Let's face it. At least some time during the homeschool year, the person in charge (usually Mom, but sometimes Dad or a grandparent) is going to be homeschooling while sick, after an accident, or during some other personal situation. Many homeschool parents wonder, "What do I do if I get sick while homeschooling?" On these days, how does one keep children learning while still allowing the sick homeschooling parent to get the rest an illness or trauma requires?
Plan for Homeschooling Before Sickness Hits
- Make a "choice" list for each student. Write the required subjects along one side of a grid and list four or five activities for each subject. For instance, for mathematics the chart might say:
- Math Choices (pick one): 2 math worksheets, computer math program (1 hour), count all the money you can find in your room and figure what can be done with that much, balance the family checkbook (for older students, of course), play Monopoly or Yahtzee with a sibling, practice with flash cards and write a page of numbers 1-200.
- For Language Arts, a list might include: go online and order 5 books from the library, write a paragraph (or more) about your favorite thing to do, use a spelling or reading computer program for 1 hour, write a funny story or do Mad Libs (in book form or click for the online site with a kid section), continue a book you are reading.
- Keep the lists put away until needed and then the ideas will be fresh and fun. Let the students help plan the lists, if possible. These could be used for many days.
- Let the children learn compassion, caring, and cooking by allowing them to bring the sick parent food and drinks. Practice this ahead of time by planning simple meals and menus they can make. If an illness starts going through the family, stock up on frozen meals and light soda pop or other comfort foods. This may save everyone from meal after meal of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
- Make sure homeschoolers are taught the basics of caring for a sick person. Skills would include making sure the patient is kept hydrated and comfortable, checking on the patient about once every half hour, washing hands after touching anything the ill person has touched, providing help and light entertainment for the sick person, and taking care of younger siblings. Make a list of these types of skills and teach them early in the school year.
- If there are toddlers in the home, keep a box of "emergency" toys and DVDs to keep the child entertained more easily by the older kids when the homeschool Mom is sick.
- There are educational, safe and fun games on the free site (designed by a homeschool mom) Zertiflyable Games.
- Also check out aabc_homeschooling for ideas and activities across the cirriculum.
Check out these Suite 101 articles for more ideas:
Children like to be helpful and although it is awful to be a sick homeschool parent, it can still be a successful homeschooling day for the students, which always helps the teacher feel a little bit better.
Janienne Jennrich - Janienne Jennrich, Topic Editor for Kids & Teen Parties and for Hair, is an award-winning freelance writer & webmaster.
