home education Archives

Homeschooling and the Future of Education: A Shift Toward Individuality

Homeschooling and the Future of Education: A Shift Toward Individuality

Excerpt

Education is meant to inspire creativity and nurture individuality, but traditional schools often fall short. As homeschooling grows worldwide, families are reclaiming the joy of learning. At Schoolio, we’re empowering parents with tools and resources to create personalized, meaningful education journeys. Let’s reimagine education together.

This blog aligns Sir Ken Robinson’s philosophy with the homeschooling movement while positioning Schoolio as a key resource for families seeking educational transformation. Let me know if you’d like further refinements!

Source: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/rise-in-number-of-home-schooled-children-council/ar-AA1vgVAW?apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

The Rise of Homeschooling: Rediscovering the Art of Learning

Education is not just about filling minds with facts; it’s about nurturing creativity, curiosity, and individuality. As Sir Ken Robinson often emphasized, a truly effective education system recognizes and respects the unique talents of every learner. Yet, for many families, the rigidity of traditional schools stifles the very creativity and self-expression that education should ignite.

The recent rise in homeschooling, as highlighted in reports like the MSN article, reflects a deep desire among parents to reclaim the joy of learning for their children. At Schoolio, we see this shift as an opportunity to empower families with the tools to rediscover education as a deeply personal, transformative experience.

Why Families Are Choosing to Homeschool

Across the globe, parents are increasingly dissatisfied with traditional schooling’s one-size-fits-all approach. Mental health challenges, exam pressures, and disengagement are driving families to seek alternatives. In Rotherham, for example, homeschooling has grown over 300% since 2015, a trend mirrored in many other regions.

But this is more than a reaction to systemic failures—it’s a reawakening. Families are embracing homeschooling as a way to:

Foster Creativity: Moving beyond rote memorization to encourage imagination and critical thinking.
Personalize Education: Tailoring lessons to a child’s unique strengths, interests, and pace.
Prioritize Well-Being: Creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and inspired.

As Sir Ken Robinson argued, education must adapt to the individual, not the other way around. Homeschooling allows families to do just that, and Schoolio is here to guide them on this journey.

Reimagining Education with Schoolio

At Schoolio, we believe in education that celebrates individuality and unleashes potential. Our comprehensive K-8 digital curriculum is designed to help families move beyond the constraints of conventional schooling and into a world of personalized, meaningful learning.

Here’s how we’re helping families reimagine education:

Flexible Resources: Our curriculum adapts to each child’s pace and interests, ensuring every learner feels engaged and valued.
Creative Exploration: From electives to life skills programs, we encourage students to think critically and solve problems creatively.
Support for Neurodivergence: Recognizing that every mind learns differently, we offer tools tailored to diverse needs.

Homeschooling is not about isolation—it’s about empowerment. It’s about giving parents and children the freedom to explore education in ways that resonate with their passions and goals.

The Challenges of Traditional Schooling

Traditional education systems were designed for an industrial age, not the dynamic, interconnected world we live in today. Many families are finding that:

The emphasis on standardized testing stifles creativity.
Rigid schedules and curricula fail to accommodate diverse learning styles.
Emotional and social challenges, such as bullying or anxiety, create barriers to learning.

Homeschooling offers a pathway to break free from these constraints. It provides the opportunity to rekindle the natural curiosity and enthusiasm for learning that every child possesses.

A Movement Toward Decentralized Education

The rise of homeschooling is more than a trend—it’s a movement toward decentralizing education. By stepping outside the conventional system, families are reclaiming their role as active participants in their children’s education.

At Schoolio, we support this movement with resources that make homeschooling accessible, inclusive, and effective. Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to enhance your current approach, we’re here to help you create an education that works for your family.

The Future of Education: Inspired by Creativity and Individuality

As Sir Ken Robinson eloquently stated, “The key to success is to recognize that we all have talents, and education should help us discover them.” The rise of homeschooling signals a shift toward education systems that prioritize individuality, creativity, and well-being.

At Schoolio, we’re proud to be part of this transformation. We believe that every child deserves an education that honors their uniqueness and prepares them to thrive in a world that values innovation and adaptability.

If you’re ready to rediscover the joy of learning, join the homeschooling movement with Schoolio. Together, we can create an education system that celebrates what makes every child special.

Author: Sathish Bala

Rise in Number of Home Schooled Children – Council

Rise of Homeschooling: Empowering Families Amid Changing Educational Needs

In recent years, the homeschooling movement has gained remarkable momentum. Across regions like Rotherham, South Yorkshire, where the number of home-educated children has increased by over 300% since 2015. Families are increasingly choosing home education to address diverse challenges. The shift toward homeschooling is often driven by mental health concerns, exam pressures, or dissatisfaction with traditional schooling. This trend reflects a growing desire for education tailored to each child’s unique needs.

At Schoolio, we see this trend as part of a larger movement. This is to decentralize education, empower families, and offer children personalized learning experiences. With our innovative K-8 digital curriculum, we’re committed to supporting families navigating the rewarding but challenging journey of homeschooling.

Why Families Are Turning to Homeschooling

The reasons for the rise in homeschooling are as varied as the families choosing this path. In Rotherham, council data reveals that mental health struggles and academic pressures are among the key drivers. Traditional school environments often fail to provide the flexibility and emotional support many children need, particularly as they approach critical academic milestones like GCSEs.

Homeschooling offers an alternative—one that prioritizes the well-being and individual pace of the student. By allowing families to tailor education to their children’s needs, home education provides a sense of agency and freedom that’s hard to replicate in conventional systems.

This trend is not unique to the UK. Across North America, parents are also opting for home education as they seek greater control over what and how their children learn. With platforms like Schoolio, families can access resources that make homeschooling accessible, flexible, and aligned with their educational values.

The Role of Support in Effective Homeschooling

Choosing to homeschool is a significant decision that comes with its challenges. In Rotherham, the local council has implemented programs to support families in providing suitable education at home. Early intervention teams and guidance resources have helped hundreds of children remain in traditional schools while also aiding those transitioning to homeschooling.

