Homeschooling and Daycare
"How Did I Do Both?"
��� That question is probably the most asked question concerning my web site.� I'd love to say, "Oh it was a piece of cake."� But in all honesty with a little planning it can be very 'doable'."� (I use the past tense because I am now a retired daycare provider, though I still homeschool.)
��� When we began to consider homeschooling we of course had to consider our only source of income at the time, daycare (my husband was a full time student at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary).�� The internet was a great source as all the how to's to get going, but we were unable to find out how any one did both homeschool and daycare.� So we created our own way.� And for us it worked.� One thing we have learned is, the internet has great resources but you must fit the ideas you get to meet your own particular needs.
��� You will notice the House of Hugs web site many themes listed for preschool aged children.� Many of those themes were created with our son in mind.� Meaning, I planned units around my son's curriculum.� My day care business, House of Hugs, did not do a preschool program on a regular basis, so we decided to implement one at the same time we started homeschooling.� We decided at the beginning of the year which themes/units we were going to cover depending on the homeschool curriculum we were using and we started making folders with coloring sheets, worksheets, internet links, craft ideas..., so that when the time came to study the next unit we were ready.
��� If we were studying insects in our son's science book, so did the day care kids. (See our butterfly unit, our favorite!) We became very adaptable when it came to age appropriate activities. We had coloring sheets for the preschoolers and worksheets for my son.� We tried to do crafts that both age groups could handle. We may have had to do more prep work for the preschoolers but they both ended up with the same item.
��� Many times we had subjects that just required us reading to our son.� You can imagine what happened next.� Yes, all the daycare kids on the couch sitting next to us! LOL!� We saved subjects like math and phonics for nap time.� When our son had some paper work to do for handwriting, math skills, etc., we spent one on one time with the daycare kids.
��� We knew we would have to work extra hard to keep the families we had.� So we tried extra hard to provide extra services.� We never wanted my families to think I spent all day with our son and neglected their kids.� When possible we went on field trips that coincided with our units.� We had a goal of one a month.� These field trips were not major expenses, they were trips to the local dairy farm, a trip to the post office, or visit the library. Actually we visited the library weekly! I highly recommend that!
But, what about the toddlers???
��� Activity containers!� Let's face it, there are just some things your toddlers will not be interested in when you are studying units.� They may stay for awhile but then get bored.� I am a big fan of containers! We had tons of rubbermaid containers with our toys in them.� We had special toys that only came out during homeschool/preschool time.� We used to send out a newsletter asking for specific books and toys related to the next months' unit.� We kept those separate as well and while we were studying butterflies, the toddlers may have had books to look at on butterflies or butterfly lace up cards.� Those folders I spoke about earlier for the unit worksheets and color sheets, I also listed any toys and activities that we would separate out and do to help keep the toddlers happy.� The internet is full of toddler activities, so I will not list the many we used.� (see links below)
��� Our goal was to keep everyone involved.� It does keep you on your toes, but the returns were; our son was learning, our preschooler were learning, our toddlers learned and were entertained and then all the families, including ours were happy!
Being flexible is the key.�
I do not care how
much you plan everyday will not be smooth. But that's
OK!!!� You
may have the entire day planned out and 3 kids don't show up, or your child
becomes ill, or every 3 minutes your up to potty train a child. Relax,
and be flexible.� Make menus for your meals. I never restricted myself
to specific days but when I shopped I knew for that week I had 5 lunches
in my head so it took the daily planning out of it.�� If you go one more
week than planned, who cares, if you have to skip one coloring sheet, send
it home. That brings us to our last point.
��� We actually suggest you try to involve the parents as much as you can. We know they worked all day, we know thy have to rush home and start supper, but send a book along (theme related of course) to read as a bed time story. Send a coloring sheet home for the kids to do while their parents prepare supper.� I'm a realist and know that many times the parents chose (sadly) not to be involved, but we were persistent and tried anyway and never assumed they did not want to do things with their children. It was their chose to make, not ours.
��� That's it! Easy right? Well not
easy, just doable!
I knew it would be hard and I knew
one day I'd look back and say.....
"How did I do both?"
With God's help, encouragement, & support I was able to do it!
�
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