Homeschooling Multiple Children of Different Ages
I’m not going to lie, homeschooling multiple children of different ages is not for the faint of heart. But, it is not impossible, and the wonderful times significantly outweigh the challenging times.
Let me start by giving a shout out to teachers who are responsible for dozens of little minds and bodies all at once. I don’t know how you do it! Two students are good enough for me!
But the unique challenge with educating multiple children at home is the fact that they are (usually) of different ages and at different “grade levels.” While I don’t think it’s necessary to strictly stick to a particular school year’s curriculum when homeschooling, it’s hard to get around the fact that kids of different ages are just going to have different capabilities and interests.
Even though my children are less than two years apart, they are in different places when it comes to their education. I would hate to hinder my older child’s capabilities by bringing him down to his little sister’s age level and I’d hate to have unrealistic expectations for my younger child by making her practice the same lessons as her older brother. Therefore, we’ve had to find a way to all work together while each child does their school work. Here are ways we establish a schedule for homeschooling multiple children of different ages.
One Child Free Plays While The Other Child Does School Work
Free play is essential for younger kids. In fact, it’s important for children of all ages. According to the Harvard Graduate School of Education, free play is beneficial for intellectual development, emotional development, and physical development. Knowing all of this makes me feel good about allowing one child to play while I focus my teaching attention on the other child. My oldest and I will sit down and work on math together while the youngest plays on the floor with dolls or blocks. This gives one child the attention they deserve, one child the chance to play alone, and me, a break on multitasking. It’s a win, win, win!
Separate Learning Spaces For Each Student
When it comes to school work, I’ve found one of my children is easily distracted while the other has no problem putting their head down and zoning in on their work. When we try to all sit at the table together and work on individual work, it’s hard for the distractible student to work on what’s in front of them. They keep leaning over the other’s shoulder to see what they are doing. When I’m talking to the other child, they listen and chime in rather than pay attention to what they are doing.
I’ve found separating the kids while doing individual school work is the best way to keep everyone on task. They can concentrate on their work, and I can go back and forth and talk with each student without bothering the other. Since we live in a tiny space, one kid sits at the dining table while the other either sits outside at the picnic table or a makeshift desk in the living area. A collapsible folding lap desk works great when you need a temporary learning space in a tiny home.
Older Child Helps the Younger Child
Homeschooling is rewarding. It can be hard as hell, but it is so satisfying. Being involved in your child’s education and seeing them use the knowledge that you helped them to learn feels so good. One of the most rewarding moments I’ve had with homeschooling so far has been when my oldest started helping his little sister learn the things I’ve taught him. Having older children help their younger siblings is a great way to homeschool multiple children of different ages.
Now, my son does flashcards with his little sister that I once did with him. With the numbers flashcards, he helps her count. With the alphabet flashcards, he helps her learn her ABCs. Last year I bought some wipe-clean activity books with the plan of having both kids work in them, and now Finn is helping Hazel with the books he’s already completed!
School Together
While it’s not realistic for both kids to do all of their school work together, there is a ton that we can do as a family. It’s important for my son to work on math and reading skills that his sister isn’t quite ready for, so he does that type of work individually, but when it comes to subjects like science and geography, we try and do activities together!
Doing schoolwork all together is a great way to homeschool multiple children. It’s fun for the kids, and it makes your life as the teacher a little bit easier. We use online resources such as Mystery Science that teach lessons and offer activities suitable for kids of a wide age range. We do activities outdoors that are fun and educational for all. We do arts and crafts that are fun for kids of all ages. The possibilities are endless!
Have Patience With the Kids and Yourself
Teaching multiple children at the same time can be challenging. If your children are of different ages and working on varied curriculum, it can be especially challenging. You’ll probably find yourself always going back and forth between students. There will be times when you feel pulled in multiple directions. Chances are you will feel overwhelmed and think homeschooling multiple kids is impossible from time to time. When things get hard, it’s important to have patience and stay calm. Only do what you are able to do. Don’t set expectations too high for yourself or your little ones. Having patience will keep school time a positive experience for everyone. Practicing patience will teach your kids how to act when in a stressful situation. A little patience in the moment will go a long way in the future.
As I mentioned, homeschooling is so rewarding. I never intended to be a homeschooling mom, and now I can’t imagine not being one. Even with that being said, it has its challenges. Some days feel great, and everything goes as planned. The kids happily do their lessons, they completely understand what they are working on, you meet or even exceed your expectations for the day. Other days look much different. The kids put up a fight when starting school, they struggle with new concepts, you end up throwing in the towel for the day. In the long run, you are doing the right thing. You are an excellent teacher and an excellent parent. The benefits your kids are getting from being homeschooled and having you involved in their education outweigh the hard times. Enjoy this time because, as with everything in parenting, we will one day miss it.