I love lists. They keep me on track, remind me of things I need to do and are a way for me to hold myself accountable. Whenever I feel like I am not getting things done, or start to compare myself to some super mom, I can go back to those past lists with their crossed off items and remind myself of how much I really do in a day, a week or a year. With that in mind, is it any wonder that I use lists to keep my little one on track with his schoolwork.
During the pandemic, I was able to sit down with Jack and make sure he did his schoolwork everyday as well as hassle him to do his chores. Now that I am back to work, I cannot be around to keep him on track. Hence, the checklist.
It is important to mention here, that you must set clear expectations or the daily checklist will not get done. In our house, I have explicitly stated that all the items on the list are to be done before I arrive home from work. If everything is done, then he receives a star on his reward chart and life is great. If there are items not completed on his checklist, then he must drop everything (usually Youtube) and finish the tasks. I try not to yell and this usually works. He loves getting rewarded for doing the right thing and hates having to interrupt a video to get stuff done.
I prepare the checklist the night before after I have posted all his schoolwork for the next day. At the top I write the date in two different styles so he gets used to seeing the date written out. I also divide the checklist into two columns. One column is schoolwork tasks, the other is chores and basic hygiene (boys need to be reminded to brush their hair.). We have gone over each item that can appear on the checklist and talked about my expectation of how they are to be executed. This is an important step and one that many parents overlook. You may have a clear idea of what it means to bring in the recycling bin, but kids will find a 1000 ways to do it wrong. Communicate your expectations beforehand and remind them every so often of those expectations and you will enjoy greater success.
The next part of this system is a bit radical, but one that I feel is necessary to prepare kids for the “real world.” I do not state how or when the checklist is to be completed. I leave it up to him to decide what he does and when. If he chooses to get everything done first thing in the morning, great. If he decides that he needs to move slowly into the day and play first, that is alright as well. The only stipulation is that the work gets done before I get home. This is the accountability part of the system. He knows what he needs to accomplish and how long it will take and then decides when to do it. Much like working in an office. Unless you have a micro-managing supervisor, you are free to get tasks done when you see fit, as long as you meet the deadline.
So far this has been working great. Jack gets the work done (most days) and is free to pursue his own interests on his terms. I know that many homeschool moms need to have the rigidity of a schedule and that is fine for them. I also understand that schools need to keep rigid schedules to keep everyone on track; but some students don’t do well with academics in the morning and others are basically braindead by the afternoon. For us, the flexibility has been key to keeping everyone happy and sane. In this way Jack can find his own rhythm and not have one artificially forced upon him while simultaneously teaching him about accountability. A win-win all around.