Looking for easy solutions to homeschool and work full time? Start here and create a block schedule, find clever childcare for younger children, use all-in-one free resources, use a big picture approach for home education, and find like-minded encouragement!
You deserve a night alone with a pizza and bottle of wine.
Just the fact that you are interested in homeschooling and working full time means you deserve all of that and more. Go ahead! Throw in a carton of ice cream. I’m not kidding. Homeschooling and working is not for the faint of heart.
Even though I do not currently homeschool my children, I am an expert in watching kids and working. I have been working full time and watching my kids (from ages newborn – 3) for three years now.
Every stage includes its struggles, and I’m here to tell you that it is possible. You might not get much sleep, and you might feel like you are surviving day by day. But you can do it! Let’s jump in…
Two Months of Education Fun for CHEAP
- Tailored to age, learning level, and favorite interests
- 1,000+ activities for reading, math, SEL, and more for independent play
- Just 15 minutes a day proven to increase early reading scores by 74%
- Developed by experts, their research-based, four-step approach goes beyond rote memorization to build confidence, promote problem-solving, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
- 1. Create a block schedule and routine for your school day and working full time
- 2. Adopt a “Big Picture” lesson plans approach to being a working homeschool mom
- 3. Create a flexible homeschool schedule
- 4. Supplement with easy Homeschool curriculum and lifestyle resources
- 5. Use creativity with at-home childcare for young children
- 6. Find like-minded working mom encouragement
- 7. Improve time management by using smart work at home resources
- 8. Work at home mom lessons that every mom needs to know for working full time
1. Create a block schedule and routine for your school day and working full time
I work 8 hours a day for an actual employer. It’s not the kind of job I can “just fit in during naptime”. Alongside of that 8-5 job, I also blog and do some Pinterest marketing. All of this takes dedicated work time.
To do all these jobs – while watching my kids – I have perfected the work at home mom block schedule.
There are hundreds of resources created to help you find your custom block schedule. There are planners, posts, courses, eBooks, resources…block scheduling is a hot commodity.
But, I’m going to tell you everything you need to know right here. For free.
(Read all my tips to get your kids to nap or have quiet time here!)
1. List the number of unique days you have
Instead of paying money for a block schedule planner, just download my free block schedule template above and get started!
To begin, figure out how many kinds of daily schedules you are working with. If your M-W-F schedule is different than you T-TH schedule, you might have three types of daily schedules:
- M-W-F
- T-TH
- Weekends
You might have only two daily schedules: weekdays vs. weekends. You might have 7 different schedules.
You will want to treat each of these daily schedules differently to maximize every minute. If you have 45 minutes for lunch on Mondays, but 1 hour on Thursdays, then you need to maximize on that extra 15 minutes on Thursdays.
Print as many templates as you need to match up with the number of daily schedules that you need.
2. Create separate block schedules for your kids, activities, schoolwork, and full time job
On the template, you can use my default headers of “mom”, “home”, etc. to create your separate blocks, or you can print the blank doc and fill in the the titles yourself. You will want separate block schedules for each component in your life. I like:
- Me/Mom
- Work
- Home
- Child #1
- Child #2
To get started, you will want to block off definite obligated activites for each person.
Add in work hours, childcare, school, sports and activities. See how these blocks affect the other people in the household – and how you can also schedule home chores around those obligated activites.
To fill in the block schedule, fill in your obligations in this order:
- Wake/sleep times
- Work hours
- Childcare/school hours
- Meal/family times
- Mom/self time
Then, to make this block schedule work for you, make a list of kids activities and home chores that you can scatter around.
See my favorite kids activities broken down by age group here.
Need 30 minutes to take a shower? Add in a 30 minute activity. Need to run a load of laundry? Spend 15 minutes loading the washing machine while your kids eat lunch.
To add in self-time, look for ways to listen to a podcast or do a facial mask while you are making dinner or taking kids to the park!