At Schoolio, we believe that support is the cornerstone of successful homeschooling. Our platform is designed to offer parents comprehensive tools, including core curricula, engaging electives, and future-readiness programs. By empowering families with structured resources and clear guidance, we aim to alleviate the stress that often accompanies the decision to homeschool.

Homeschooling doesn’t have to be a solitary endeavor. Communities of homeschoolers, both online and offline, provide invaluable support, offering parents a space to share ideas, experiences, and encouragement. At Schoolio, we actively foster such communities, recognizing their critical role in making home education a viable and rewarding option for families everywhere.

Challenges and Opportunities in Homeschooling

As homeschooling becomes more widespread, it also faces scrutiny. The Rotherham report highlighted cases where home education was deemed unsuitable due to a lack of adequate planning or resources. These instances underscore the importance of equipping families with the right tools and information to ensure a high-quality educational experience.

Platforms like Schoolio are part of the solution. By providing structured yet flexible curriculums, we help parents ensure that their children are meeting educational benchmarks while also embracing the freedom that homeschooling offers. Our programs are specifically designed to adapt to the diverse needs of learners, from neurodivergent students to those seeking advanced enrichment opportunities.

In addition to addressing these challenges, homeschooling presents immense opportunities for innovation in education. Families can explore alternative teaching methods, incorporate real-world learning experiences, and nurture their children’s passions in ways that traditional schools often can’t accommodate.

Homeschooling: A Path to Resilience and Personalization

One of the most compelling aspects of homeschooling is its potential to foster resilience. In Rotherham, many families have turned to home education after their children struggled to cope with the demands of traditional schooling. Homeschooling allows these students to rebuild their confidence and rediscover the joy of learning in a supportive, pressure-free environment.

Schoolio embraces this philosophy by offering curricula that not only cover academic fundamentals but also focus on personal growth and future readiness. Our electives are designed to spark curiosity and creativity, while our core programs ensure a strong foundation in essential subjects like math, science, and language arts.

Moreover, homeschooling provides families with the flexibility to address their children’s mental health needs. By creating a safe, nurturing learning environment at home, parents can help their children develop the skills and resilience needed to navigate life’s challenges.

The Global Perspective: Homeschooling in North America and Beyond

While the rise of homeschooling in Rotherham reflects local challenges, it’s part of a global movement. In North America, homeschooling is growing rapidly, fueled by a desire for greater educational freedom and the flexibility to adapt learning to individual needs.

Schoolio is proud to be at the forefront of this movement. By decentralizing education and placing control in the hands of parents, we’re helping families across the continent embrace a personalized approach to learning. Our mission aligns with the values that underpin the homeschooling movement: flexibility, inclusivity, and a commitment to meeting each child’s unique potential.

The parallels between Rotherham’s experience and the broader trends in North America highlight the universal appeal of homeschooling. Parents everywhere are seeking alternatives to rigid, one-size-fits-all systems, and the rise of digital platforms like Schoolio is making this transition more accessible than ever.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Homeschooling

As more families choose home education, the need for resources, support, and advocacy will continue to grow. The Rotherham council’s efforts to provide guidance and early intervention are commendable, but they also highlight the gaps that still exist in ensuring all families have access to effective homeschooling solutions.

At Schoolio, we’re committed to filling these gaps. By providing high-quality, affordable educational resources, we empower parents to take charge of their children’s learning journeys. Our platform is more than a curriculum provider—it’s a partner in creating meaningful, personalized educational experiences.

The rise of homeschooling represents a shift toward a more flexible, student-centered approach to education. It’s a movement driven by families who recognize the importance of choice, agency, and individuality in learning. With the right tools and support, homeschooling has the potential to redefine what education can be—not just in Rotherham, but around the world.

Join the Movement with Schoolio

Whether you’re new to homeschooling or looking to enhance your current approach, Schoolio is here to support you every step of the way. With our comprehensive K-8 digital curriculum, engaging electives, and future-ready programs, we provide everything you need to create a tailored educational experience for your child.

As homeschooling continues to grow globally, platforms like Schoolio are shaping the future of education by putting families first. Together, we can build a world where every child has the opportunity to thrive, learn, and succeed—on their own terms.

Let’s embrace the power of homeschooling and create a brighter future for children everywhere.

Source article,

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7458d9nvdko

Author: Sathish Bala

Understanding Your ‘Why’ for Homeschooling

Choosing to homeschool your children is a significant decision for homeschooling families. It’s important to understand your personal motivations for this choice. Knowing your ‘why’ can serve as a foundation and driving force throughout your homeschooling journey. Let’s dive deep into why identifying your motivations is essential and how it can benefit homeschooling families.

Clarify Your Motivations

Homeschooling families often start their journey with various motivations. Some may seek a flexible learning environment, while others desire a more tailored education for their children. To clarify your motivations, start by asking yourself some key questions:

Why do you want to homeschool?
What are your educational goals for your children?
What values or beliefs are driving your decision?

Writing down your answers can help you see your reasons more clearly. It’s like creating a roadmap for your homeschooling journey. For homeschooling families, having a clear direction helps in planning and executing their educational strategies effectively.

Benefits of Knowing Your ‘Why’

Understanding your ‘why’ provides numerous benefits for homeschooling families. Here are a few key advantages:

Focused Planning: When you know why you are homeschooling, it becomes easier to choose the right curriculum, resources, and activities that align with your goals.
Motivation and Resilience: Homeschooling can be challenging at times. Knowing your motivations helps you stay committed and resilient, even during tough days.
Consistent Approach: Your ‘why’ serves as a guiding principle, ensuring that your educational approach remains consistent and true to your values.

Practical Steps to Identify Your ‘Why’ Homeschooling

For homeschooling families looking to solidify their motivations, here are some practical steps:

Reflect and Discuss: Take time to reflect on your reasons. Discuss them with your partner, children, or other homeschooling families. These discussions can provide new insights and perspectives.
Set Goals: Establish both short-term and long-term goals based on your motivations. These goals will help you stay on track and measure your progress.
Create a Vision Board: Visualizing your homeschooling journey can be powerful. Create a vision board with images, quotes, and goals that represent your ‘why.’ This can be a constant reminder of your purpose.

