I can’t emphasize enough how beneficial it is to have routines and procedures established in your homeschool! They’re like the secret sauce that keeps everything running smoothly—not just for the kids, but for you, too. While homeschooling offers the flexibility to embrace spontaneous moments, having a clear rhythm in place helps you navigate the day with less stress and more joy.
WAIT a minute!
- But I like to fly by the seat of my pants!
- I homeschool because I want FREEDOM!
- I just want to go with the flow!
- I don’t like the feeling of restrictions!
So, why are you trying to tell me routines in my homeschool are important???
Routines give your homeschool structure, while procedures teach kids how to approach tasks independently. It’s not about creating a rigid schedule but about building a flow that works for your family. Whether you’re balancing work and homeschooling, teaching multiple grade levels, or just trying to keep the chaos to a minimum, having consistent systems can be a total game-changer.
time for a reality check!
We’ve all been there! You’ve shown up somewhere and feel completely lost and not sure what in the world is going on.
How does this make you feel? 🤔
I don’t know about you but it makes me feel nervous, insecure, unhappy and frustrated!
Those same feelings can creep into our homeschool days—for both us and our children—when there’s no clear plan in place. I used to be one of those people who saw structure as restrictive. I’d rattle off every excuse in the book about why I didn’t need routines or procedures.
But then came the infamous 2020 shutdown. Stuck at home. No plan. No idea what was coming next. And let me tell you—that’s when I really learned the value of having a rhythm to our days. It wasn’t about being strict or rigid; it was about creating a sense of security and peace in the middle of uncertainty.
These feelings of insecurity, frustration and unhappiness came storming into my life.
I hate to admit that I became a miserable person and that transferred down to my kids.
I knew how essential routines and procedures were in my own classroom at school and was an exemplary teacher with my classroom management and rarely had issues. However, when it came to having routines with my own kids at home… there was no such thing. 😱
Sure, we had a bedtime routine and the usual everyday habits. But even though I spent summers and holiday breaks at home with my children, our days were often jam-packed with activities outside the house. Because of that, I never really established any routines for learning at home.
SO, when we were forced to be stuck at home, my unstructured time at home took a toll on me very quickly!
What are the benefits of routines and procedures in your homeschool?
Just like us adults, children feel more confident and secure when they have familiar and predictable activities. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be spontaneous! On the contrary, it gives more opportunity for
spontaneity!
There are so many benefits that I have found to having routines and procedures in our home and I’m
going to share these with you!
it Opens the door for spontaneity!
This doesn’t mean that you can’t be spontaneous! On the contrary, it gives more opportunity for spontaneity!
4 benefits of routines & procedures in your homeschool
- Helps reduce anxiety and stress in your day.
Having a familiar schedule and routine helps reduce anxiety about the day. The nerves are under control for everyone! You don’t have to constantly answer the questions, ”What are we going to do now? or What are we doing after this?” You and the children know exactly what is expected of each other and as a result there is less pushback.
2. Helps everyone become more disciplined.
Routines build discipline and accountability. Now, I’m not saying you need super rigid routines where every minute is scheduled. But you do need some kind of structure for how and when things will get done.
For example, I plan my grading time for Saturday mornings, which keeps me accountable to finish it then. My son also knows he must complete his penmanship tests on Saturday mornings, so there’s no argument or need for me to explain why it has to be done.
3. Saves time!
When you set routines in place, you’ll find that you waste less time. Being at home makes it easy to get sidetracked and end up thinking we “don’t have enough time.” This is why we can successfully homeschool our children while holding jobs (read about it here) With routines in place and our children knowing what to expect and how to handle it, we can fit everything in that needs to get done. Without structure, you’ll find yourself spending far more time on tasks that could have been completed in under 30 minutes if they were properly planned.
4. Schedule in some time to yourself.
Let’s be real, we all need some time to ourselves to keep our sanity! We are human. This doesn’t make you less of a parent nor should you feel guilty for needing some time to take care of yourself. If you don’t have a healthy balance and take time to recharge or do something for YOU, you will get burnt out very quickly. Having routines in place will allow you to be able to structure in some self-care time.
Go with your own rhythm!
Your routines don’t have to be the same routines that you see other families use. Your family and
homeschool are unique! Your routines need to be created to fit your individual family needs. What
works for one family might not necessarily work for you. And that’s the beauty of homeschooling, you
can personalize it as much as you want!
What are some routines and procedures that are essential in your homeschool? Go ahead and share them below!
💖 Yessi