If you are homeschooling, you need to break down each activity/lesson by how much time it takes and how much involvement it needs.
On the template, there are really easy ways to create these lists and add them to your schedule.
3. Add more blocks, increase your number of hours
If you don’t have enough free time in a day, you will need to create new blocks. This is the moment where you give up sleep.
The easiest block to add to your schedule is a 5 am – 7 am block. This ultra-morning block will give you uninterrupted kid-free time that you can dedicate to any work, assignment, chore you have.
Are you not a morning person? Cool, neither am I. I actually hate people that tell me to wake up at 5 am. But, I recently discovered how vital this morning block is for me, and I have started waking up early and it is life-changing.
If you are having trouble fitting actual homeschooling into your blocks, let me show you how my friend Amy creates a big picture approach to homeschooling!
2. Adopt a “Big Picture” lesson plans approach to being a working homeschool mom
Bookmark her article on Big Picture Homeschooling here for future use!
She outlines seven steps to creating a big picture outline for your homeschooling. Some of her steps include:
- List each subject/child and create a “how to finish” plan
- Estimate the time required for each
- Create weekly checklists
- Create a weekly time flow chart
If you are looking for ways to realistically create weekly checklists and time flow charts, definitely check out Amy’s post and tell her I said hi!
3. Create a flexible homeschool schedule
Now, once you know how many hours you have in a day – and what you need to do each day – how do you keep track?
The goal is to create EASY daily schedules for each person in your family so they know what needs to be done in each block. There are a million ways to do this, but let me tell you how my friend Megan does it!
Megan at Shaping up to be a Mom keeps a simple Excel tracker for each of her kids that is homeschooled. This is how Megan describes her Excel tracker:
“The kids have their own personalized school tracker, which is basically a list of the things they need to accomplish every day. We use Google Sheets to keep their tracker within their Google account and accessible to kids and parents alike. They go through the list, checking in with us as they complete assignments, and, once they finish all of their tasks, they are done for the day!”
She also includes excellent suggestions for independent curriculum ideas for kids.
Click here to see how Megan’s daily tracker works, and get your own free template!
4. Supplement with easy Homeschool curriculum and lifestyle resources
Every good mom uses Sesame Street.
Just kidding. But, not really.
We live in the 21st century that has apps and online resources. USE THEM!
Here are some awesome ones that we love:
1. KiwiCo
We have used KiwiCo for years for both our kids. While it’s not an online resource, it’s an excellent monthly subscription that makes our lives so much better.
Every month my kids get an age-appropriate activity box that has 3-4 craft/activities that uses the STEM process (science, technology, engineering, math) to give you smart, hands-on activities to do with your child. They have awesome boxes that are age-appropriate for all ages.
This is the PERFECT resource when you just need some help with your kids. You can even get just ONE BOX (no subscription necessary.)
I also love keeping all the previous boxes so I have a supply of activities I can rotate year-round. I keep all her old activities in an organized plastic box and pull out one or two a week. (“Do you want to do your doctor kit or dinosaur matching game this week?”)
To see how I store and re-use our KiwiCo activities, see my Insta Stories here.
To try out KiwiCo for one month with a 15% discount, click here and use the code LEARN!
2. Homer Learning App for Kids
So…I’ve tried LOTS of online learning apps for my kids. I am tired of busy, loud learning programs that don’t actually teach anything.
But the Homer Learning App has changed everything for us!
My 3-year old son asks me to learn his “alphabet letter game” because he loves it so much! I can customize the program with his favorite topics – trains, dinosaurs, and animals!
Each program is customized towards my child’s age and learning abilities. Because my daughter is advanced with her learning, I can customize her program with what words/math she does and doesn’t know!
Subjects include reading, math, SEL, creativity and thinking. I love their logic games!
Read my complete review of Homer Learning App here and see how we use it for our family.