Using Your ‘Why’ as a Driving Force

Once you have identified your ‘why,’ use it as a driving force in your homeschooling journey. Here are some ways to integrate it into your daily routine:

Daily Affirmations: Start each day with affirmations that remind you of your motivations and goals.
Regular Reviews: Periodically review your ‘why’ and assess if your homeschooling approach aligns with it. Make adjustments as needed.
Celebrate Milestones: Celebrate both big and small achievements that reflect your motivations. This keeps the journey enjoyable and rewarding for the entire family.

For homeschooling families, understanding your ‘why’ is crucial. It provides clarity, direction, and motivation throughout your homeschooling journey. By taking the time to identify and embrace your personal motivations, you set a strong foundation for success. Remember, your ‘why’ is the driving force that will help you start with confidence and finish with success. Embrace it and let it guide you every step of the way.Ready to start your homeschooling journey with confidence?

Visit Schoolio today to find the easiest and most effective homeschooling program tailored to your family’s needs!

How to Bring Writing into Other Areas

Sneaking It In: How to Bring Writing Into Other Areas

By Chelsea McLeod

Sneaking it in: Writing

Writing in school is often seen as a skill linked only to English. It is often viewed as an immovable part of the curriculum and focus in this class. While this is technically true, it is not the whole picture. Not only is writing helpful in other areas, but it is also essential that it is practiced in more ways than can be offered in a single class. Furthermore, while many of us inherently “know” this fact, it is often difficult to wrap our minds around it when planning the homeschool day and to try to incorporate writing with other subjects less traditionally associated with it.

How To Incorporate Writing Into Other Subjects

So now, how does one add writing to other subject areas? When we traditionally think of writing, we think of essays, stories, paragraphs, spelling practice, etc. These are all great ways to practice and can be very effective in building skills, there are many other engaging ways to work on writing while learning other subject matter, and you can make it fun while you’re at it!

Science

Experiments
- Before you complete the experiment, have your learner make a prediction of the outcome and write it out. You can also have them include why they think what they do and have them add some proof or detail their thinking.
- For older students, you can create an assignment where they need to complete some research and explain in written form why the outcome was a certain way.

Math

Journals
- Math can be tricky, but one of the best ways to incorporate more writing is to have your student journal. They can ask questions in their journal, formulate hypotheses, and even explain their thinking when it comes to solving problems.
- They could also have a few minutes each class to write about their frustrations in math or celebrate successes they have been working hard to achieve.
- Finally, in these journals, you can have them use the 3, 2, 1 method of exit slips (an informal assessment of understanding). They could write three things they learned in the lesson today, two things they found interesting and one more question they still have about the topic.

Story Problems
- You should assign your student to write a few story problems. You can give them an equation they can use, or they can come up with their own. They then write a short trial that can be solved using that equation.
- This can be done with another homeschool family or a group, and then the students could trade and solve the problems. That way, they are practicing their problem-solving skills and writing.
- These are hard for lots of students to solve as it takes some higher-level thinking. It is important to piece together the necessary information and separate that won’t be used to solve the problem. For this reason, this might be a more effective exercise for older students who have had some practice and success with story problems.

Helping your kid write

Art

Explain Artistic Expression in Detail
- Learners need creative freedom, but sometimes it is difficult for us to know what they have made/drawn, especially when they are younger. In this case, you could have them draw a picture and then explain it in written form. You could also ask them why they decided on this particular thing.
- They can draw a story’s characters and setting and then write it. This way, they can bring words to their visual work and a visual to their story. In many ways, this can sometimes even help to overcome a block. If they struggle to write or draw, you can have them do the opposite to spark their imaginations.

Social & History

Write a Textbook
- A great way to review and solidify information is to compile it into a cohesive and informative text. This assignment is best done with older students as it can benefit from lots of cumulative knowledge. I have used such an assignment in a High School Class in place of a final exam.
- A similar concept can be used with younger students. However, it would need to be a modified assignment that may include less extensive writing.

Physical Education

Plan a workout
- Your student could plan a workout, including the warm-up, all the exercises and cool down. They would then complete the training themselves or lead a small group. Once that is done, it would be a perfect opportunity for a reflection. A written piece of their thoughts on what went well, what didn’t and what they would or could do differently next time.
Keep a Journal
- They could keep a journal for a week or two. In this exercise, they could keep track of what they are eating and how much exercise they are getting or reflect on what they could do to change their habits or maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Some Other Ways to Get Kids Writing More

Thank you cards

Thank You Cards

For example, if you go on outings to the museum, a lecture or a play, you can have your students write a thank you to the workers or speakers.
If you are a part of a homeschool co-op or group hosted at several different houses, your student could thank those hosts.

Introduction Speeches

Similarly to the above, if you have a guest speaker at a homeschool co-op meeting, or maybe you put together an assembly in honour of a particular day, you could have your student plan and write an introduction. They could research the speaker and include some information about

Pen Pals

This one is a classic! There are often programs in schools that connect kids to this type of thing. Similarly, several online programs or even Facebook groups explicitly aim for homeschool kids and connect them globally.

You can get creative with incorporating writing practice into your homeschool day. Writing practice doesn’t have to be specific or focused in only one area; it can also be spontaneous, like writing a grocery list or planning out a phone call you have to make.

So, as you can see, there are many different ways to get your learners to write; honestly, this isn’t even an exhaustive list. There are many more ways for your student to strengthen their skills.

In the end, the more exposure they have to writing in their various subjects, the stronger they will become. So take some ideas from this list or come up with your own but most importantly, focus on the practice and not the subject matter and see how much growth your student writer can achieve.

Getting started but aren’t sure how? Book a Concierge Call.

If you aren’t sure how to get started or what programs would best suit your child’s learning needs, then you can chat with one of our experts on a one-on-one Concierge Call, completely free!
Click here to book a Concierge Call.

