Navigating the complexities of modern parenting can often feel like steering a ship through uncharted waters. With so many responsibilities tugging at us from every direction, finding a clear path can be a real challenge. The demands of work, home, and family life can leave us feeling overwhelmed and uncertain.
In these moments, it's essential to find a sense of control and direction—not the kind of control that turns us into overbearing parents, but the kind that brings structure and calm to our daily lives. As parents, especially those with children requiring additional support, we need practical solutions that help us manage our time and responsibilities effectively.
Teaching our children at home, whether as a supplement to their school education or as a response to unique learning needs, requires thoughtful strategies that fit within our busy schedules. It's not just about keeping them occupied; it's about making meaningful progress and creating an environment where learning can thrive.
This can be particularly challenging for parents of children with special needs, who may require more individualized approaches. While it's one thing to guide a school-aged child through their lessons on a tablet, it's an entirely different task to engage a child who learns differently or has specific requirements. So, how do we begin, and what steps can we take to make this journey manageable?
Let's explore some effective strategies for integrating teaching moments into your daily routine, ensuring that your child's education continues to flourish while maintaining a balanced and healthy family life.
First, pull out those IEP goals. Choose a few that contain areas you can address. Start with the low hanging fruit; handwriting, attending, stacking. Don’t worry about the extra verbiage that makes the goal intimidating, just look for the main idea. Take that main idea and write it down. For example, writing their name.
Next, assess your child on this skill. Don’t worry if they bomb your assessment. They have been out of school for many, many months. They will catch up and they should catch up quickly to where they were before. Starting at a level that is easy often helps to get some good momentum and flow, for both you and your child.
For example, trace their name 5 times (make a simple worksheet yourself that you can copy). Have them do it once per day. As they are ready, reduce the size of the letters or start leaving letter spaces blank, say for Sadie, leave off the S and then the A, etc.
If you move too far ahead, take a step back and revisit your previous worksheet. A white board can work great as well.
So you sit your child down with a beautiful worksheet and she says “no.” Okay, now what? True story, happens often, not fun. Here is where the real challenge comes.
For starters, try singing a little name song as they write their letters, but when they stop—so do you, When they start writing, you start singing.
Next, put some of their favorite cartoon characters on the worksheets. Maybe you use some super cool markers or crayons that are only available for that activity. Careful here, your child will want these outside of this activity. DO NOT give in! Stay strong and save them for when you need them.
Don’t have crazy expectations. Keep it silly simple and the progress will come.
Remember, it’s much better to do something than do nothing and this type of structure can be built upon as you and your child are ready.
For socialization, I suggest finding one family to see once a week, maybe a park or play date. It doesn’t have to be anything highly structured or extravagant. Just get it on the calendar.
Community outings are also important to maintain so our kids don’t forget how to be in public. I know this is hard with closures and virus concerns. Look for outside shopping opportunities, farmers markets, outdoor malls. Even if you don’t go inside, just teaching kids to walk alongside us, hold hands, sit on a bench for a few minutes, wait in line, all of these everyday skills can go a long way, and they are all things our kids have to do in school daily.
Lastly, if you have a rough start or you just don’t get to it one day or three, forgive yourself.
Tomorrow is a new day and a little progress is always better than no progress at all. So give it a shot, and see what ya got!
