How do you stay sane while homeschooling multiple children? It’s not hard, and here are some tips, encouragement, and tricks for you to survive.

There are many learning experiences that come along when homeschooling multiple kids. Sure parenthood is hard enough without taking into consideration the fact that you have more than one kid. Life can be hectic and difficult at times, especially when you are staying home and homeschooling them. With that being said, there are ways you can keep your sanity while homeschooling multiple kids. Read on to learn some tips on how to stay sane while homeschooling multiple kids. Also, please know that this post contains affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more information.

How to Stay Sane while Homeschooling Multiple Kids

Eight years ago, I had only one child. I look back on that time, thinking I had my hands full with just one! When she turned five, we had our second child, and then two years later, our third. While they have been the biggest joys and blessings in my life, I can say that I have had to quickly learn how to manage my time, prioritize tasks, and multi-task.

Homeschooling all three of them was crazy at first, and took some time for me to get into the groove. The following tips will help you when you are homeschooling multiple children. You CAN keep your sanity, I promise!

Know What’s Coming at Each Age

One of the most helpful things you can do is educate yourself on childhood development. Every age of childhood has certain behaviors that parents may think are not normal, when in fact they may be. When you take the time to study each stage of development in your multiple kids, such as what is common behavior at that stage:

• You tend to be more patient and forgiving.
• You know what you can reasonably expect them to be able to do as far as their schoolwork tasks.

So, do a little web-searching, and gain some first-hand research of what you can expect when each of your multiple kids reaching each stage. Being prepared for the varying behaviors and abilities at each age of development will help you to remain proactive in this homeschooling journey.

Place Value on Experiences instead of Punishment

Natural consequences are often the best teachers. You don’t always have to punish, but can allow experiences to provide opportunities to train your child. When you stop punishing and start making each mishap a learning experience:

• Your kids will learn quicker about appropriate and inappropriate behavior.
• They will be less apt to drive you to the brink of insanity while repeating rules over and over.

Kids don’t usually respond well when they are punished more than taught. It’s your job to maintain a level of positivity in the home. Place more value on experiences rather than punishment:

• Discuss poor decisions or naughty behavior with your kids. Let them tell you how they could have handled the situation better or what they can do to try to not behave in such a way next time.
• Help them to see and understand the natural consequences of their behavior, whether good or bad.

When you place value on experiences with your multiple kids, the positivity radiates and in turn, you stay sane. Sometimes, you just have to address some misbehaviors and not let them slide, of course. However, in most cases a natural consequence does the trick.

Take Time for You

You need to also learn how to take time for YOU. This may be more difficult when your children are younger, but there is a way to make sure this time happens. Each day, do something that allows you to take time for yourself and relax.

• Curl up to read a book in a completely quiet room
• Take a long bubble bath to calm the body and nerves
• Grab a coffee or dessert with a trusted friend
• Work on a craft or hobby
• Seek out a mentor, someone who has encouragement for you in your homeschool journey
• Pray and ask God for strength and wisdom
• Research tips and tricks for handling specific needs for which you or your children may have (do you have depression or anxiety? Does your child have ADHD or a learning disability?)

When you take time for yourself, you tend to be more relaxed. Taking some needed rest and rejuvenation tends to make the next morning more positive and easier on your sanity.

There you have it, a few easy ways to stay sane while homeschooling multiple kids. There’s no right answer for everyone. But when you learn to maintain a positive household, focus on experiences rather than punishment, and end each day doing something that you enjoy, then you will soon find that your days are full of greatness where your sanity stays intact.

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