20 Celebrities You Probably Didn’t Know Were Homeschooled.

TL;DR: Which famous people were homeschooled?
Many successful celebrities, athletes, and world leaders were homeschooled, including Ryan Gosling, Serena Williams, Thomas Edison, and Billie Eilish. Homeschooling allowed these individuals the flexibility to pursue their passions—from acting and sports to scientific innovation—while receiving a tailored education that supported their unique career paths.

Customizable Curriculum

Homeschooling can be a very overwhelming task to take on. Especially if you’re trying to search for the right curriculum to suit your families learning needs. There are so many different options out there, which can make finding the best one even more of a challenge. Having a customizable curriculum can benefit your homeschool greatly, let’s find out how.

The negatives of purchasing a non customizable curriculum.

Your curriculum should be your tool, not your master. Purchasing a curriculum that isn’t customizable (or doesn’t have room to move, built into it) will only cause issues for you and your child. One of the biggest mistakes I made when I first started homeschooling, was to choose a curriculum without doing any sort of research on it. Or taking the time to review samples before I spent hundreds of dollars on it. I purchased this super expensive curriculum, that wasn’t at all customizable and left no room for anything. This left my oldest, and myself, feeling overwhelmed at the end of each day. Causing our homeschool journey to start out really messy.

I felt like we had to accomplish all the things, on each page, every day. There was this huge pressure to get it all done before the end of the homeschool year, because that’s what the book said! As a result, at the end of the homeschool year we both felt completely derailed. I wish that I could go back in time and give my old self some words of advice. Some of which being: You don’t have to follow the curriculum exactly, in order for your child to succeed with their learning. And also, go purchase a customizable curriculum!

Your curriculum should be your tool, not your master.

If you feel like you are constantly dredging through your curriculum. And the assignments and activities are actually just overwhelming you and your child. That’s a pretty good indicator that your curriculum needs to be customized to fit your child’s learning needs, and your own unique teaching style. All too often people give up on homeschooling, because they think there’s something wrong with them. When it’s actually their curriculum that needs to be reevaluated. Assignments and activities aren’t there to be your boss, they’re there to help you teach your child.

You as the parent teacher, can pick and choose the assignments and activities that you know your child needs help with. If you’re finding that a certain assignment is just not working, skip it! If an assignment 3 lessons ahead seems to be a better fit for your child, then jump ahead to it. You get to decide how the curriculum is presented to your child.

Why is customizable curriculum a good thing?

Having a customizable curriculum is a great thing because it helps you let go of those unrealistic curriculum expectations. This then gives you an amazing sense of educational freedom. When your curriculum is customizable, you can choose what your child actually needs to learn. Based on where they are at. Unfortunately, the educational system is famous for pushing kids along to the next grade. Even when they know a child is lacking in certain areas. And clearly need help with aspects of their education, like reading.

When your curriculum is customizable, you can dig deeper into the areas you know your child needs help with. Without this pressure of ‘I better finish this book so they can move onto the next grade.’ Wouldn’t it be so much better for your child to actually know what they need to?

Work with your child’s strengths.

If you focus on an area of your child’s education, that you know they’re struggling with, have your child use their strengths to accomplish it. This will help to boost their confidence. If you know that your child is really good at art, then incorporate that as much as possible into your day and curriculum. Have them paint numbers, do play dough math problems, or trace letters in sand. If your child is really good at creating or building, have them build their own math problems, sentences words, and paragraphs.

Many children need a lot of movement in order for the information to stick. You could put sight words on the stairs, and have them read each word before they can go to the next step. This causes a lot of anticipation and excitement, which can help get the wiggles out. Also, be sure not to sit at the table or desk for too long. I totally get that sometimes you feel like you need to push your kids to finish a lesson. But you don’t. Take breaks, run around, go outside, put a pause on an assignment until some energy has been released.

Schoolio’s customizable curriculum fits!

The amazing Schoolio writing team came up with the phenomenal idea to create unit studies for you to choose from. Most curriculum companies only sell their curriculum by the book. Schoolio offers individual units. That means, that if you’d like to start mid year, and know that your child needs help with Grade 3 Numbers, then you can purchase the Grade 3 Numbers unit. Or if your child has been homeschooling all year but needs help with a certain aspect of Language Arts, you can pick up the unit of Language Arts that your child needs.

We also offer bundled curriculum options, which have all the core subjects, and units included. It’s important to remember that even if you purchase the bundle, you can still customize it to fit your child’s learning needs. You can choose what unit of which subject your child should work on, and when.

What if your curriculum isn’t working for you?

If you’re finding that your curriculum is causing a lot of stress for you and your child. Or it just isn’t cutting it at all. Consider making some necessary adjustments to it. This doesn’t mean that you have to completely abandon the curriculum. You could add in some units here and there to help your child. Additionally, you could skip certain lessons that aren’t relevant to your child. The point is, you know what your child needs to learn, and you have the power to adjust the curriculum.

There’s help for you.

Fortunately for you, homeschooling has become so much more mainstream in the last 5 years. And homeschool curriculum companies, like Schoolio, exist to help you. Schoolio Learning was created by a team of extremely passionate individuals. All of whom care deeply about making education simple, affordable, customizable, and enjoyable. If you’re in the process of weighing your options and figuring out what curriculum works best for you, don’t hesitate to reach out to TEAM Schoolio for guidance.

If you’re feeling stuck in your curriculum, just remember it’s not the master of your homeschool. You are.

Browse Schoolio U.S. curriculum

Browse Schoolio Canadian curriculum

How Do You Homeschool With A Toddler?

How Do You Homeschool With A Toddler? – Guest Blog Written By Rebecca Miller

Are you wondering if it’s even possible to homeschool multiple children of different ages? How can you possibly teach your 10-year-old math while your preschooler is asking for snacks every five minutes? How on Earth can you practice reading with your 12-year-old while your toddler is climbing on your lap? How do you keep your toddler busy during homeschool?

As a mom of four, ages 3 to 14. I understand that it can be a challenge! But, my friend, it is most definitely possible!

