Let's Party! How do I create a homeschooling environment of optimism?
Homeschooling families can create an environment of positivity by framing throughout the day and helping children see alternative perspectives and opportunities for value.
Thoughts & Reflections
Consider jotting down a few notes, perhaps in a journal or notebook.
- The next time you feel a somewhat significant negative emotion, try asking yourself, “Is it true?” This may be challenging in the heat of emotion, but once you’re able to take a breath, see what you might uncover with that question.
- Incorporate a gratefulness practice. This might be a short 5-minute practice you do with your child each day or perhaps it's a simple phrase of appreciation that you remind yourself of when life gets challenging. Some examples might be: "Lucky, I'm loved/rich/healthy/strong, etc." Pick something that resonates with you.
- Start to identify the frames you put around the activities in your life that you get to do versus the activities that you have to do. What frames do you offer up for your children to experience?
- Can you identify any activities or events that your child enjoys that you don’t particularly take pleasure in? Consider making time and space for those experiences.
- Incorporate at least one environmental enhancer this week and note the result. You might suggest reading by flashlight under the kitchen table or taking a brain break up in the backyard tree. You might bake a special snack together or wear hats during writing time. The ideas are endless.
- Try highlighting one of your fails of the week to your child. It might be a poor decision or something you tried and just aren’t good at yet...a place where you're developing your skills perhaps. Whatever it is, talk about it with a light, open and honest conversational tone.
- Think about an activity that might celebrate current learning. Maybe it’s a themed party in the backyard with friends or family or maybe it’s a special field trip. How might you celebrate and cement learning in small and/or big ways?
Feel free to review last week's recording on environments of optimism.
https://www.boldschoolers.com/blog/positive-frames
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