You’ve learned from your past mistakes and are ready to make some changes.  You’ve worked all summer to create the perfect schedule.  You’ve bought the planner, applied the stickers, and written in your family’s schooling schedule down to the assignment in permanent black ink.  In other words, you are ready to go!  Now that you’ve made this masterpiece, how do you stick to it?  That’s a great questions and here are some helpful hints!

Focus on schooling and schooling only!  During the time you plan on teaching and the kids learning, don’t let other distractions take over.  Let that call go to voicemail.  Put a sign on the door not to be disturbed.  Social media can wait!  Stick to schooling during these hours, and get to anything that isn’t an immediate crises when the books are closed.

Now that we have mom mentally onboard, time to get the kids excited!  Explain the new scheduling set up and why it’s necessary.  Set your children up for success by having everything they need for each school day easily within reach.  And, if they have a phone, have them turn it in during schooling hours.

Work hard, play hard!  Offer incentives for you and the kids for each successfully completed school day.  This doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming.  It can be as varied as a trip to the park, screen time, or playtime with a special friend. For mom, treat yourself to a yummy cup of tea or a few pages in your current book of choice.

If it’s a little broke, fix it!  At the end of the week give yourself grace to tweak your perfect schedule.  Something still a little off?  Need more time to work on certain subjects?  Has there been illness or a change in parental schedule?  Don’t drop the schedule!  You haven’t failed!  You are just adapting to changes. Go ahead and make improvements to your schedule.  Explain the changes to your family and continue to work those changes.

With some continuity, persistence, and willingness, maintaining an ideal schedule isn’t a far fetched concept and can produce great fruit now and in the future.  You are also teaching your children how to govern themselves and their time.  What a great gift!