Through trial and error, I have found some great ways to keep my preschooler busy while spending time with my older children on their projects.

Here are a few of my favourite ways to keep your toddler busy:

Make sure your toddlers bucket is full.

Let’s face it – sometimes it can feel as if our youngest is constantly seeking our undivided attention. Sometimes the way they go about getting our attention is not the most discreet.

Recently I added something to our routine that has been a game-changer. When you front-load the day with some quality one-on-one time with your toddler (for example – reading, playing or cooking together). It can fill her bucket and lessen the need to seek connection while you are helping her siblings.

Enlist help from others.

Homeschooling is a family affair. If you have a spouse, talk to them about ways you can share the responsibilities and joys of educating your children. Maybe you can take turns teaching. Perhaps one of you is stronger in one subject and would enjoy taking that on. Maybe your partner can play with the youngest child while you work with the older ones – or vice versa.

If you have family or friends nearby, you may be able to have them care for your youngest for a few hours per week. During the school day. Homeschooling is all about family, you may be surprised how grandma may respond if you ask her to support your homeschooling journey in this way. Another option is to find another homeschooling Mom in your area who would be willing to swap childcare with you.

Rotate toys for your toddler.

Sometimes toddlers and preschoolers can become overwhelmed when there are too many toys. If you find there are toys that your child doesn’t play with regularly, it can be really helpful to put them away in a closet for awhile. Then when you bring them back out, they can seem new and exciting again. Similarly, if there are toys that are only brought out at “school” time, your child will get excited at the novelty of those toys. Your toddler will begin to associate school time with their ‘special’ toys.

Try some fun ‘Make ahead activity trays/bags’.

Preparation is key, here. When you are preparing lessons for the older kids on Sunday night (or whenever you prepare). Take a few minutes to prepare something for the youngest learner as well. It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. A simple baking pan with magnet letters, new Play-doh, stickers and paper or even a tub of rice can be a fun activity! While they are busily playing with their new activity tray, you will be able to help the other children with their book work.

Utilize nap time.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. If your toddler or preschooler is still napping, you can use that time to focus on book work with the older kids without distraction. If your child is not napping, you can still add “quiet time” to your routine. Bring out quiet toys or books that are reserved for this special time. And have your child get cozy and rest their body for an hour.

Take advantage of helpful older siblings.

Don’t be afraid to have your older kids take on “sibling duty.” I believe that one of the best parts of having all my children at home is that they can create a strong bond. I also believe children who learn responsibility in younger years, find it easier to become responsible adults. In our family, everyone knows (not that they always agree) that we all have parts to play and “jobs” to do within our family unit. My oldest two are 14 and 12. They take turns watching the busy 3-year-old when I am need one-on-one with one of the others.

Play school with your toddler.

Younger siblings love to imitate older siblings. While the older kids are working on their worksheets, get out pens, markers and paper and have your little one “do school” along-side their siblings. Stickers, dry erase boards and colouring books are also great ‘school supplies.’

Seek out non-traditional learning opportunities.

Playing board games, going for nature walks and exploring a local farm are all great learning opportunities. These activities don’t involve sitting at a desk. These learning opportunities can supplement your book work and are perfect for all ages. While walking through the forest with your kids, you can point out different types of leaves and birds. Have your toddler point out different colours and shapes in nature. While playing a family board game, your preschooler will learn turn-taking along-side their siblings. Sometimes non-traditional learning activities can be overlooked, but they can really help solidify concepts learned through book work.

Educational Apps.

If you are open to using screens in your home, allowing your preschooler a limited amount of free time on an educational iPad app can be useful and fun. There are many free and low-cost programs that can be a great tool to keep your little one occupied. While still teaching some fun and important skills like shape recognition, colours, letters and numbers.

Including your toddler or preschooler in your homeschool whenever possible is the best way to build strong relationships and a strong foundation for learning. Sometimes, though, it is necessary to give your older children more individual attention. I hope these ideas give you hope that you absolutely can homeschool your children, even if you have a toddler underfoot.

Schoolio Guest Blog

Is your child old enough to jump into Kindergarten?

Check out our fun Kindergarten program! Click Here

Everything has a Season – Even Education

Everything has a season – Guest blog by Tawny Stowe

“Everything has a season” … It’s a cliche, but for me it’s also a permission slip! As a homestead mom and an entrepreneur, certain seasons find me a little over my head! This was my first-year homeschooling. And when I began, I had these grand ideals of how to make school happen in my home the way it does in a classroom.

I failed. Miserably.

First I started off with alarms set, I had specific curriculum planned out every day and books set up on the table. I even had specific days for different topics. At first, my four-year-old was excited and just as quickly he wasn’t. As soon as it turned into a power struggle for our family, I knew something had to change. But being so new to the homeschooling way of life, I didn’t know what!

And then… It happened.

As they say when the student is ready the teacher appears. So as I sat in on a webinar for my business that happened to be led by a homeschooling and homestead mamma of three. In her teaching she fully admitted that as gardening season approaches, her and the kids are done with formal learning for the remainder of the school year. When the demands of the garden increased, all learning revolved around growing food!

This was inspiring!

Suddenly, I felt as if the Spring Season was an open permission slip to let the rigidity and routine of learning go. We could slide into a more “unschooled approach” to education.

Then what took place blew my mind!

The power struggles that my family was facing, vanished. It seems getting a five-year-old to put on rain boots and splash in puddles requires zero effort! We went hunting for bugs, exploring wetlands for migrating birds, and spent time talking about the fertility of the Earth as it unravelled before our very eyes. Then we talked about seeds, and land stewardship (okay he’s five we called it tending to our food and forests). We collected garbage, we kayaked and we explored medicines and wild foods as they presented themselves. As I was walking around from morning to night working in the gardens, wheelbarrowing dirt, starting seeds and transplanting seedlings, and raising baby chicks, my son was with me every step of the way.

Another change in our Homeschooling Journey.