Two Months of Education Fun for CHEAP
- Tailored to age, learning level, and favorite interests
- 1,000+ activities for reading, math, SEL, and more for independent play
- Just 15 minutes a day proven to increase early reading scores by 74%
- Developed by experts, their research-based, four-step approach goes beyond rote memorization to build confidence, promote problem-solving, and foster a lifelong love of learning.
3. Other Apps and Resources that I love:
My daughter is three, and she loves doing her app activities with her dad on his phone. She has a few that she lovingly dubs “the bear one” and “the girl one”.
These apps have paid options, but we just use the free versions which allow for one use a day. This is perfect for her age! (Also, it helps us regulate how much time is spent on the phone.)
💻 A few of our favorites are: Duolingo ABC, Lingokids, and Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar. My daughter has learned so much from each of these, and they keep her mind stimulated. I totally recommend them for free options!
💻 Does your kid need to get their energy out at home? We LOVE Cosmic Kids Yoga on YouTube! My daughter will do yoga for 30-60 minutes while I am able to clean a bathroom or put away lunch dishes. These are perfect for rainy days, and they teach her so much! She is pretty obsessed with teaching me all the poses.
💻 Lastly, my secret weapon for naptime is the New Horizon Meditation Sleep Stories for kids. These stories for kids are calm, soothing, and tell stories of animals and mermaids to lull them to sleep. It slows my daughter down, and allows her to be calm and quiet – even if she doesn’t sleep. She calls her favorite story “the dolphin story”, and we listen to it very frequently!
5. Use creativity with at-home childcare for young children
One of the hardest things about homeschooling and working from home is the range of ages of kids that you are taking care of. Chances are you have a baby or a young toddler that needs to be occupied just as much as your older kids.
One of my super skills is finding ways to occupy my younger kids while I work.
I’m kidding – it’s a means of survival.
My favorite tip is to use baby gates and baby fences (yes, they exist!) to your advantage. Every room near you needs a kid-friendly area that you can let your kid have free range in.
I begin my teaching my kids to play by themselves at an early age (by 6 months!). They learn to find toys, be creative, and entertain themselves. This is a lifesaver when I just need a minute to go to the bathroom. Let’s be real.
To see my full post about how to create clever play areas for your kids in your house, click here.
I also love finding new toys for each season. Once my babies hit four months, I set up the Jumparoo near my desk. To see all my other favorite toys and age-appropriate tips, see my post here.
6. Find like-minded working mom encouragement
The biggest thing to know during this season is that you are not alone. Moms and dads across the country are working their tails off, teaching their kids, and doing it day after day.
“The first thing that I had to do to incorporate homeschooling into our lives was to drop the public school schedule (9 am-2pm/Mon-Fri) mentality. It took a huge shift in the thought process to understand that learning can happen at any time. It also took me a while to understand that without filler work (lunch, recess, test prep, worksheets, etc.) that I can cover all core material in only a few hours.”
“I’m a big believer that if you live in my house and then you are part of our team. Which means you help clean up messes, cook meals and pick up. We use a chore system called Motivated Moms. I like it because I can print it off and stick it on the fridge. The kids like that they get to pick what they do.”
While homeschooling, in general, is a priority, for this stage of his education I prioritize life learning over book learning.
Christina
No matter where you are, remember that you are not alone. You are the best thing to happen to your kids, and they will remember this time with you fondly! It doesn’t really matter how many times you lose it while everyone is screaming for dinner. They will just remember you.
7. Improve time management by using smart work at home resources
I have discovered that you are only as equipped as you have room in your brain. Seriously, if your brain is full of problem-solving and putting out fires, there is not much left for actually getting everything done.
After years of working at home and watching kids, I have found the BEST resources for:
- working smarter
- watching your kids
- and managing your home
To see all my favorite resources, check out my free cheatsheet here!
8. Work at home mom lessons that every mom needs to know for working full time
Do you stay awake at night completely worried that you are doing the right thing? Or not doing the right thing?
Yeah, me too.
