Teaching to different age groups

Plan Ahead: Be Flexible and Manage Kids’ Expectations

Teaching our children on the fly, learning alongside our kids, being digitally distracted by our work and social connections while juggling other household and caregiving obligations can be overwhelming. Conquer that feeling by planning ahead. Whether you’re writing out a to-do list, updating a calendar, or color-coding a spreadsheet with various kids’ logins, create a modular activity plan for the day beforehand. Then, be ready to adapt that plan to the needs of the day.

“We have an hourly schedule, but I try to check in each morning and make adjustments I know we’ll need (oldest has a school meeting during active time, or it looks like it will rain in the afternoon),” shares David Geerdes, a stay-at-home dad of three kids from Pre-K to 5^th grade in Chicago.

While his children know what is expected of them for each hour, Geerdes also offers them the flexibility to choose specific activities within each category.

“They still have agency and can switch things up, so long as it is still in that category,” he says. “This way, they can make adjustments on their own they know are approved, and I’m free to handle other home stuff while only getting involved when I’m really needed.”