So here we are, now watching this season that started as Spring. Moved into summer and is quickly bringing us to fall. I am pausing to reflect on what I am harvesting from the seeds I planted and tended all summer. Both in my garden and in my son’s learning environment.

My son has outgrown his shyness. He thrived in the natural world talking to plants, trees, rocks, and animals. We spent a summer taking our winter learning of Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe Language) and applying it to our outdoor classroom. We read books, we studied field guides. We had countless campfires helping us heal our Metis roots. Doing so by keeping us feeling connected to the Natural Landscape and all of her beings.

A new cycle is here.

In our way of living, we approach harvest as a time of ending, of clearing and even death. We view death as a necessary part of life because through the completion of one cycle a new one can emerge. Our cycle of complete unschooling is coming towards an end. I sense in both of us a desire to return to the blessed moments of connection we had when we spent half days with some structured learning.

Approaching learning through the seasons gives me permission to bring change (or cycles) into our school approach. And as I round up my first full year of homeschooling, I feel blessed. Blessed to have found a way to weave the healing of my Metis roots with my love of nature’s seasons. This all comes with a desire to help raise a child connected to the land through home learning.

Author Spotlight - Tawny Stowe

About the author: Tawny Stowe is a Metis business owner who works on the traditional lands of the Anishnabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples now known as Arden, Ontario, Canada.

Tawny is a steward of land and resources which allows her to embody her role as the Woodland Priestess helping parents return home to themselves and their children through a (re)connection to the Earth. She teaches a remembering of the Mind-Body-Soul through the sharing of children’s stories, song, food, creativity activities, gardening, spirituality + yoga practices, and nature exploration.

Click here to learn more about Tawny

Make Learning Fun

Have you heard of Special Interest Units? The phrase may make you wonder, what exactly that could mean? And why would that be important for your child’s education? Using these compact units of learning can make learning fun for our kids. While also helping our children discover their passions and desire to dig deeper on topics that excite them. It’s so important to cultivate their desire to learn when they’re young, and using Special Interest Units can help with that.

Have you ever found a topic that you just couldn’t get enough of? You started digging deeper, doing more research. You became fascinated by this topic and learning about it gave you so much life. You want your child to experience that same passion and hunger for learning, right? So, how? How can we help our kids with digging deeper, learning bigger, and enjoying the process?

Here are some simple ways to make learning fun while helping your child develop a love for their education:

Expand of their ideas and imaginative thoughts.

Your son just came up to you and told you that he wants to drive a Porsche, and be a millionaire with a fast, fancy boat when he’s older. What’s your initial reaction? To tell him that money doesn’t matter? To explain that we don’t always get what we want in life? Do you immediately think ‘Those are expensive, he could never afford that?’ Or do you say: “Well you’ll have to have a really good job then.” All of these initial thoughts are normal, because you live in a realistic world. Your child however, is living in a bright world where anything is possible. Instead of immediately shutting down his dream, try asking questions instead.

Ask things like: “What colour would your Porsche be?” “How fast would it go?” You can google how fast a Porsche can go together, and then perhaps talk about different speeds, because I guarantee that one day they will be driving and will need to know. “What colour would it be? There’re so many colours, let’s check out the Colours and Light Special interest Unit together to learn more about colours. Maybe we can even pick a colour that isn’t very common, if you like it!” That fast boat that he’s dreaming of, have him draw a picture, and write about where he would travel. Grab a map and explore the oceans with him. Ask him where he’d want to travel to, and what countries he’d like to see with his boat.

You aren’t squashing his dreams, you are helping him cultivate his dreams through joy-filled, education.

Make learning fun with Special Interest Units:

There are so many areas of education that can be really dry. Many parents struggle with teaching their children math, not because they don’t know it but because math is one of the more ‘dry subjects’. For some kids, they just love it. For others, it overwhelms them from the boredom of 5+6=11. How can you make learning more fun? Especially with those areas of their education that are beyond boring?

Special Interest Units aren’t just about an interesting topic. They are so much more than that. You can incorporate multiple subject areas under one theme. Math, Writing, Reading, Science, all of these are included in many Special Interest Units. When you mix enjoyable content with basic educational lessons, you have a remedy for a fun and successful learning experience.

Helping your child discover interests.

The world would be a different place if we all did what we were actually interested in. If we all somehow found a way to make a living off of something that we enjoy. But chances are when you went to school you were taught in a traditional form. You were told to get good grades, do well in areas of education, and forget about your passions. Because “Passion doesn’t pay the bills.”

Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut, Sally Reis, Ph.D., states that the key to unlocking a child’s potential is finding that child’s interests and helping the child develop them. Did you catch that? The key to them unlocking their potential isn’t by forcing them to get good grades and then being disappointed when they don’t meet our expectations. Rather, the key comes when they love what they’re learning.

How can they discover their interests? Books, watching educational shows, museums, zoos, the outdoors, and Special Interest Units. There truly are so many ways to help your child find their passion for education while you make learning fun.

Be supportive as they find their learning style.

Every child has a unique learning style, or a way that they learn most effectively. The three different styles: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. Which style suits your child the most? Helping your child determine their learning style will be a gift that serves them their entire life.

Don’t become overwhelmed by the idea of ‘how to make learning fun’, ok? There are so many ways to do it. You can start by checking out our Special Interest Units.

Because we love to make learning fun, so we’ve created a whole bunch of awesome Special Interest Units to help your child learn fun new things while squeezing in important education lessons.

Click here to view our Special Interest Units.

Resources used for this blog:

Big Life Journal – A love for learning

NAEYC – Encouraging your child to lead

Anxiety and School

Anxiety and School – Guest Blog by Meredith Blunt

I am so glad to be writing for Schoolio again. This time about something a little heavier than my last guest blog but a subject near and dear to me. I’m writing this with no expertise (not a doctor!) beyond my own experience as a parent and a human who has moved through the impacts and distortions of anxiety herself. Anxiety and mental health is a huge, personal, and potentially upsetting topic. Anxiety has a daily presence in my life. I am hoping to share some of the most insightful and effective knowledge I have gained from my own research and experience with anxiety and school, as well as from the experts I’ve met.

