5 Key Ways to Set Up a Pandemic Homeschool That Your Kids Will Love

Dreading the start of school in Fall 2020? You have a choice.

Photo by Jason Rosewell on Unsplash

Maybe the question’s better stated as: Will school even be in session with an untreatable coronavirus circulating all over the country?

If you’re not sure yet of your family’s game plan, you’re likely worried and scared.

Are you asking yourself these two critical questions right about now:

Is attending school with hundreds of other kids in close contact, breathing the mostly recirculated air where the virus stays viable for several hours, really a good idea right now?

Can I seriously expect children — excited to see and hug each other after a sudden and unwelcome separation in March — to stay 6 feet apart and wear masks? To top it off: Everyday?

Join the club of panicked parents searching desperately for a solution.

The health and safety — in fact, the very lives of your children — are at stake.

You’ve been rudely prepped last spring with a school lockdown announced practically overnight.

Frantically, you had to become all of your kids’ teachers overnight.

It was a tough calling but you muddled through it somehow. Probably with a lot of frustration and stress for all involved.

But how much real learning took place?

Estimates of actual learning are pretty dismal across the board.

NOTE: This upcoming school year doesn’t have to be a repeat of that scenario. You have time to prepare.

Fortunately, it’s never too late to assist your family in the transition to pandemic homeschooling after public school.

Good news in fact! There are several things you can do right now to make the transition smoother (and dare I say fun)?

Your kids will be the ultimate judges, of course. But you can give it your best shot with these 5 key ways.

Important: All of the following steps are accomplished by all family members working together as a family! These ways are intended to be child-centered and child-directed activities. Best part: You’re involvement can be minimal, even supervisory. Give your kids free reign to do this up good!

1. Class-y Interior Decorating

Do you remember as a child in school those awfully hard and uncomfortable desks and chairs? Ouch! Makes my butt and elbows hurt just thinking about them.

Don’t think for a minute that you have to replicate that at home!

In fact, setting up a learning environment in your home may mean you really don’t have to do anything special except rearrange what you already have.

You can designate one room for this with the idea that everyone will work together all the time.

In my experience, this happens only sometimes.

There may be activities that you can work on together in the same space. The kitchen table was my family’s place for this.

Or, the living room or bedroom can serve as makeshift learning places.

Sometimes you as parent can hang low in the background, available for questions, while your children work independently on different tasks.

Most likely, however, your kids may like to change locations during their learning time.

So, take their cues and change it up!

TIP: Create a Comfy Environment for Learning, Designed by and for Your Kids.

For example, for messy art projects, set up a space where you can protect the floor. Inexpensive or well-worn furniture that you won’t mind if they’re “brightened up” in some way would work best there.

Physical activities are best for outside, possibly a public park if you’re limited on space.

For reading, a child may like to curl up in a beanbag chair with a glass of ice water, apple cider or a cup of hot chocolate depending on the season.

The garage, front porch, back deck or playroom could serve as classrooms, too.

During my family’s 12 years of homeschooling, we used all of the places listed above for different activities.

If you have a specific room or part of a room you’d like to designate as a “Learning Space,” now’s the time for some interior decorating.

Do you have an artist in your midst? Why not suggest they create a mural on the walls? Encourage them to let their imaginations run wild. Paint other walls unique or favorite colors with cool designs interspersed throughout.

Above all, make it a welcoming place that your kids will love being in. If they help create it, they’ll be more likely to want to be there.

And, if there’s any resistance to homeschooling, having a room they decorated and designed is half the battle won already!

Inspirational posters or their former artwork are great to post up high or place all around on tables or shelves.

Maps of all types — the United States, your state, the world, continents, ecosystems, etc. — will also come in handy.

For younger children, the alphabet and a basic number line are must-haves. Making your home a “print-rich environment” will reap rewards later as your children become expert writers, readers and mathematicians.

