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Tips to homeschool while working as a single parent.

This is a big topic is what I hear a lot of. “I am a single parent but I would love to homeschool my kids however I work a job. How can I homeschool while working and single?”  I get this question a lot.  Single parents want to homeschool but find it impossible to do it since they have to work.  You can homeschool while single parenting and working.  I will share tips with you on how you can do it.  It won’t be easy but it can be done.  I will have to share with you that I have never been a single parent. However, I decided to write these tips to all the single parents who desire to homeschool.  I do not know what you are going through as a single parent.  I do hope these tips help you navigate the homeschool adventure as a single parent.

Homeschool Groups 

This is the first thing I suggest to all single parents.  Homeschool groups have moms who can help you with homeschooling as well as getting your children to their classes along with their own kids.  It will also help you not feel so alone in homeschooling your children.  Most homeschool groups have a support group for moms in all walks of life.  

2nd of all, they offer classes for all ages.  This helps get your children socialized and they gain experience in small classes.  Most of the classes in the homeschool groups are small and more relaxed.  The classes can be fun such as PE, Art, or Cooking.  Some groups may offer core classes such as Math, English, History, Science and any other core that may be offered.  

I would schedule visits to about 3 homeschool groups in your area.  Also, check in nearby towns to see what they have.  It’s also a good idea to check ones near your workplace.  You will have to weight the pros and cons of each group.  Ask if you can see their handbook and read it. This is so important because some may have certain rules about helping out in some capacity.  This is where you will know if the group is a good fit for you and your family.  

Family and Close Friends Tips

In most cases, the family can help you with getting kids to places such as Homeschool classes, Field trips, and any educational outings.  My mom did a lot with my kids and I. When I was on bed rest with my youngest, my mom took my oldest to his classes. She was a huge help to me.  It’s a big blessing to have your family involved and it can work as it did for me.

I know there are cases of where it’s not good to have family involved in situations where there are disagreements over your school choice.   It’s not something to reject though if you can work through the issues.  Maybe your dad can teach them math or wood cutting?  Can your mom teach piano or cooking?  They can take them to their classes or enjoy going on field trips with them.  

Your close friends are an option.  Do you have any close friends that stay home with their own children?  If you do, you can pay her for “childcare” while your kids stay in the safety of her own home while doing schoolwork you planned for them to do that day.  She can go on field trips with your kids along with her kids.  She would get the benefit of the trips and possibly may want to homeschool her own kids in the future.  It’s always good to plant seeds in other families.   

Neighbors

Are you close to your neighbors?  Are they understanding and supportive of your school choice?  Do they have a close relationship with your kids?  If so, they are a very good resource to have on hand especially when you need somebody to take them to their classes or trips.  They may know something really well such as English or Art and can teach your kids these things.  Maybe one of your neighbors is a retired science teacher?  He can do labs with your kids if you give him supplies and a bit of money to compensate his time.  Most likely he may not want to be paid.  Always ask your neighbors and get to know them.  When you foster a good relationship with your neighbors they are more likely willing to help you out.  

Pick your own school hours and days.

Your school doesn’t have to be 8 to 3 and Monday to Friday.    Don’t mimic the public school hours and days. You have to do what works for you and your schedule.  Here is my schedule:  My daughter and I school in the mornings Monday to Friday on subjects I need to teach and help her.  Other subjects she can do on her own are done after I leave for work which is 1:00 pm.  She finishes her work around 3 or until she is done.  If I have to go in a day to cover my boss, then that schedule is flipped meaning her afternoon on her own subjects are in the morning and subjects did with me are in the afternoon after I get home.  

Here are examples of schedules I have heard.  One parent works in the morning from 4 am to 9:30 am.  Her kids are older so they are able to be home on their own.  They get up by 8 and do their thing for breakfast and fun time.  Mom gets home and gets cleaned up then they start school at 10:30 am till finished.  Another example: One mom works three days and then is off 5 days.  This means weekends are part of her kid’s school days.  The days she is off is their weekend or she schedules on their own school on those days and batch teaches on the days she is home.  

There are many ways to do school.  Some school in the evenings when she is home with the kids.  Some school Wednesday to Saturday.  It can be done on any day and whatever hours you set. That is the beauty of homeschooling.  You make it work around YOUR schedule.  

Outsource

You will have to decide which subjects you want to outsource.  Outsource meaning hand over that subject to another person.  I outsourced math staring 8th grade.  Math was the subject I chose to outsource because I knew I wouldn’t have time to help them understand math.  I chose Jann Perkins from My Homeschool Math Class for math.  It was the best decision I made for my kids.  You can outsource many subjects.  Just make a good decision on which one you want to outsource.  

Another way to outsource is online classes that are self-paced.  The lesson plan is done and all your kids have to do is click and go.  I wrote an article about online unit studies, click here to view…..Its one of my favorite tools.  I will write more options for outsourcing through online classes in another article.  

Childcare options

There are many options for childcare if your kids can’t stay home. I highly recommend reading this article from a friend of mine, Jen Mackinnon of Practical by Default blog.  She is also a homeschool and working mom.  She offers many options for childcare in her wonderful article.  

I hope some of these tips are helpful for you as you embark on this journey of homeschooling while single.  Let me know which ones are the most helpful to you.  I would love to hear from my readers.  If you need prayers for your decision to homeschool, comment below.  If you have any other tips feel free to comment.  I also have another article that may help you.