Emotional and Mental Health.

Feeling anxious can be a normal reaction to events in our lives that make us feel pressured, stressed or challenged. This is okay. That anxious feeling teaches us to assess our perceptions quickly, make critical decisions and bolster our convictions. However, anxiety that is overtly and constantly present moves into the realm of a disorder. It feeds negative thought patterns. It pushes us to feel constant worry and fear. In these times of growing awareness and knowledge around mental and emotional health, we are gaining a better understanding that children can be just as affected by anxiety as anyone else. We are learning about the factors in their lives that can cause anxiety disorder. Unsurprisingly, school is one of those factors, which is why talking about anxiety and school is so important.

Anxiety and school, what it can look like:

As parents we’re told to ‘trust our gut’ when it comes to our kids. This is good advice but tricky to follow. We are influenced by so much – our loved ones, social media, literature, news etc. It isn’t unusual for our internal voice, our own wisdom, to get drowned out. Parental intuition is further challenged by the role school plays in each child’s life. As the majority of their time is spent at school, it has an outsized impact on a child’s mental health. Teachers, conflicts with peers, being away from home, and expectations of family are all aspects of school that can be contributing factors to an anxiety disorder.

“It started out as stomach aches and headaches…”

I noticed the beginnings of anxious behaviour in my youngest back when he was in grade one. It first started out as stomach aches and headaches every school morning but gradually progressed to withdrawal from some interests and sleep disruption. Fearing any lasting consequences of this situation and due to the complete absence of support from our school and his teacher at the time, my husband and I withdrew him from public school and began our first foray into homeschooling.

Wisdom does come with experience, in our case we had crossed paths with school-based anxiety already and learned valuable information. Three years prior to my son’s grade one year, I didn’t have the confidence to trust what I was seeing and sensing with my eldest as anxiety disorders developed in her when she was around the same age. Everyone seemed to know better and worked to assuage my fears, so I put my trust in them. It’s hard to forgive yourself for mistakes you’ve made as a parent.

We can only do our best with the tools and knowledge we have at the time.

I didn’t know that what I was looking at was anxiety in my eldest. I would see her struggle to connect with peers and I would resort to the traditional well-meaning adages of ‘say hi!’ and ‘be friendly’. We battled over learning from mistakes, and I would feel lost when her reaction to an error or failure was immense defeat and crippling negative emotions. I’d try to get her excited about new things only to see her recoil almost in terror. The kids who sometimes can’t find the words to describe what they’re experiencing are the young people who may be susceptible to anxiety disorders. These kids can end up carrying heavy labels in school settings – difficult, shy, perfectionist, distracted, under-achiever, a weaker student. This is my daughter and not one of those labels was accurate.

This isn’t a simple or easy topic to discuss. When we talk about anxiety in our children it hurts. When we give voice to these massive concerns for our kids – ranging from sleep deprivation and disruptive emotions to self-injurious behaviour and suicidal ideation – they become part of the world. The bigger, open, judging world. This is hard, really hard. We live in times where more pressure than ever is on families to be relentlessly picture-perfect at all times. If we pull back the curtain, what will people think of us!

Here’s what people think – “Whaaaaat! That’s my kid too…that’s me too! I thought it was just us”. They really do.

So what do we do as mums and dads? We get help. Help for our kids and help for ourselves. We learn how to listen, how to respond, and how to reach out when we feel overwhelmed. We adapt our parenting skills to the needs of our kids.

Here’s some favourites from my range of resources:

(I have no professional affiliation with these links they are just ones I like a lot).

Books:

The Anxiety Survival Guide for Teens is wonderful for at-home work and gaining a good understanding of anxiety disorders as well as helpful processes that can be adapted for children of any age – not just our teens.
Emotional Intelligence: Managing My Emotions by Schoolio

Helpful Apps that my family loves:

Support groups:

It can be a wonderful, positive surprise, how generous and loving groups like Schoolio Families can be!

**Therapy*:**

Cognitive-behavioural therapy has been reliably successful in my experience.

Learning the skills for when anxiety shows up:

I don’t know about you but I’m feeling a little worked up thinking and writing about anxiety and school so I’m going to regain some calm. This is the first suggestion I always make when talking to friends and other parents about anxiety in our families. Our kids need to know they are fully capable of being in control of their emotions. They are eager to learn the confidence and skills needed for anxiety when it shows up. Where those skills begin is awareness of the most basic of bodily functions – breathing.

As anxiety builds, the more shallow and rapid we breathe. This is a prehistoric response from our brain, telling our body “There’s danger! Time to flood everything with oxygen and get the adrenaline going so we can get the heck outta here!”. There’s no sabretoothed cat stalking us but our body’s response is sufficient for us to cope as though there were. When we learn to identify this behaviour, the next step is to take control of the perceived threat by controlling our breath.

Check your breathing.

Sometimes known as Paced Breathing, you inhale through your nose for 4-6 seconds, hold for 2-4 seconds, then a controlled exhale through your mouth for 6-8 seconds. It is totally cool if you can’t breathe for those exact seconds yet. The calming key is that longer exhale. With it you are releasing the excess oxygen and adrenaline which gives you control of the situation and yourself.

Another great one, especially for our little littles, is Box Breathing. Hold the image of a square in your mind. Each side of the square is equivalent to four seconds. We breath around the square. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold our lungs full for 4 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds, hold our lungs empty for 4 seconds.

Putting in the practice of identifying the moments when we need to take that pause and breathe is worth it, whether you’re a kid or a grown up.

It’s important to foster our mental well-being as caregivers because there are challenging emotions that come when your child is embattled with anxiety or any differences from the neurotypical. Guilt, doubt, resignation, disbelief, avoidance, anger, sadness to name a few. Those difficult feelings are valid and deserve reflection.

A personal favourite expression regarding this is you have to put your own oxygen mask on before helping another. This doesn’t mean if a family member is in crisis you hold up a finger and say “Just a sec! I need 20 minutes for some *me* time then we’ll get to working on what’s happening with you ok?” …none of us would do that – it’s ridiculous.

