For all fellow parents out there, homeschooling is tough. Its challenging for parents and kids to stay focused on what they should be doing in a day when we are all sharing the same space. Now more than ever we are all suffering from screen fatigue, lacking social interaction and spending more and more time indoors with less physical activity. 

I don’t have a solution for all the above. I try with my family to go for a walk everyday (which doesn’t always happen), and limit screen activity for my kids when they are not in school, but its an ongoing process. 

My kids don’t have desks in their rooms, so we’ve set them up on a communal work table in the basement. We tell them it’s how they would be working if they worked somewhere like Facebok. That way, if needed, they can collaborate and help each other! 

Similarly to my suggestions for a home office, kids need inspiration, so here are some tips to help them stay focused and jazzed about learning. 

Keep Supplies at Hand

I know I get frustrated when I’m in the zone and then reach for something like a ruler or calculator and I can’t find it. Make sure your kids have the supplies they need at the ready, and in a way that can be easily tidied up at the end of the day.  Baskets, tins, boxes are all good organizational containers that you most likely have scattered through your house.

This basket that holds all my kids supplies I found discarded on the side of the road. It fits the pens, pencils, crayons, scrap paper etc. they need on a daily basis. 

Surround With Inspiration

Everybody likes to see their best work on display. Teachers and schools are great at this. Every school I’ve ever walked in throughout my life always showcased the talents of their students. Students can be proud of their work and get motivated and inspired by the work of their fellow students. Aren’t we all lacking that colleague to colleague motivation right now? 

Take the time and post up drawings, pictures, essays that your kids have done on a bulletin board, or clip them on a string, or even frame them. Put them up where your kids work on a daily basis for inspiration. It may be the motivation they need to get through that challenging assignment or test!

Healthy Snacks

One thing I appreciate with homeschool is I don’t have to pack lunches. My kids are picky eaters when it comes to school lunches. They don’t like things that can get soggy, or warm, or broken, etc. So the snacks and meals I can provide at home have a lot more variety and health to them. One snack they are loving is Banana Sushi. I peel a banana, spread it with peanut butter or almond butter, then sprinkle Hemp Hearts on it and slice it in sushi bites. You can also add dried fruit or sliced almonds to it too. Its yummy and healthy and they eat it without complaint! 

Banana Sushi

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