch craft.

Simple Watch Craft

For young children practice identifying the numbers on the watch face.

After they are very familiar with them you can move on to telling time to the hour, half hour, quarter hour, in five minute increments, and finally down to the minute.

You will need:

  • sturdy cardstock
  • A metal brad
  • Scissors
  • Hook and loop tape
  • Small round object to trace
  • Laminating machine/sheets
7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

First, to make it easy to read and wear if you want to find a small round object larger than your child’s wrist, I used a little bowl to trace the watch face.

Measure their wrist and trace then cut a strip of paper about 1 ½ to 2” longer and  2” wide.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Measure the space from the center of the watch face to a little shorter than the edges and cut out two arrows, one shorter than the other.

Cut out each piece and let your child color it then write 1-12 on the watch face around the outside.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Place each piece in laminating sheets and seal to make them sturdier.

You don’t have to do this step but the practice watch will last a lot longer

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Cut the laminated pieces leaving just a small border.

Poke a hole through the arrows and in the center of the watch face.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Push a brad through the arrows and watch, open into place.

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Hot glue the watch face to the center of the “strap”

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

Now place each side of velcro on either ends of the strap so that it can be put together and pulled apart. (one half goes on the inside uncolored portion, the opposite piece should go on the colored side.)

7 Time-Telling Fun Hands-On Time Activities | Simple Watch Craft

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

| 1 Comment
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Homeschool mental stress is real. Also, look at my How to Homeschool page for more tips and resources.

Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health.

Having tried and true techniques at your finger tips is absolutely essential to coping with homeschool mental stress; the power of a mental hygiene homeschool routine can’t be underestimated.

How to Cope Successfully With Homeschool Mental Stress

I’ve learned to accept happily that struggling and being stressed doesn’t mean that the homeschool lifestyle is not worth it.

For my family, it has been a superior way of education.

How to Cope With Homeschool

The right view of stress, which is that not all of it is negative, is necessary to categorizing the type of stress we encounter in homeschooling.

5 BEST How to Homeschool Books

I've rounded up some of the best books to help you get started homeschooling.

There is good stress and there is bad stress.

There is no way to eliminate stress totally from our life because stress can be an energizing and motivating force to do school day in and day out successfully.

The release of energy, the highest sense of accomplishment, and the gratifying feelings deep down in our gut we get when we teach our kids to read, to cook, or see them positively engaging with adults is hard to explain to those that have not experienced it.

10 Tips to Manage Homeschool Stress

However, today I’m not talking about the good side of stress. 

We don’t talk enough about the bad kind of stress which can take over our mind, affect us, and affect those we love.

If you haven’t lived our homeschool life it’s hard to know what we experience day to day. 

Look at these 10 tried and true tips that have worked with me as I’ve homeschooled over the past 20+ years.

 1. Lowering your expectations is NOT equivalent to lowering your standards.

In many ways homeschooling back before all the devices exploded on the homeschooling scene, which are suppose to free up our time, was easier than today.

We didn’t have so much content thrown at us; we weren’t bombarded with information overload to wade through.

Pushing back and resisting the urge to cover every possible facet of a subject has not meant lower standards in learning.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

My sons high college grades prove otherwise. I view myself as a normal home school mom who didn’t always push her kids academically.

I was consistent each day and that was key to lowering the stress for the day and not overloading my mind with worry if my kids were performing well enough.

If you find that you keep piling expectations, extra subjects, or longer homeschool days on you and your kids ask yourself is it worth it?

2. Step away from the online world and into the real world.

One of the best ways to help me rejuvenate quickly is to be around close friends or family and stay completely off my phone and off online.

Do you remember the time when we all didn’t carry phones? Some people had to actually wait for a reply.

As much time as I spend on my blog and online schooling for my kids, I realize that I’ve always had intermittent times when I’m completely away from the online world.

I find myself with instant calm for my mind when I have face to face conversations with warm individuals. It reminds me that slowing down for day to day interaction is the key to a healthy mental hygiene.

3. Do simple physical activities. I do mean simple.

Don’t get me wrong, if you want to knock yourself out at the gym go for it.

My problem is that it takes me a while to recover from strenuous workouts and then it defeats my purpose in easing my mental stress. From there I go to worrying about what has not been done for the day.

What I have found that works for longer periods of time or through the years is a simple nature walk. To this day, I still take nature walks even in my neighborhood. I think doing it at the crack of dawn and seeing the sun rise sets the right tone for my day.

I’ve always been an early morning person, but if you’re not a morning person the evening sun or night skys is just as gorgeous. I have no favorites.

Being outside reminds me of what is important each day, it fills up my tank when I have to deal with others especially my kids, and it just reminds me to be grateful I’m alive.

4. Easy activities with the kids eases mental tension.

I always read about self-care and getting away from the kids. While this is true on occasions, the truth of it is we homeschool because we love being with our kids.

Not every solution involves isolation. When I feel overloaded I change our plans for the day.

A simple walk or hike with kids, an all day reading day, or even something simple like watching a movie are all easy activities that can ease mental tension. A shift in focus, rest, or stepping back are all options depending on your needs.

Sometimes it’s just not possible to be alone and when you can’t, take steps now to have ideas in place for when you need a different pace.

Besides, you are also modeling to your kids how to cope with days that are mentally taxing.

5. Add humor in big doses throughout the day.

There are many reasons to laugh during the day while homeschooling.

