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As we face Corona-related quarantines and school closings and social distancing, many parents are embarking on a journey they never wanted to take: homeschooling. Here are two resources on homeschooling to help you!
As we face Corona-related quarantines and school closings and social distancing, many parents are embarking on a journey they never wanted to take: homeschooling. Here are two helpful resources on homeschooling. The first is an article from Hill Country member Heather Creekmore, and the second is a video with Sarah Walters, one of our couselors.
Forced to Homeschool? Here’s How to Homeschool in Quarantine and Love it!
By: Heather Creekmore
As families self-quarantine and thousands of traditional schools have closed their doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, many parents are embarking on a journey they never wanted to take: homeschooling.
The thought of homeschooling may overwhelm you, especially if you’re also trying to work from home. But let me offer some encouragement. It can be done. The truth is that you may even enjoy it.
This spring I’ll finish my seventh year of homeschooling four children, now ages 8 to 13. I also work 20-plus hours a week from home writing, podcasting and doing marketing consulting.
Homeschooling has given me the flexibility to write two books and has given my children the opportunity to pursue their interests, learn in a flexible environment, and acquire practical skills ranging from time management to cooking!
Here are some of the most helpful things I've learned.
Chill out
Homeschool doesn’t have to look anything like regular school. Don't try to make your children sit still all day or work for long stretches without breaks.
Take advantage of the opportunity to let your kids relax. Let them learn multiplication tables by lying on the floor. Let them read on a swing in the backyard.
If you feel frustration rising in both you and your children, take a break. Send them outside to run laps or ride their bikes, while you grab another cup of coffee and get something done until they're ready to work again.
Remember that you're not the teacher of a class of 35. You're the parent-teacher. Parent-teachers have special privileges. Use what you know about your children to make school work for you.
Work on your time
If you have a job that's depending on you to work from home, remember that unless your child is taking live online classes, homeschooling doesn't have to match the timeframe of public school. You’ll likely get everything done a lot faster.
At school, a lot of time is spent transitioning between classes, taking "brain breaks," or waiting for other kids to finish the assignment given to the class. You may have a Type A firstborn who will sit and get all the work done in 90 minutes in the morning. Or you may have a middle child who'd rather do a little work, play Legos for 30 minutes, and come back and do a little more.
Just like adults, your child may be extremely productive and work ahead some days. Others, it may be difficult to get through one subject without frustration. You have the flexibility to adjust on a daily basis, so embrace the freedom.
Unless your children are following along with an online class, take advantage of the opportunity to let them gently learn on the schedule that works best for them.
Limit screen time
I've found that homeschool goes best if limits on screens are tight during our school week. Even a few hours of video games in the afternoon or evening can make the next day harder than it has to be.
Though your children will complain and express fears of dying of boredom (and though you’ll fear never getting anything done because of their ridiculous insistence), my best advice is to set up a system where video games aren’t a part of the daily equation.
Your home will remain more peaceful if your children are encouraged to do other screen-free things during the day. You may be amazed at what they come up with after the shock and awe of no video games dissipates.
Offer an hour of (timed) video games after dinner for good attitudes, if you need an incentive. But trust me, life is easier during the week without them.
Learn about and with your children
Life is busy and it was difficult for me to pay too much attention to everything my children were learning when they were in public school. But with them at home, I've had an incredible opportunity to learn beside them and about them.
Now I know what subjects they are most interested in and best at. I know what topics interest them so much that we need to find other resources to supplement what they're learning.
YouTube isn't all DIY plumbing and make-up tutorials. You'd be amazed at the helpful and kid-friendly videos you'll find on everything from wars to learning division.
For older children, try Khan Academy for classes in just about every subject. Amazon Prime and Netflix can be a treasure trove of documentaries on everything from geography to science. Plus, many online learning programs are offering free memberships during the coronavirus quarantine. Watch together and supplement what both of you are learning.
Keep first things first
We working parents may struggle with trying to keep a remotely located boss happy amidst running our child’s school day. My best advice is to start your day with prayer and then set your own priorities and schedule around what you know will work well for both you and your children.
My typical schedule is to work with my children from around 8:30 to 11 a.m. This is plenty of time for my third and fourth graders to complete all of their work. If my middle-school children need help later in the day we schedule it, making an appointment for them to meet with me.
As I record podcasts, meet writing deadlines and do other work, my children have learned to work on their own or play quietly (without screens). Children can be taught to give you some space and be respectful of your time as well. But this lesson is learned easier if you're first willing to designate time that is just for them.
Have fun
This may be my "Enneagram 7" coming out, but the truth is: I really love homeschooling. I enjoy hanging out with my kids each day. We have fun. We take bike rides to the park or to Dunkin’ Donuts.
They spend time teaching themselves to draw or creating obstacle courses in our backyard. This quarantine may be your chance to just have fun together as a family. A lot of learning can happen when playing Monopoly or building a Lego model of something they learned about.
