Burn Out ~ How To Avoid It?

It's the middle of the school year, you've been working in the same books for four or five months, the kids are getting restless, you're already thinking about going to the next homeschool convention...your family is getting burnt out!! 

So how do you avoid burn out in the first place? I think the best advice is to switch things up!  Simple changes in your school day will help to energize your family, giving them the push they need to finish the school year off with a bang.  Here are a few tips.

1.  Location, Location, Location.  Where are you currently doing your schoolwork?  Is it still working for your family?  If not, change it!  Go to the library once a week and get school done there.  Switch from the schoolroom to the kitchen, or the kitchen to the dining room.  Kids love these small changes and it may make a bigger difference than you think.

2.  Change Your Material.  Is there a certain subject that your child is frustrated with?  Change it up a bit.  Instead of reading from your science text book, find a chapter book on the same subject and have them read that (or read it to them).  Find a fun math program online that you can substitute for their regular math work.  There are tons of FREE program out there, you just need to look for them. 

3.  Go Outside.  When was the last time you took your children outside for a nature study or even for just a walk or bike ride?  I know this time of year it is too cold in some places, but even a break to play in the snow is what they may need to get their day going.

4.  Get Out Those Crafts.  Has it been a while since your 3rd grader got out the crafts?  Crafts are fun for all ages and can be made to go along with what they are studying.  Collages are easy and kids love to cut pictures out of magazines.  Give them some legos and have them make the animals who live in that habitat you are studying. 

5.  Experiment Day.  Why not set a day aside every once in a while for experiments?  Science experiments, recipe experiments, playdoh experiments.  Expect a mess and don't worry about it.  Hands on learning is the best kind of learning.

6.  Time Off.  Maybe what your family needs is some time off.  Go on a day trip to a museum, to the park, or to the movies.  Taking time off school and spending the day doing something fun as a family may be just the thing you need to re-energize!

I hope some of my tips have helped.  I know when we have begun to burn out, I have tried each of these at different times, and they always seem to help!