If you’ve taught for any length of time, you know your kids say funny things, think funny things, and do funny things.

Treasure those moments and don’t forget to laugh when it’s time to laugh.

It’s a quick fix to alleviate stress in the air and your kids will love the stress free atmosphere you create. Better yet, write down all of those funny sayings in your planner and come back to them.

I also save pictures in one file of funny things my kids did and I have some picture of myself that ares absolutely awful while homeschooling which I would never share with the homeschooling world.

But every time I look at them, I laugh so hard it’s hard to stop. It keeps me balanced of how I view myself.

6. Do we really NOT have time for a hobby? Count the mental cost.

I was wrong when I started homeschooling because I gave up some of my hobbies. Okay, my thinking was a bit off. It took me years to find balance; I hope it doesn’t take you that long.

My thinking was off because when I thought of a hobby I thought of something that gave no value. A hobby could keep you from doing the more important things if it’s not kept in balance. Why do we think it has to be all or nothing?

How did I adopt such an extreme view? I know it was to prevent me from not giving attention to what I needed to do each day which is to be sure my kids get the best education I can give them.

From Public School to Homeschool For a Relaxed Lifestyle

Again, I try not to go too hard on myself because I had set the right priority.

Balance is the key to doling out increments of time doing something I enjoy whether it’s photography, cooking, or blogging.

Not thinking about the teacher mom at present, but about the person and woman I am has always revitalized me.

You’re the only one to answer to if you have become unbalanced with your hobby.

At times, depending on the level of stress in my homeschooling, I’ve needed more time to step back and focus on who I am. Other times, not so much.

Avoiding critical judgments of how others spend their time off from school helps.

There is no time to be critical of others when you homeschool positively and care for your mental stress.

7. The power of 15 minutes for a shift in focus.

I mentioned earlier that unless you experienced our homeschool lifestyle it can be hard to appreciate the tips. I know oh so well how at times we just can’t get away from our kids.

When I had that time period in my journey, I had to learn the power of a 15 minute shift in focus.

If your kids are old enough to be left alone or to go to another room for that long, then implement that daily tip.

I set the timer on my stove because it was the loudest and because my boys could run into the room to see how much more time was left. It was an easy timer for them to read.

Of course I explained to my kids they didn’t have come into the room to see the timer and that they would hear it.

Staying in their room was a game in the beginning because they wanted to be near me to see what I was doing. However, the more I did it, the more they enjoyed it and stayed in their room or another room to play.

Also, looking back, I realized I also taught them how to have a pause in their day for relaxed mental time. This world can be extremely stressful and our kids need tips as they grow too.

Whether you decide to lay down and read, bathing (if you can), or just do nothing, you decide. Don’t keep engaging your mental person when it needs rest.

8. Your spouse or a trusted friend are priceless.

We know that we do a majority of the homeschooling, but if your husband is like mine, he’s interested in how you’re coping.

Don’t shut him out because he may not understand completely.

Just relaying to my husband what I have been dealing with helps me to articulate it orally and I find it refreshing to get it out of my mind.

I’m all for date nights if you can.

One more technique that my husband and I have implemented is although we may not be able to get away from the kids, we make time to talk alone and teach the kids to respect that time.

Time alone with my husband while the kids were present became absolutely necessary as each kid hit the teen years and we had to deal with unique stressful situations.

We had already implemented daily or weekly management of that type of stress.

9. Organize it, throw it out, and kick it out.

Another huge mental release for me is being able to clean, organize, or kick clutter to the curb. This is especially good if part of your mental stress toll stems from a cluttered home.

Don’t ignore your need for a more efficient working area.

Homeschooing is about teaching kids how to cope with daily life.

So many homeschooled kids are not taught that taking time to organize is as imperative as doing their school work. Is this because some homeschool families don’t view it as essential?

It’s unbalanced to do a whole workbook of math while kids live in a monumental mess.

Why is being good at math so much more important than being a person that people want to be around as they grow into adults? I would never want to live with anyone that didn’t pick up after himself. I want my kids to be the kind of persons that others can roommate with or live with.

Did I mention they are? If you find that your mental stress comes from a cluttered home, then STOP homeschooling and declutter.

You’re not getting behind on homeschooling when you clean, you’re getting ahead of it.

10. Make time for the little things. Chocolate, chat with a friend, get out of the house, or listen to music.

Lastly, make time for what refreshes you mentally.

Creating time to soothe your mental health needs to be part of daily management of homeschool mental stress.

Whether you find a bit of milk or dark chocolate helps bite by bite, a chat with a close homeschool friend which understands your feelings, getting out of the house, listening to your favorite music, exercising more, or doing like I did one time binge watch a Netflix series, they all count.

Make Daily Stress Management Part of Your Routine

Accepting the fact that I can’t do all I want to do and having daily routines has helped me to cope with negative stress.

Learning how to say no to things I can’t be involved in and recognizing stress triggers like avoiding explosive personalities in my homeschool world helps me to manage too. Some people bring unnecessary stress on themselves and those around  them.

Have tips ready at your fingertips for when you need a mental break; your journey should be memorable for the right reasons.

How to Cope With Homeschool Mental Stress. Jumping into homeschooling with ways to reduce negative mental stress is crucial because homeschooling takes a toll on your mental health. CLICK HERE to grab them!

What mental coping techniques do you use?I know you’ll love reading these other ways to empower your sticking ability to homeschool:

Hugs and love ya,