Talk to your children. They have things to say and want you to stop and listen. Ask them questions. Encourage them to try new things like drawing from a tutorial or banging on the keys of the dusty piano in the hall (gently, and not when mom is on a conference call).
Teach them out to clean, how to do laundry, what the difference between Windex and counter cleaner is and why they should never use the latter on your bathroom mirror. Play in the yard. Write a letter to an older person who can’t leave home until the coronavirus subsides.
This time is yours. This virus may be cramping your regular style, but why not make something absolutely beautiful out of it?
*Heather's article was picked up and published by a local news source. You can see the source here.
Encouragement on Homeschooling
Check out this encouragement and support from Sarah Walter, LPC, on homeschooling!
Published on Apr 6 @ 2:07 PM CDT
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![](/files/blogs/schedule2.jpg)
These are quite uncertain and different times that we are living in, right? One of the biggest ways to calm your system down in a crisis is to develop a routine. You have been used to a routine and your brain has mapped and walked that routine daily for some time now. When we put a wrench in that foundation, we are basically taking away familiar resources that kept us thriving, living with purpose, and connected.
These are quite uncertain and different times that we are living in, right? One of the biggest ways to calm your system down in a crisis is to develop a routine. You have been used to a routine and your brain has mapped and walked that routine daily for some time now. When we put a wrench in that foundation, we are basically taking away familiar resources that kept us thriving, living with purpose, and connected.
Here are the most important elements that you need to have in a routine:
To help you move along your day, here are the 7 questions to ask yourself.
- How am I spending time with God today?
- How am I moving and getting outside?
- How am I getting quiet to listen to myself today?
- How am I connecting today?
- What am I grateful for today?
- What am I creating today?
- What am I learning today?
Along with these questions, below is an example of a schedule you can use to add a little structure to your day during The Great Covid19 Hunker Down of 2020.
7 AM: Daily Time with God (Quiet Time) - Start your day with your greatest resource: Time with God. Spend some time reading the Bible, praying, and listening to God. If you're new to reading the Bible, here's a great video from Pastor Tim discussing how to have an encouraging time with God. You can also use one of these two great reading plans: Our Daily Bread and Bible in One Year. Spending time with God daily is not only transformational, it is also a great model for you children.
8 AM: Morning Routine & Prayer - As you're getting dressed, making your bed, and having breakfast, thank God for all He has provided. If you have kids under two, we know you’ve already been up for five hours. Or if they are teens, you may have 5 more hours of them asleep. Just play along. The key is to take some time to give thanks as you get ready.
9 AM: Get Moving - Grab a light jacket, an umbrella, or whatever else you need and get outside! Take the dog for a walk or ride your bike. The fresh air will do you good. Research shows that not only is movement helpful for your physical body, but movement can help chase away those overwhelming feelings of loneliness, purposeless, and lack of control.
10 AM: Academics & Learning Time - The “academic” portion of our brain deeply desires to learn new things. Kids aren’t the only ones that need to learn. When we learn new things, it stimulates our minds in a new way and generates this joy of living and growing. If you have kids, check out these free resources available during COVID-19 to help. Check this out for some fun brain break ideas or just take 5 outside. You can find more resources and activities for kids on our Children's Resource page.
12 PM: Lunch time!
1 PM: Creative Time - Even when we get our schedule flowing, at the end of the day we may feel like we just “got through the day.” But if we have a sense of purpose, it elevates our experience and makes us feel like there is meaning…that I am using my gifts even in this new found rhythm. So get creative on how to use your gifts and how to grow and stretch yourself during this time. For children and students, we will be sending out a daily challenge that everyone can participate in every Tuesday and Friday. We'll upload them to the Hill Country Children and Hill Country Students Facebook and Instagram at 10 am.
2 PM: Rest & Quiet Time - Whether we are alone in a home or a house full of people, we all need this idea of quiet, calm time where we turn off all the distractions and just center ourselves. It’s like hitting a reset button or powering our phones off and on when things get jammed. In this time, check in with yourself to see how you are doing. Get to know yourself a bit and take care of yourself.
3 PM: Daily Chores - Your mom was right. An Indiana University study proved that people with clean houses were more physically active than those with untidy homes. So, grab a mop and get everyone in on the cleaning act. Fun tip: Set a timer and start a cleaning race with your kids.
4 PM: Neighboring & Connect - Text, call, or find a creative way to connect with your neighbors and extended family each day. You could also offer your help in delivering paper towels, food, or any other supplies to elderly neighbors or others at greater risk. This is our opportunity to be the church and serve those in our community.
5 PM: Free Play
6 PM: Dinner & Devotional - This is a great time for you and the whole family to connect and debrief the day. It's also an opportunity for a family devotional and gratefulness. We have some conversation starters and gratitude activities for you below.
7 PM: Game Time! - You’ve worked hard, so grab a board game, and enjoy a little friendly competition. Need ideas for games? Ask every member of the family to put a few ideas in a bowl and pick one each night.
Bed Time! - You made it! As you’re getting ready for bed, thank God for the gift of rest.
