 Some days, I have so much to balance, that everything flies out of orbit and hits the ground with a big thud. When I add in activities outside the home, then I often feel even that much more out of control and off schedule. On the other hand, I also feel that my children would be missing out if we bypass all those great activities that are calling our names so loudly. I believe it takes prayer and wisdom every month of every year on how involved your family can or should be in anything.
There are many really good activities calling us out of our homes. Whether it is academic enrichment classes, physical education, music lessons, history co-op, field trips, art, park days ... the choices can be overwhelming. Since every family and their homeschool dynamics are different, there is no clear way to distinguish what is best for everyone. But we can employ guidelines and ask questions that help us all make good choices.
We will ask questions related to six areas: The Home, The Family, The Child, The Activity, The Spouse, and The Lord.
The Home
The balancing act in all of this is learning what to decline from and when to add another activity. Probably the first thing to consider would be the temperature of your home right now. Here are the questions I would ask related to the home:
- Is there a lot of stress in the home already?
- How easy or difficult is it to get out of the house with everyone?
- Does the family have enough down time?
- Would adding another activity put the atmosphere of the home in jeopardy?
- Does each member of the family have the extra energy to make this commitment?
- Can the calendar handle another thing?
- Would you have enough time to do the necessary schoolwork, chores and Bible study if you add another activity?
If you are already feeling guilty that you cannot get dinner on every night nor do basic housekeeping, you might need to think about what activities are draining your time or energy. If your home life is already full, you will need to reconsider taking on another activity, or take something else off the calendar to fit in something new. We must learn to evaluate the not only the short and long-term benefit of the activity, but how this extra activity will affect our home and our family.
The Family
Often, when we do too much outside the home, it throws off our family's ability to bounce back and complete the important things like finishing necessary homework, or just regrouping and thinking clearly. It could affect our ability to react graciously because we are tired. Sometimes adding new activities not only takes new energy, but can also take time to get back to a normal, operational state. These are things we need to take into consideration ...
Read the rest of the article including consideration of your child, your spouse, and the Lord, here.
~Deborah
dwuehler@thehomeschoolmagazine.com
|
|
|
A division of The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine
Did you know? Every class is INCLUDED for members! No limits!
I don't know if this happens to other families or not, but when I was growing up, I had a lot of interests that didn't last to adulthood. When I think of the finances that were invested in my fluctuating interests, I cringe. I know exploring many interests is a healthy part of childhood. But in time, dinosaur books, an electrician's kit, a telescope, and more than one musical instrument all found their way to the donated items bin. Aren't you glad SchoolhouseTeachers.com gives you a way to share more than 15 electives with your students-for no additional cost? Our electives include Sewing Historical Costumes, Nature/Outdoors, Filmmaking, Logic, Mock Trial, Photography, Beginning Guitar, Beginning Violin, Media Studies, two different art classes,and even Social Justice. Explore all the courses we have to offer on SchoolhouseTeachers.com. Join today: your first month is just $3. After that, $12.95 a month serves your entire family. Or save 10 percent by purchasing a yearly membership: just $139.
|
|
|
AdvertisementSpanish for You!
 Fun and flexible Spanish curriculum easily adaptable for teaching multi-age levels. Streamlined lesson planning. Simple. Effective. Affordable. Captures the attention of various learning styles through multi-sensory listening, speaking, reading, and writing games/activities. Teacher inspired--student approved. Grades 3-8. Non-aligned to Common Core. Free lessons/worksheets. Money back guarantee.
|
|
|
Raising Real Men
What electives are essential? None! After all, that's what electives mean, something more than the essentials like Bible, math and language arts. If they learn those, they'll have the foundation they need to keep learning on their own. That said, adding in electives can really add to their lives. Consider these:
History. This is essential in high school, but it's also one of the first electives you should add in elementary school. We suggest focusing on the stories of history and reading lots of biographies. It's fun and it gives children an understanding of God's workings in the lives of men.
Science. Again, an essential in high school, in elementary school, getting to do science can motivate them to get the basics done! Don't get bogged down in paperwork and assignments--it's not the point of science at the younger ages.