Some system of boxes or wooden cubbyholes (set low on the wall for little ones) works great for organization. Ask your kids to paint or decorate them to spruce up the area.

You can repurpose bottles and cans and decorate them, too. Then use them to hold writing instruments, crayons, scissors and glue.

The sky’s the limit on what you can do!

I recommend thrift stores, yard sales or Freecycle.org for finding free or low-cost items or supplies for your pandemic homeschooling adventure.

2. Book Extravaganza

At the height of our family’s homeschooling years, we had at least 3,000 books in my house. One thousand at least for each child! In every conceivable (and inconceivable!) nook & cranny.

I mean, ’cause you just never know when a child will be on a treasure hunt looking for a surprise read to dive right into!

No joke. No exaggeration.

I credit this aspect of our homeschooling to the fact that my children love to read. Libraries are one of their all-time favorite places!

You can create this environment, too, in your homeschool. Here are some ideas.

TIP: Set Up a Home Library with Books, CDs and DVDs Based on Your Children’s Preferences and Interests.

Books

Here are the best sources to build up your library without breaking the bank:

• Yard sales
• Freecycle.org
• eBay
• Craigslist
• Better World Books (online)
• Used books on Amazon
• Library sales
• Friends and family

If your kids aren’t too much into books right now, there are ways you can change this.

Suggest they browse on some of the online stores listed above for books on stuff that they’re excited about. Set a budget and allow them to make selections. Depending on your child’s age, they may need you to help (to varying degrees) with this process.

Repeat this for each child.

Soon you’ll have the beginnings of a home library to die for!

Then keep your eye out for the other sources listed above. Ask your friends and family to contribute a few titles, too.

CDs and DVDs

Your kids probably have different learning styles. Probably their preferred style varies depending on the subject matter.

If you don’t know what your child’s preferred learning style is, close observation and trial and error in the first week or so of home learning will allow you to determine what they are. (NOTE: More on this in an upcoming post).

To meet them where they’re at now, and, so, set them up for success, have a variety of media available at their fingertips.

For auditory learners, books on tape are an obvious choice. They work well on car trips while doing errands, too.

CDs of story tellers — maybe folklore or cultural traditions especially best appreciated through listening — will be popular with your little ones. They certainly were in our house! Diane Ferlatte’s CDs set the record for the CDs that were the most-listened to by my children. Give her a listen! You won’t be disappointed.

All the ways I listed above for buying inexpensive used books apply to CDs and DVDs as well.

Tip: Used CDs and DVDs are likely damaged through previous wear and tear. If you can afford to purchase a few new ones, do that. A digital subscription service is an excellent option, too.

Some library systems may be able to loan materials now even though you can’t go in and browse right now. This is how it is in my county at the moment.

Take advantage of this option! Usually the CDs and DVDs are in better condition — sometimes you’ll be lucky and get brand new ones — than those at yard sales, for example.

Remember that growing a home library is a never-ending process! Little by little, it will become bigger and have more diverse holdings. You can always start exchanging materials with other families in your area to keep things fresh and exciting.

3. Favorite Subject Extraordinaire

My fundamental mantra for successful homeschooling is “No Child Left Inside.”

This means RECESS!!

Growing bodies need to move. Bringing fresh air to the brain and calming down the jitters from sitting too much will enable your children to pursue academic goals afterward with more gusto.

So: Take ’em outside as much as possible! No matter the age.

Restore the amazing recess period outside — increasingly whittled down by school systems focused on standardized testing and cramming in more teaching to these tests — in your homeschool.

TIP: Line Up Physical Activities for Daily Recess Outdoors.

Growing up, I fondly recall all the fun I had at recess. I’d bring the longest jump rope that we’d do double dutch to.

Marbles & Jacks was another favorite past time for recess.

And of course, “It” (a running game with an element of surprise we all loved).

Maybe your family already has some outside activity traditions that you can incorporate into your homeschool recess.

