How to Deal with Homeschooling Problems

Behaviour Issues? Need Motivation?

Every child has their moments, but consistent behaviour issues often are a sign of other underlying issues.

As a Parent, you were super excited to start homeschooling, but after a couple of months, problems emerged through the excitement.

Sometimes, kids refuse to do their work. You feel stuck and are struggling with your kids. Your kids complain more, refuse to do homework, and don’t take homeschooling seriously. In short, there are behaviour issues. You also have personal struggles. You feel burned out, unenthusiastic, and uncertain what to do.

You might be doubting your choice. You wonder if homeschooling was the right decision.

These struggles are a part of life. Things can feel messy and hard. It takes time to work through them. Sometimes, you can’t see a way forward.

Parents don’t choose homeschooling because it’s easy. They choose it because it’s best for their kids. That is still true. Let us help you with these issues.

There are a few reasons why these behaviour issues develop. 

New Homeschoolers

• Often feel the stakes are lower when submitting subpar work because they are not in a school environment.
• Feel like they can act out more because they aren’t with their peers.
• May not take homework seriously as schoolwork and feel it’s optional since it’s according to them is not a “real school.”

Here’s the thing about that. Kids coming from traditional school may struggle with homeschooling.

Try to see it from their point of view. Learning life skills at home feels different than school.

This is not about you. It’s just a big change. If teaching and grading feel strange to you, it’s also strange for them.

Even kids who are excited about homeschooling may struggle. It’s a big shift. The idea of homeschooling is fun, but the reality is sitting down and doing the work sometimes makes our young learners feel bored.

So, what can you do to help resolve homeschooling-related behavior issues?

• Avoid fighting back.
  • It’s difficult and frustrating, but when you take part in the argument, it makes the child become aggressive. Instead, sit and discuss the problem in a gentler way.
• Consider other issues that could be contributing to the behavior.
  • Maintaining a routine, eating well, and physical activities like sports will help.
• Consider reviewing old material.
  
  • Reviewing old concepts might make new lessons easier for them.
• Implement clear consequences for refusing to complete work and/or lying about it.
  • Setting boundaries and achievement goals upon completion of the tasks will surely boost their interest in work.
• Perhaps try minimizing the workload.
  • If you reduce a math worksheet down to only one page, it’s not even worth fighting over.
  • You’re not essentially surrendering; rather, you’re trying to stop the habit of fighting and arguing. Over time, their reaction will change. Then, you can slowly add more work.
  • As arguments decrease, use praise to encourage good choices.

Remember, consistency is the key to success.