Music. For years, we dragged unwilling children to homeschool choir and band. They whined. They complained. Then they grew up. All three of our graduates have enjoyed singing in their university choirs and love, love, love music. One has real musical
talent and taught himself to play several instruments. I wonder if he'd have ever known it if we'd left out music.
Art. Got a kid who draws all the time? Buy him a simple art curriculum or instructional videos. One young man we know discovered such a talent for drawing that he did the cover art for A Cry From Egypt, one of the books we publish--and he was seventeen years old!
P.E. So many moms complain that their sons can't sit still and concentrate, "I tell him he can get up after he finishes school." For many boys and some girls, too, that means he'll be using all his mental energy to sit--and have nothing left to learn with. Get them up, get them active. Tell them to run up and down the stairs. Get them doing push-ups. They'll learn better when they've been active.
Languages. If they are heading to college, they'll need two or three years of high school foreign languages, but it can be fun to do some language study with younger children, too, and they'll have a better accent. Some great resources let you learn with them!
Economics. This high school elective really helps students understand decision-making. It will make them not only better businessmen, but wiser consumers as they understand what motivates them to buy, how prices are set, and why businesses and governments do the things they do.
Most of all, don't get stressed out and lose your joy! Sometimes you'll get all this done and more, and other times the essentials are a stretch. It's okay; you will get there. Focus on discipling and loving your children while you've got them!
Your friends,
Hal & Melanie
Love giveaways, fellowship and fun? Join us Monday night for a HUGE Facebook Party celebrating the release of our new book, My Beloved and My Friend: How to be Married to Your Best Friend Without Changing Spouses! Click here!
Also, we are gearing up for our FIRST LIVE webinar series event for parents of boys up to age eight! Check out Boyhood Boot Camp now!
|
|
|
Announcement
Ever wonder what the homeschool community looks like? So do we.
Would you help us to get a snapshot of the
homeschool community by filling out a short
5-10 minute demographic survey?
Plus you could win a Kindle Fire!  Click here for information and contest rules.
|
|
|
Advertisement
Pre-order your copy of the
TOS 2014 Print Annual Edition today and pay just $10*.
Offer expires February 6, 2014.
Your issue will be shipped directly to you from the
printer in the first quarter of 2014.
Be encouraged, enlightened, and educated with the
all new 2014 Annual Print Book published by
The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine.
You'll get a year's worth of homeschool support in over
250 pages in this full color one-of-a-kind print magazine
for homeschoolers, by homeschoolers. This is a
magazine you'll refer to again and again.
Pre-order NOW to pay just $10*. Offer expires February 6, 2014.
*Free shipping to U.S. only.
|
|
|
AdvertisementJoin us for our upcoming
Schoolhouse Expo on February 27th.
|
|
|
Announcement
"Regardless of your credentials, you too can give your child the best education through home education."
The Old Schoolhouse� Magazine.
|
|
|
AnnouncementFree E-Book
Have you ever heard of the Iditarod? Do you ever wonder what it's all about and how it works? Would you and your children like to experience a well-rounded unit study of this exciting annual event?
Now you can "mush" along the Iditarod trail FREE with the WeE-book™ . . . Following the Iditarod.
 Follow the Iditarod when it starts March 1 taking sled dogs from near Anchorage all the way to Nome, Alaska ... spanning over 1,000 miles in subzero temperatures over some of the wildest terrain imaginable. To get your free copy, read through the current issue, find the ad, and follow the instructions (hint the ad is between pages 90-100). Then bundle up, get your dogs ready to go, and climb aboard your sled as you prepare to read . . . Following the Iditarod! Offer expires February 28, 2014.
|
|
|
AnnouncementNow you can be a TOS affiliate and earn some extra cash!
