Preventing Home School Burnout

When a parent takes on the responsibility of educating his or her child at home, home school burnout can become one of the more common issues they have to deal with. There are many reasons that lead to this burnout: an illness, a new baby, added responsibility, change in routine etc.

The symptoms of burnout may vary, from lack of patience to overeating and crying without any apparent reasons. Surprisingly, a burnout need not be such a bad thing. It is a wake-up call - an indicator that things are not going well and that you need to reschedule. Reversing or avoiding a burnout is possible if you get fair warning.

Firstly, lower your expectations. Do not be a perfectionist. Take the good days with the bad. Next, when something does not seem to work, look for alternative methods. Flexibility is a key factor. If tension starts mounting, take a break. When necessary, change the style of teaching. For instance, small children love to
take on their spellings when they quiz an adult.

The majority of today's home-educated use an eclectic mix of materials. For instance, they might use a pre-designed program for language, arts or mathematics, and fill in history with reading and field trips, art with classes at a community center, science through a homeschool science club, physical education with membership in local sports teams, and so on.

The key is to avoid overkill. Don't pack too many activities for the sake of  socializing your child. A worn out mom means a grouchy kid and  that means no happiness. Get support from your spouse or a  neighbor or a support group. Don't try to achieve everything by  yourself. Home schooling should mean 'happy schooling' - don't forget that.

Every student can learn, just not on the same day, or the same way.
~ George Evans