Flag football anyone?

Sometimes there’s no extra equipment needed, like for running games or gymnastics.

Or maybe these will come in handy:

• ball
• rope
• kite
• skates
• boots
• sled

If your kids aren’t into recess — and I highly doubt it! — jump in yourself!

Exercise is a powerful sleep aid and stress reducer. And it boosts the immune system. Couldn’t it help you, too, get through living in the Age of Covid-19?

TIP: Some kids like to start the day with physical activity. Great idea! Why not use another recess break in the middle of the day as well? And, if your kiddos are really into outside play, have another session to wind down the day. It’s their homeschool after all.

Making it into a contest, staging an Olympics with prizes for example, could supply the extra oomph to generate more enthusiasm and participation.

Above all, have fun during recess!

4. Bon Appetit!

Did you ever stop to realize how much fun learning is possible through cooking?

Just consider for a moment:

• Choosing a recipe base on interest and ability
• Determining if you have the right ingredients in sufficient amounts
• Shopping for missing ingredients
• Pre-cutting or pre-cooking meal components using time guidelines from the recipe
• Measuring ingredients
• Following steps, paying attention to where, when and how you complete each one
• Putting it all together
• Serving it to family
• Kitchen clean up

Cooking is the tastiest homeschool activity of all and hopefully the chef + all diners will have a blast!

Not only is this a life skill. It’s also a key way to reconnect as a family around the dinner table.

During a quarantine, with all the stress and feelings of uncertainty Covid-19 brings, sharing a meal together is restorative and unifying.

It’s also a great way to start some more family traditions centered around your favorite culinary masterpieces.

TIP: Designate a head chef each day. Take turns.

For this to work well all year long, start organizing a recipe library right now during the summer.

You don’t need to have physical cookbooks, but they could work well for some members of your family.

For my kids when they were very young chefs, the Enchanted Broccoli Forest Cookbook by Mollie Katzen was a favorite cookbook. It had step-by-step illustrations that they could follow independently even before they could read. (You may need to supplement your child’s efforts to make up a complete meal, but that’s what moms and dads are for. :))

There are tons of recipes online. Start collecting them now.

Here are some ways to organize your recipe library. It’s time to get creative as a family!

• Country (Mexican, Chinese, etc.)
• Ethnicity (African, Caribbean, etc.)
• Historical period (Colonial, Middle Ages, etc.)
• Meat-based diet (Keto, Paleo, etc.)
• Plant-based (vegetarian, vegan, etc.)

Just like the media library I described above under #2, your recipe library will expand over time. The more options available, the more interesting your dinner times will become. (Stay tuned: How to get everyone to actually eat or at least try new foods will be the topic of a future post.)

Exchanging recipes with other family friends doing pandemic homeschooling will inject some new tastes into your family’s culinary adventures from time to time.

On the recipe note cards, in the cookbook, or on your computer, write comments about:

• How your family liked it (or not!) Using a star system is quick and easy.
• How long it really took to make (including all the steps listed above)
• Degree of difficulty to cook it (A grading scale may be useful)
• What you’d do differently next time to make it better.

Once everyone takes turns, your family may wish to continue this all year. Or, if someone is really into cooking, give them more opportunities.

Don’t forget:

• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Desserts
• Baking bread
• Making yogurt, ice cream

Above all, use cooking as a fun but educational diversion in your pandemic homeschool.

Bon appetit!

5. Let’s Party!

Everyone in my home benefits from throwing a family party now and then, and I’ll bet it’ll do the same for yours.

It’s easy enough to get trapped into negative thoughts and feelings during Covid-19 lockdowns.

For your health, you can’t let this happen! This is where parties come in.

Money may be really tight right now. But, this shouldn’t stop you from throwing a low-cost party! Creativity doesn’t have to be expensive, especially when you’re having fun as a family.

