Sniff, sniff ... smell that? It's the smell of spring!! The snow has melted, the flowers are starting to push through the ground, and the light at the end of the homeschool tunnel is almost in view.

Your assignment? Enjoy spring with your children and call it homeschooling. We've forgotten some of the joys of homeschooling, such as the fun of spending a nice day outside together ... looking, sniffing, and feeling one of the most wonderful times of the year.

It amazes me how complicated we've made homeschooling. The topic at hand about homeschooling different aged children at the same time hints at that. It's almost like we're discussing how to breathe or use a spoon. These things come naturally because they're part of God's design.

I believe God's design for training our children was altered a long time ago when some group of unemployed, smart people (who needed jobs) convinced parents that they were more capable of teaching their children than they were. After time the "experts" weren't satisfied with one-room school houses, because more people needed jobs, so they broke the children up into various age groups and classes. So that's been the standard ever since, BUT that's not the best way to learn.

Family is the best way and place to learn, no matter how many ages are learning at once. In homes, there are interruptions, urgent demands, and constant distractions like spring days, chocolate chips cookies in the oven, and spontaneous games of Candy Land. That is God's design and the best way to learn and LIVE.

You get to do it every day and are so blessed to be able to teach your children at home, all of them at once.

Go have some fun and do school.

Be real,

Todd

There's a lot of tough stuff, too, though. Here are a few tips to help:

Get the support you need:

Take a nap. Yes, seriously. Some days it's a lifesaver.

Get all hands on deck. You need help doing the chores and your children can do amazing things if you train them to.

Join a support group that will be there when you need them.

Different ages need different things. Homeschooling's great for that.

First attention is the shortest. Toddlers have very short attention spans for anything but whining. If instead you tell the older children to keep working and spend a few minutes focusing on your toddler, they'll be off to play in a moment. They just need to check in.

Aim towards more independent work as your children get older. You'll be doing them a great favor as they head off into adulthood if they learn to manage their own work.

Understand that sometimes the very oldest need lots of attention, too. The last year or two of high school is wonderful, but also pretty stressful as they figure where God is directing them in life.

We're at the downhill side of this great adventure. We've graduated three of our eight and our school is shrinking now, not growing any more. As we look back, we are unbelievably grateful that the Lord has given us the pleasure of raising this tribe. It's been so much fun! Don't get bogged down in the everyday stuff, enjoy those treasures while they're in your home.  

Your friends,

Hal & Melanie Young

For more on this, download our workshop, Homeschooling a Houseful, here.  

Are you seeing changes in your son? Wondering why he's so distracted or angry? April 10 is the start of our next session of Boot Camp 9-12: Getting Geared Up for the Teen Years, our wildly popular LIVE webinar series exclusively for parents of boys nine to twelve years old. Find out more here.  

Amazing Science DVD from www.ScienceandMath.com!

Today we are reviewing for you ScienceandMath.com. Do your students need help to excel in Science and Math? If so, ScienceandMath.com has some products you will be interested in learning more about. Award winning video lessons, done in a step by step fashion, will help to ensure that your students gain a thorough understanding before moving on to the next step. These videos help your student learn, practice and master the subject at hand.   

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TO ENTER: Email Heather with your name, mailing address, and phone number for contact purposes, with the subject line, "Amazing Science" for a chance to win* the book for your family!