Would you like to earn 20% commission on TOS items that family and friends purchase through an affiliate website? It's easy, check out this page for more information. Once you are signed up, you simply share your unique affiliate link with family and friends. If anyone purchases anything from the TOS website using your affiliate link, you receive a 20% commission. There are even buttons available to help you promote your affiliate link on your website or blog.
|
|
|
Contest Corner
For the month of February, 2014
Goldtown Adventures Series: Tunnel of Gold
Susan K. Marlow began writing stories when she was 10 years old. She obtained an elementary education degree and taught in Christian schools before homeschooling her children. Now over 20 years later she is "back in the saddle" helping homeschooling families by teaching writing workshops as well as writing good historical fiction books for kids.
Susan K. Marlow is best known for her Circle C Adventures book series. Set in California in the 1880s, this series features a girl named Andrea Carter and her horse Taffy. It has become a very popular book series with an off shoot series for younger readers called Andi and Taffy. The newest Susan K. Marlow series is called Goldtown Adventures.
Set in 1864, 12-year-old Jem his sister and cousin have many adventures along Cripple Creek. Jem leads the way in many adventures including finding out why Cripple Creek is losing water as well as getting trapped in an old mine. Through all of his adventures and mishaps Jem is given opportunities to learn trust in God.
In Tunnel of Gold, Jem is caught in the middle of a miner's riot. He quickly finds out the trouble is over a gold mine that has been "played out" or not producing gold anymore. Jem has to think quickly to save the Midas Mine.
Read the Crew reviews to find out what our team thought of the Goldtown Adventures!
You can WIN the Tunnel of Gold!
TO ENTER: Email Heather with your name, mailing address, and phone number for contact purposes, with the subject line, "Tunnel of Gold" for a chance to win* the book for your family!
|
|
|
|
|
Read
in the latest issue of
The Old Schoolhouse�
Get a library of homeschool encouragement with
over 175 E-Books or
audio books for just $25. Plus a free ticket to the upcoming Schoolhouse Expo with your Schoolhouse Library purchase.
Click on the image below
to order. Use coupon code: expoforfree2014
|
|
|
has MORE for you!
Check out these resources:
Who We Are:
|
|
|
"I am amazed at the number of times I open The Homeschool Minute newsletter and have the opportunity to read EXACTLY what I need that day! Thank you so much for putting a real face on homeschooling."
--Michelle Sager
Liberty Twp, OH
|
|
|
"I really appreciate all the information and the many uplifting articles in your magazines. Invaluable. Thanks for all you're doing to help us homeschoolers.
--Kathy P.
Stanton, TX
|
|
|
"Only just this past week have I seriously checked into the content of the SchoolhouseTeachers.com site ... May I just say wow?!"
--Janelle Chille
Mason City, IA
|
|
|
"I really enjoy reading all the THM articles. I learn a lot from Todd Wilson's column. [He's a] funny guy who speaks the simple truth! Thank you very much!"
--Charlene
Brandon, FL
|
|
|
"I look forward to THM every Wednesday. I really enjoy Deborah's articles. For some reason, it must be God, she always writes about what I am needing to hear. Her ability to put scripture and God in the middle of all her articles keeps me coming back. I recently have been enjoying the Youngs' [articles] because I have a young man (10) in my house. The encouragement of the Youngs is fabulous. I thank God for parents like them that pave the way for parents like myself and my husband."
--Racheal Fowler
Glen Burnie, Maryland
|
|
|
"So love reading TOS on my iPad from cover to cover every month!!!"
--Leigh Anne McGrady
Dunwoody, GA
|
|
|
"I love the new TOS app! So convenient. So quick. All the encouragement I need at my fingertips ... any place at any time."
--SpunkyHomeschool
|
|
|
"Thanks ever so much. I love the encouraging articles! I really loved the list of 25 all in one place. Nice to have this little bit of "free" encouragement in my mail. I don't have funds to subscribe or purchase frills and with also working more than half time I don't have time to search it out. May God bless you exceedingly."
--Teresa
rural Kansas
|
|
|
"I absolutely love Todd's column. He always seems to put things in the proper perspective, and it keeps me from getting all stressed and anxious. Thanks Todd, and thanks TOS!!"
--Johnne Orelchikov
East Texas
|
|
|
Have you been blessed by
The Homeschool Minute™?
|
|
|
Start reading the January/February issue NOW!
|
|
|
|
 |
|
