Summer School for Mom: Establishing the Atmosphere

One foundational aspect of educating our children at home that is often overlooked is the learning environment we create. As tutors, mentors, and educators — we are responsible for establishing the atmosphere.

In institutionalized settings, “school” happens between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. each day — unless there is homework. This unintentional, but obviously necessary, element leaves children with the impression that learning is something they do five days a week for nine months each year excepting holidays. In a home setting, we have a chance to instill the idea that learning is something that is always happening.

We also have an opportunity to encourage learning — even when our child may be discouraged. We can go at his pace instead of the book’s pace. We can start where he is and build him up, instead of tearing him down each time there is something he doesn’t understand. He can know that he is accepted just as he is, and starting from there we can help him overcome his weaknesses and take advantage of his strengths.

There is an opportunity in home education to live widely — to provide a wide array of books, space to move and learn, real-life projects to practice skills on, and opportunities to interact with the world. This, my friends, is learning at its best!

So how do we get there? Here are 5 areas to consider when it comes to establishing the atmosphere in our homes:

1. The Relationships

What makes a good mentor or tutor? The relationship he maintains with the student. That is greatly simplified when the mentor or tutor is his mother!

As a Christian Mom, my relationship with the Lord will be my first priority. It is how children see us living out our faith that will have the biggest impact on our children’s faith. And it is this first relationship that will provide the strength we will daily need to establish the atmosphere in our homes.

Our relationship with our husbands will be our second priority. There is great security for children when their parents respect each other and the home atmosphere in general is inviting and warm.

Our relationship with our children (hopefully) starts on the strong foundation of love. And there are ways we can invest in our children — appreciate who they are and what their interests are, make time to be involved in their interests, encourage, and guide. All of this takes time. It takes time to love, to train, to guide, to nourish, to encourage, to motivate, and to inspire. It is truly an investment in each child.

Our relationship with others will be modeled before our children. They can come alongside as we serve, love, and minster to others each and every day in simple, natural ways.

Of course, mothers are not perfect. Some days these relationships will prove difficult, at best. Don’t be surprised. It is through these relationships that we grow!

Thoughts to Ponder

What are practical ways that we can put our relationship with the Lord first each day?
How might we better respect and serve our husbands, creating a warm and inviting home life for our children?
What are the different ways we can invest in each child? Make a list of the ideas that come immediately to mind.
What opportunities can we provide for our children to serve others alongside us? Keep it simple — a smile, a kind word, a warm gesture, etc.

2. The Routine

I know, when we hear the word routine we cringe! It does sound rather monotonous and boring. But children thrive on routine. There is security in knowing what happens next and what they can expect from the day. There is peace in a consistent and nonchaotic atmosphere. There are opportunities to develop good habits within a routine that is maintained daily. And children who routinely eat and sleep at the same time each day are typically happy children.

We’ll talk more about creating a workable homeschool schedule in a later addition, but remember that homeschooling works best when it fits into the general home routine, rather than the other way around. With that in mind, it may be best to limit some outside activities, or reschedule some activities so that trips out all happen on the same day. Other ideas for establishing a routine include setting regular bedtimes, trying to have meals at the same time each day, or establishing a chore schedule.

Of course, life will happen. Routines will be disrupted. But even during crises, children can find it very calming to get back on the track they run on each day.

Thoughts to Ponder

How will we establish our homeschooling routine? Maintain a strict time schedule? Schedule in blocks of time (first table time, then productive time, then reading time, etc.)? Create a to-do list? Or some other way?
Do we feel that we need to establish a more consistent routine? How will we manage outside activities and appointments?
Is sitting down to eat meals together as a family something that is important to us? Are there specific times when we can regularly have meals prepared? Are there ways to make this task easier on ourselves (creating a meal plan for each week or preparing meals in advance, for example)?
What events create chaos in our home? Are there ways we can think of to keep to a steady routine even during those times?

3. The Time

So many children these days have their entire life scheduled for them. They never have to choose what they will do — someone or something is always available to keep them entertained. Their activities are persistently organized for them.

We don’t want our children to believe that learning is confined to one place or time, but that the world is ripe to learn in. With this in mind, we can provide them with a wide array of opportunities in which to learn. Then they will need time to think and to ponder. Time to explore, run, and play. And time to just be.

The key to using the time we have wisely when it comes to the activities our children engage in each day is understanding the difference between recreation and entertainment.

Thoughts to Ponder

Do we feel our children have enough unscheduled downtime?
Do we feel their unscheduled time is adequately filled with productive pursuits rather than passive entertainments?
Do we feel our children get outside enough? If not, what are different ways we might remedy this?

4. The Fodder

The wealth of the world is stored in books. Living books help us learn about people, places, things, history, and how things work. We come in contact with God, heroes, concepts, vistas, and people just like us.

Reading aloud as a family creates a unique family culture. The discussions that often result give us opportunities to share experiences and thoughts.

Of course, choosing the quality, living books we make available is a weighty task. But through those books, we can open up the world to our children!

Thoughts to Ponder

What resources will form the backbone of our own living book list?
What criteria will we use to determine what books are added to the list, and which ones are left off?
Is there a time in our schedules for each child to read independently?
Is including time in our day to read aloud as a family important to us? If so, how could we create a block of time for read-alouds?

5. The Inspiration

Someone once said that you don’t go to school to learn, you go to school to learn how to learn. And what better way to practice skills and learn how to learn than to practice on things we are interested in? Allowing time in our day for our children to apply themselves to their own interests gives them a chance to learn on their own and to escape the need to always be entertained.

You’ll find many helps below that cover the benefits of including that time, providing that time, and filling that time.

Thoughts to Ponder

What types of things are our children interested in? Make a list for each child.
What different ways can we think of to encourage their interests?
Do we feel our children have enough time in their day to pursue their interests?
How will we hold them accountable for how they use this time?

Additional Resources

3 Considerations When Setting the Atmosphere
Investing in our children, loving and accepting them, and … well … the rest is up to us!

For the Children’s Sake by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay
This book was foundational when it came to setting the atmosphere in our own home. There were so many thoughts that resonated the first read through, that I simply couldn’t absorb it all. I think I’ve read it four times, and I will likely be picking it up again. If you can only purchase one book on homeschooling — this is the one! Read our entire review.

Enjoy the entire series:

DIY Homeschooler