So, you’ve made the decision to homeschool your children, but you don’t want to do it on your own. Naturally, the next step to figure out is how to get your spouse involved with homeschooling. Yet, where do you start?
Many homeschool parents complain that their spouse isn’t involved, but they have no idea how to change that. A lot of times there are challenges in having your spouse get involved especially if they’re working outside the home to provide for the family.
However, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be part of the homeschooling journey. You’ll need to be creative and flexible – both of which are easy with a homeschooling lifestyle.
5 Easy Ways to Get Your Spouse Involved in Homeschooling
- Be open with your spouse about what involvement you want from them
Your spouse can not read your mind. If you are not open, clear and direct about what you want from them in the homeschooling journey they are more likely to take a hands-off approach thinking that is what you desire. Speak up, ask for help and remember to make your expectations clear. Taking a few homeschool quizzes together as you begin this journey might help your spouse understand more about homeschooling and how they can be a part.
- Plan field trips and activities around your spouse’s days off
Field trips and activities are a great way to make the most of your time in your homeschool. You can have a lot of fun with these types of activities as an entire family. This is likely the easiest way to bring your spouse into your homeschool and include them in your child’s education. Having the extra hands with the kids and allowing your partner to make lasting memories with them makes it well worth planning these trips around their schedule.
- Have regular discussions about your child’s progress
While your spouse may not be a big part of everyday lessons when they are not home, they can still be a big part of your child’s growth and development. Talk to your spouse about your child’s progress, things you may need help with and ask for ideas they may have to make things work better in your homeschool. At the end of the day, you can only be partnered in this journey if you as the primary caregiver and teacher take the time to include your spouse and keep them up to date with what is happening.
- Ask your spouse to teach a subject one-on-one even if only once a week.
We all have subjects that we hate teaching or feel we are not equipped to teach. This is often a great subject to pass on to our spouse so that you can get a break. It will also Even if they only take over the subject once a week it can still help take some of the stress off of you so you can be calm, cool, and collected while teaching your child.
- Let your spouse help make curriculum choices
Even if your spouse isn’t helping on a daily basis they can still help you go through the endless choices in the curriculum to help find options that will benefit your children. The second set of eyes when you are debating a couple of different programs can make a world of a difference.
Homeschooling works best when it is not only a family decision but also a family lifestyle.