Here are some things that I wish every work at home mom knew:
It’s ok to be home a lot
This is one of those things that stresses me out the most. We are home A LOT. Isn’t this bad?
I have realized that IT IS OK to be home a lot. It is ok for your kids to rotate the same toys over and over again. It is ok to keep a small circle. IT IS OK.
You are enough for your kids
God gave YOU to your kids – not another mom. Not another entertainment source. You. And you are the best for them.
Even if we stay away at night completely convinced that we have screwed everything up. It’s ok. We probably have. But we are also enough for our kids. Just know that.
It’s ok to say no to things
Doggonit, we can’t do everything! We HAVE to say no to things!
I have started picking 3 things that I am going to focus on everyday. I usually choose from:
- work
- time with my husband
- outside time with my kids
- cooking dinner
- blogging/extra website stuff
- friends
- errands
I can only reasonably do THREE things every day. Try it! Write down a list of your big items that you have to juggle every day, and pick three to get done. And say NO to the rest.
It’s so freeing!
Find more whole family resources here:
9 EASY Tips for Working from Home Without Childcare (Save These Tips!)
How to foster independent play time by age (Must-Have WAHM survival guide!)
When do kids stop napping: 16 Foolproof Tips for Quiet Time and Naptime
Free 40 Hour Work From Home Mom Schedule Template
9 GENIUS Tips for Working from home with a newborn
This Post Has 17 Comments
I am about to start the Homeschool/fulltme work journey. This was the resource and encouragement I needed. Thank you!
Maureen, I’m so glad! Definitely follow up with Amy, Megan, and Jen mentioned on this post – they are gold!
life saver
thank the most high for this!
Sorry I’m not yelling my phone won’t do lower case😂 I’m going to start working full time. I have a six year old. He doesn’t play well by himself. He is an only child. How do I accomplish this doing work and homeschool him?
Ok it fixed itself when I posted!
Hey Melissa, thanks for saying hi! I would start by letting him play for 10-20 minutes by himself. It can be near you so he sees you, but tell him it’s his “learning quiet time”. Even if he dumps out all his toys, those 10-20 minutes will show him that it’s fun! Then grow to 30 minutes when you can. I often work at the library, or Chik Fil A playplace so he can play and see me while I work. I just get creative :).
This was exactly what I needed to hear. I question sometimes if I am doing my daughter justice with homeschooling and yet looking at the unschooling perspective has opened my eyes to something greater! Thank you for this wonderful post!
I’m so glad you were inspired! I have HUGE respect for homeschool moms. <3
This literally makes no sense. Do you think that kids who attend school aren’t learning on spring break, winter break or weekends? Of course they are. Learning happens all the time for all kids with engaged parents. The difference is, this learning is in addition to a structured, formal education, not in place of it.
I seriously needed this post! I have been struggling so much this past year with working from home full time for an employer and taking care of my four under 5, it’s like i know i can do it – but it’s hard – these tips are such a great way to start, even to incorporate teaching my kiddos!
I am def taking some of these tips to re-evaluate my day to day.
WOW. You are KILLING it. I’m so proud of you. If you have any homeschooling questions, I totally recommend reaching out to these moms in the post. They are amazing!
I love this post! You gave a bunch of practical ideas every parent could use, not only work-at-home moms, and also a great example (with lots of useful tips) on how to create a schedule. Thanks for sharing all of this! 🙂
Thanks, Natasha! I hope they can help any mom out there that is figuring all this out :-).
Great tips! Especially the block scheduling!
Thanks, Erin! I’m obsessed with block scheduling. 😜
I love these tips and ideas, Ginny! Thank you so much for sharing. It is definitely a challenge to work while homeschooling, whether you’re working full-time or part-time, but it is WORTH IT! 🙂 I like to say that homeschooling is the best hard thing I’ve ever done. 😉
I love this! Thank you! Right now people need to hear how wonderful homeschooling is. 😜