Have you thought about helping homeschool kids build their armor and life skills while they’re still at home with you? It can be armor from homeschooling judgment or a way to understand and deal with what people think about them or what others are saying about them. Here’s our personal homeschooling story and what happened to us while at an event. I hope these parenting tips and this homeschool advice will help you in the future!
About Helping Homeschool Kids With Judgment
I have a story to tell you about something that happened to my daughter, but first I want to say how funny it is whenever I see parents post things like, “Schools should have basic life skills classes…”
And, without fail, every time I comment and explain homeschooling does that then I get some form of, “No, we mean *really* teaching kids in real school.”
*CUE A FEW WEEKS AGO WHERE IT HAPPENED TO MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. AGAIN.*
“Mommy, you should’ve seen her face when I told her that I homeschool.”
My daughter was at a reception for her art residency.
(She happens to be the only homeschooler in the program.)
People were coming and going and she was greeting people and talking to people (strangers) about her art and just generally being the outgoing, bubbly person she is.
She told me she had been having a really great conversation with a woman, a public school teacher, about art.
When the woman asked my daughter where she went to school my daughter, of course, answered that she homeschooled.
And my daughter said the whole woman’s body language changed.
She frowned and said, “Oh.”
And then?
The woman had nothing else to say to my daughter.
She walked away.
Never mind that my daughter was in an art residency.
Or that she was in public talking to strangers.
Or that she was “working the room” better than most adults.
Or that she was showing her art.
Once she had “homeschooler” attached, there was immediate (negative) judgment.
Usually I would just laugh about this, but this time I looked right at my daughter and said, “Someone is always going to judge you for something in life.”
So, instead of snarky comebacks or laughing it off (like I usually would), today let’s talk about how to prepare your kids for the judgment (for any reason) they’re going to receive in life.
I think it’s hard to remember as adults — especially if you’re like me and care very little what others think — that kids aren’t built with that armor. We’ve built our own armor up over many different years and experiences. And, even though we don’t think about it, it’s that armor that protects us know in different situations.
We can help our homeschooled kids get a jumpstart on building that protection right now!
(I like to think of it as a bubble that surrounds your kids. The more that you help kids strengthen their bubble while they’re home with you, the easier it will be when they’re on their own.)
CREATIVE METHODS TO HELP HOMESCHOOL KIDS PROTECT THEMSELVES
Ways To Prepare Homeschooling Kids While They’re Still At Home:
1. Teach Resilience
Explain that setbacks and criticism are part of life, and resilience is about staying true to oneself despite challenges. Tell them about times you’ve had setbacks and how you came out on top or different.
2. Encourage Independence
Give them opportunities to make decisions and learn from their choices, helping them build self-confidence.
(Aka: allow them room to fail!)
3. Celebrate Uniqueness
Emphasize that being different is a strength, not a weakness, and celebrate their unique qualities.
4. Admire Diversity
Explore various cultures and perspectives to broaden their worldview and foster tolerance and acceptance.
5. Understand Constructive Feedback
Teach them how to differentiate between constructive criticism and feedback from judgment from others.
In today’s world, this is important to help kids grow.
Help them understand how baseless negativity that others put on them, especially online with people they don’t know, has nothing to do with your kids.
6. Use Storytelling For Shared Experiences
Share stories and biographies of individuals who have achieved success by staying true to themselves despite societal pressures.
Share your own personal stories about growing up or lessons you’ve learned.
7. Allow Self-Expression
Allow your kids to express themselves in the safe space of your home!
At our house, this means through art because that’s what my daughter is interested in.
Encourage homeschoolers to express themselves through art, drawing, painting, or other creative outlets that are of interest to them personally.
This is great outlet, especially for tweens and teens who often start to hold things in and also helps kids understand what’s going on with them.
8. Use Role-Playing
Engage in role-playing scenarios where they can practice assertiveness and standing up for their beliefs.
Give them short activities and have discussions that start with, “If someone said/did [insert example], how would you react?”
9. Use Journaling
Encourage them to keep a private journal where they can write, draw, or document their feelings, thoughts, and experiences to help foster self-reflection.
REMEMBER: Journaling isn’t just writing! Maybe it’s a collage or a doodle or just listing out things that are bothering them. Everyone’s journal looks different.
10. Talk About Personal Values
Help them identify and define their core values and discuss how to align their actions with these values.
Talk about the family values and why you have those.
11. Use Gratitude Practices
Help kids foster a sense of gratitude for who they are and the positive aspects of their life.
Do some gratitude games and activities to help them identify things they are grateful for and what to focus on in times of judgment.
12. Use Empathy Training
Help them understand that everyone has insecurities and that judgment from others often stems from their own issues.
Volunteering can really help with this.
We started volunteering with my daughter at age 4 and I firmly believe that’s one of the reasons she’s such an empathetic person today.
You can also talk to kids about giving grace to others using these activities or these kindness activities for kids.
13. Work On Positive Self-Image Activities
Create vision boards or journals or other fun projects to help them focus on their dreams and aspirations.
Talk about how it’s ok if people don’t understand their dreams or aspirations or choices!
How are you doing at helping homeschool kids build their “armor”?