TIP: Throw a Party to Mark Back to School (and — looking ahead! — Last Day of School). And while you’re at it — Plan a party for every Friday, too!

Here are some ideas for family parties at home. Choose more than one for each party depending on resources and interest. Some work best for certain age groups.

• Picnic in your yard
• Sprinkler games
• Homemade cake and ice cream
• Family movie night with popcorn and popsicles
• Family board game night
• Craft-making jamboree
• Theme dress-up/neighborhood parade

During the school year, develop themed parties based on holidays or change of seasons. Leave it to your kiddos to take turns planning them and setting them up as part of their “school” activities.

This is one sure-fire way to keep them engaged with learning!

Here are some ideas:

• First day of fall, winter or spring
• Halloween
• Thanksgiving
• Religious holidays (Christmas, Passover, Eid, etc.)
• First snowfall
• MLK day of service
• Groundhog’s Day
• Valentine’s Day
• St. Patrick’s Day
• Earth Day
• Arbor Day
• Birthdays
• Historical character dress-up day
• Superhero dress-up day
• May day

Including contests that match the occasion — with prizes of course! — heightens the intrigue and makes it more fun for all.

Above all, frequent celebrations help ward off the Covid-19 blues for all involved.

Parties keep the enthusiasm and energy going in your home. There’s always something to plan and look forward to!

Now’s the Perfect Time to Recruit Your Kids to Plan Out Your Pandemic Homeschool Together

Your kids may be hoping school will be back in session in the fall.

Frankly, they are sick and tired of remote learning, endless worksheets and being bored at home.

And maybe, in all honesty, you desperately want them out of the house — at least a little bit.

But you’re worried to the max that the conditions and preparations for a safe return aren’t happening. In fact, you’re panicked by the seeming lack of concern — and lack of funds — necessary to making school reopening safe.

No way around the truth: Covid-19 is scary. It’s deadly.

So far, it appears some type of partial reopening is in the works. What would that look like for you and your kids?

Imagine making a transition from public school to homeschool every other day or two. It will definitely bring stress and confusion to kids and parents alike. Not to mention the horrific logistical nightmares sure to happen.

And when will you definitely know for sure what your school system has in store? In the mean time, you worry and can’t make a contingency plan.

Don’t forget about the very real possibility that a partial reopening will be followed by another lockdown.

Public health officials predict skyrocketing Covid-19 cases in the fall for several reasons.

1. More close contact indoors of kids and teachers. Can we really expect them to wear masks all day?
2. Breathing recycled air where coronaviruses and flu viruses remain deadly for hours.
3. Bringing the virus home to vulnerable family members.
4. Flu season weakening or challenging immune systems, making double infections with the coronavirus more likely.

So, the best way to deal with any type of reopening is to avoid it all together by creating your own family’s pandemic homeschool.

Staying home will do more to keep everyone healthy. And it’ll provide the routine that kids need.

Tip: The secret to a successful pandemic homeschool is creativity and fun directed by your kids under your loving guidance.

You can do it! Contact me for more ideas or inspiration.

I’ve outlined in detail 5 key ways to start working on it now while you have time to prepare. Get your children involved to plan out and create with them:

1. Learning environments — in one place in your home or several — designed and decorated by your kids and pleasant places to be in.
2. A home library filled to the brim with books, CDs and DVDs that will keep them busy and engaged in learning.
3. Ideas for recess outdoors. No child left inside — ever!
4. A recipe library and stocked pantry so everyone takes turns being the chef for a day.
5. Parties galore — all types!

KEY POINT: Your kids’ direct and significant involvement in setting up your pandemic homeschool is critical to its eventual success. Let ’em own it 100% and you’ll be fine.

After completing all these preparations, sit back and relax. Take a deep breath knowing your pandemic homeschool will be off to a super start.

So, no matter what happens with the global pandemic raging all around you outside your doors, you’ll be safe and your kids will be engaged with learning at your pandemic homeschool.

Have a great year!