Published on Mar 27 @ 2:18 PM CDT
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The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be stressful for people. Fear and anxiety about a disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Coping with stress will make you, the people you care about, and your community stronger.
Identifying Stress
- Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. How you respond to the outbreak can depend on your background, the things that make you different from other people, and the community you live in.
- People who may respond more strongly to the stress of a crisis include:
- Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19
- Children and teens
- People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, like doctors and other health care providers, or first responders
- People who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use.
- Stress during an infectious disease outbreak can include:
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty sleeping or concentrating
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
Reducing Stress in Yourself and Others
- Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be upsetting.
- Take care of your body. Take deep breaths, stretch, or meditate. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly, get plenty of sleep, and avoid alcohol and drugs.
- Make time to unwind. Try to do some other activities you enjoy.
- Connect with others. Talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.
- Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities several days in a row.
- Being Properly Informed
- Sharing the facts about COVID-19 and understanding the actual risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful.
- When you share accurate information about COVID-19 you can help make people feel less stressed and allow you to connect with them.
- Learn more about taking care of your emotional health.
For Parents
Children and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
- Not all children and teens respond to stress in the same way. Some common changes to watch for include:
- Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
- Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
- Excessive worry or sadness
- Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
- Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
- Poor school performance or avoiding school
- Difficulty with attention and concentration
- Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
- Unexplained headaches or body pain
- Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs
- There are many things you can do to support your child
- Take time to talk with your child or teen about the COVID-19 outbreak. Answer questions and share factsabout COVID-19 in a way that your child or teen can understand.
- Reassure your child or teen that they are safe. Let them know it is ok if they feel upset. Share with them how you deal with your own stress so that they can learn how to cope from you.
- Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media. Children may misinterpret what they hear and can be frightened about something they do not understand.
- Try to keep up with regular routines. If schools are closed, create a schedule for learning activities and relaxing or fun activities.
- Be a role model. Take breaks, get plenty of sleep, exercise, and eat well. Connect with your friends and family members.
- Learn more about helping children cope.
For Responders
Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you. There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress (STS) reactions:
- Acknowledge that STS can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.
- Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).
- Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.
- Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.
- Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.
- Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.
- Learn more tips for taking care of yourselfduring emergency response.
For Those Released From Quarantine
Being separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19 can be stressful, even if you do not get sick. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine. Some feelings include:
- Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine
- Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones
- Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19
- Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious
- Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine
- Other emotional or mental health changes
- Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine. You can help your child cope
Resources
For Everyone
- If you, or someone you care about, are feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression, or anxiety, or feel like you want to harm yourself or others call 911
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746. (TTY 1-800-846-8517)
- Coping with a Disaster or Traumatic Event
For Communities
- Coping with stress during an infectious disease outbreakpdf iconexternal icon
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health during an Infectious Disease Outbreakexternal icon
For Families and Children
- Helping Children Cope with Emergencies
- Coping After a Disasterpdf icon– A Ready Wrigley activity book for children age 3-10
For First Responders
- Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
- Disaster Technical Assistance Centerexternal icon(SAMHSA)
We've taken this information directly from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website. You can find it here.
By From Center for Disease Control and Prevention
Published on Mar 27 @ 2:13 PM CDT
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Crisis Defined: A crisis is not just an external event or circumstance (such as COVID-19), but it also encompasses the individual’s response to that event. Since people are so uniquely made, there will be a variety of responses to the same crisis event and vastly different needs that surface during this time.
This training will help you navigate those range of needs and help support those in need.
Crisis Defined: A crisis is not just an external event or circumstance (such as COVID-19), but it also encompasses the individual’s response to that event. Since people are so uniquely made, there will be a variety of responses to the same crisis event and vastly different needs that surface during this time.
This training will help you navigate those range of needs and help support those in need.
Step 1: Assess the Need from Highest to Lowest
- What is your greatest concern right now? examples include:
- Physical Danger
- Medical Attention or Care
- Physical Resources and Needs
- Spiritual Needs
- Faith Crisis/Opportunity (where is God? Openness to know more about God)
- Emotional Needs
- Anxiety-fear in response to something currently happening or fear in response to something potentially happening
- Depression-isolation or feelings of hopelessness
- Relational Needs
- Isolation/Disconnection
- Amplified Relational Struggle-being in close quarters for a long period of time will heighten preexisting challenges or surface new relational challenges.
- Physical Danger
Step 2: Presence
- Establish Rapport
- Some of our callers may not be someone we know personally, so it’s incredibly important to first create a quick relationship with that person that feels safe and supportive.
- Compassion
- Engage and respond to the person with compassion and understanding.
- Normalizing
- Just allowing someone the space to voice their fears/concerns and meeting that voice with understanding and compassion is a healing experience that calms the fears down.
Step 3: Educate and Support: Navigate the person to possible resources to meet their need
- What can I do to be helpful? Options:
- Would you like some resources that our church is offering or that I know of in the community?
- Let them know the options or plans that we have put into place already
- Can I pray with you?
Published on Mar 27 @ 2:06 PM CDT