Homeschool With a New Baby

by Jillian

Is it difficult to homeschool with a new baby in the home?

My daughter will be 3 in February. My husband and I are thinking about having another baby next fall. That would make our daughter 4 1/2 by the time the baby is born. Is it difficult to homeschool with a baby in the home? I am thinking that preschool, kindergarten and 1st Grade need a lot of attention. But, so will a baby, who will grow up into a toddler! Then, before you know it, I'll be teaching two!

Thank you so much for your time, I truly appreciate it!

Jillian

Diane's Reply to Homeschool With a New Baby:

Hello Jillian,

To answer your question...yes...and no! It has the potential to be difficult. But if you concentrate on doing what is only absolutely necessary, then it is very doable. My advice would be to not get any "schooling" done the first few weeks that you're home with the new baby. This is a wonderful opportunity for your daughter to get acquainted with her new sibling. Cherish this special time together. You will have plenty of time to get schooling done later. Besides, this too, is a wonderful learning experience in itself for your daughter. She is going to love "helping" you while learning at the same time. And let her help you. These precious learning moments together are fleeting, believe me!

Having a baby in the home changes things, as you well know! And nursing takes a big chunk of time out of our day. So, kill two birds with one stone. Each time you sit down to nurse, read to your daughter. It did not take my children very long to know that once I sat in the rocker with the baby, it was time to read! They took advantage, every time. We even purchased a big two-person rocker just so we'd all fit! I cannot stress enough how important reading to your children is. They not only learn so much from the book, but they learn HOW to read just by following along. It truly is amazing. So, my first and easiest suggestion would be to just read!

Pretty soon, maybe in a few months, you'll get into a routine. We always tried to get the laundry done in the morning. (And we had a lot of it because I used cloth diapers!) Children at this age really like to be around mom helping, so let her. It's surprising how much help they can be! Be patient. Teach to her abilities. She will WANT to help, give her some space. She'll be a godsend! Before you know it, she'll be making meals!

Now get the books out, slowly if need be. Baby nap times are a great time to snatch a few minutes of school. Get her started on something, she'll be able to continue pretty much on her own. Read more about teaching different ages.

Yes, that baby will soon be a toddler. Don't rush it! Remember, as they get older, your children will become playmates. And playtime in itself is a wonderful way to learn.

There will be times when you feel like you're not getting anything done. But you are. You're raising a wonderful family. Cherish these precious moments. And don't worry, your daughter will learn, all in good time.