What it does mean is that every day we take space and time for ourselves.

What that space and time look like is dependent on you! For myself, my go-tos are walking and re-learning to run. The activity gives me the space and time to enjoy my own progress, and focus on it. Exercise isn’t the only activity that works, I encourage you to find the right activity for you that allows you to restock your emotional stores so you are better prepared to cope with whatever challenges the day brings. The singular purpose is to fill your happiness quotient. It’s also good behaviour to model, demonstrating that you find contentment and success in just being you and doing something for just you.

I hope I have done some service to the impactful and encompassing topic of anxiety and school -age children. I would genuinely love to generate a supportive on-going discussion centred around advice, patience, familiarity, education and humour. Whether you and/or your child are experiencing what you suspect is anxiety or you are interested in mental wellness, remember we are not alone.

*I fully acknowledge that financially viable and timely access to therapy is critically lacking in Canada. If you have the means, please consider advocating and supporting improved access to mental health professionals and programs in your region. Getting help should not be as difficult as it is.

Schoolio Guest Blog - Meredith Blunt

“I’m Bored” – Let Your Kids Be Bored This Summer

When the “I’m bored” complaints start to roll in.

Summer break has started and with it comes a flurry of excitement and potential plans. Beaches, swimming pools, playgrounds, and water fights, may just be some of the exciting activities calling your kids names.

My kids always get so thrilled for summer and the potential it holds. They can’t wait for less structure, and more opportunity to just play. That said, it always appears that a couple weeks – or sometimes even days – into summer break my kids start with the “I’m bored” complaints. And with that the boredom train is in full motion.

Actually, as I’m writing this my son just walked up to me and said, “I’m bored!” What’s a parent to do? Hand them a tablet? Have a list of fun activities to do? Drop everything and take them somewhere incredibly entertaining? Chances are, after another year of homeschool/virtual learning, the last thing you want to do is have an epic schedule packed with activities. But you also don’t want to let them sit in front of a screen all day. So, what do you do?

Should you have a schedule for each day?

What’s your go-to going to be? Have a beautifully curated schedule for every single day? Filled with extraordinary activities, crafts, snacks and fun? Or, are you going to just let your child be completely bored all summer? Maybe a happy medium between the two? What’s your plan for the ‘I’m bored’ days?

First of all, let’s just address the elephant in the room. When our children complain it makes us uncomfortable. I mean, it’s supposed to, right? From when your child was born, you learned to help them. You fed them, changed them, cared for them, entertained them, whenever they needed it. So, naturally when your child begins to whine that they are just so bored, you want to solve this issue for them too. In those moments, it’s all too easy to just hand them the tablet to calm their cries of boredom and solve the temporary issue.

But you don’t need to do that!

Guess what? You don’t need to do that. See, obviously there are complaints that we need to take seriously from our children. But boredom? That’s not one of them. According to Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, boredom is actually really good for your child. She says: “Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quite enough that they can hear themselves.” It makes us uncomfortable though, right?

I mean, as a mom I want my kids to be happy. I want to help them in every single way that I possibly can. So, when they complain I feel the need to fix it, even when it’s just boredom related.

However, constantly entertaining your children isn’t a source of help, but rather a source of harm. Before you freak out. Stop. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with planning fun activities for your kids, that’s excellent! But, you just don’t need to do it all the time! Because that’s usually recipe for parental burn-out. (Unless that’s truly your jam then go for it.)

Boredom isn’t bad.

“Children need time to themselves – to switch off from the bombardment of the outside world, to daydream, pursue their own thoughts and occupations, and discover personal interests and gifts. Letting the mind wander from time to time is important for everybody’s mental wellbeing and functioning.” Says Dr. Theresa Belton.

It’s true, in today’s world kids do have a much harder time with boredom than in generations before them. Why is that? Well, the answer is pretty obvious. Technology being one of the biggest killers of boredom. Following closely behind are extracurricular activities. We’ve essentially created a world where children have highly structured lives, with basically no time to just be.

What are the benefits of boredom for my child?

Boredom inspires creativity and imagination. Research has found that people who are given a bunch of boring tasks to complete actually show more imagination when they’re then asked to take part in a creative thinking activity?

Boredom teaches Resilience. Allowing your kids time to just be bored and have to ‘entertain’ or ‘amuse’ themselves is an excellent way to help your child develop resilience.

Letting your kids be bored actually helps them develop problem-solving skills!

Being bored can help your child learn how to build relationships.

Boredom can improve mental health. Because being too busy (even as an adult) isn’t good.

Boredom makes childhood happier. What? Really? Yes! Think about. When you remember back to your own childhood years, Aren’t some of your best memories the simple ones? The ones where you were creative from boredom? Chances are that’s a yes.

Many of the activities that we think would make our kid’s childhoods magical, aren’t. Because simplicity is the way to go, always!

What can you do this summer with the ‘I’m bored’ cries? Start with this.

Set aside one day a week for an activity detox. That means no structured activities.

Task them with creativity. (Check out ‘The Ultimate I’m bored items list’ to have around the house. Listed below).

Limit the teach toys.

Send them outdoors (and go out with them). If you don’t live in a location where your child can venture outside alone. Then take them to a park, let them run wild. Try not to jump in, instead just sit and watch them. If you have a backyard, let them have fun back there while you enjoy a cup of tea inside, or on the patio.

Be a good role model. Our kids mirror what we do. So, if you find yourself grabbing for your phone every chance you get. That’s going to be what they want to do. Try to avoid that. Instead let them see you reading, writing, drawing, and creating. When they see you being creative, it encourages them to do the same.

Try this ‘I’m Bored Checklist’, next time your kids want screen time. Once they start going through the listed items, they might just find their own source of entertainment through the beauty of being creative and using their imagination

Get The ‘I’m Bored Checklist’

Check out The Ultimate I’m Bored Items List! And, try to keep a steady supply of these items.

I'm Bored items List

For some fun lessons to help keep your kids entertained this summer. Check out the Schoolio Special Interest Units