How I Embrace Freedom with Responsibility, Each and Every Day, as I Homeschool My Children.

Homeschooling Freedom on the Farm.

Homeschooled farm children certainly have the best of both worlds, as far as schooling, farm life, responsibility, space and freedom are concerned…

I like to make use of what we have around us, in order to train my children to develop and achieve.  This happens by adapting to using whatever I have available, to help each child mature and grow, into becoming responsible and disciplined individuals.

Psychological research shows that students need a leader with high expectations of them (demanding), but who also expresses personal belief (support) that they will succeed.

“One is ‘the head’, pushing them to achieve high standards; the other is ‘the heart’, lifting their spirits”.    

Unknown.

These are wise words which I embrace as my goal, as both parent and educator.  

My children’s achievements will be the fruit of my labour, with God at the helm..

“All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” Isaiah 54 vs 13.

How My Children’s Day Encompasses Freedom with Responsibility.

5.15am –Our day begins…

Our household awakes, as soon as the alarm clock goes off! Everyone gets up and dressed, ready for the day.  

Murray John, all of 9 years old, insists upon wearing specific work clothes, which he wears everyday on the farm. (His Case work suit is his favourite). He likes to dress to fit in with the rest of the farm workers, so that he feels part of the farm team.  

Paula Joy likes to carefully choose clothes from her varied wardrobe. I love the freedom the children have to express themselves with what they wear.  

However, they have to present themselves at school, on time and suitably dressed, with hair and teeth brushed and sun block applied. Shoes are optional, depending upon the temperature.   

I love this saying; ‘If you look the part, you will play the part’.  

Chores Time.

Once dressed and ready, Murray John heads out to check all the tractors and equipment, before the farm work starts. He enjoys helping to fill the tractors with diesel and checking on oil and water levels. He likes to observe and then help, where needed.

Paula Joy, complete with helmet, heads off on the motorbike to check all the horses, which stay 4km away from the yard. Her job is to see that they are looking healthy and happy, whilst the grooms arrive and start the feeding routine.

Once the children have completed their chores, they rush to get to school by 6.30am. I am always greeted with a report of what they have seen and done, during their chores time.

6.30am School Time.

Our school day starts with prayer, before starting Mental Maths, followed by checking their ACE academic goals for the day. Then it is time for Maths, followed by their other subjects.   

Maths, which requires fresh brains, is always the first of their seven academic subjects for the day. The children know that they need to complete the goals they have allocated to each subject for the day.    

Through daily academic goal setting, the children are learning to gauge their abilities and measure what they feel they can achieve for the day, without too much pressure. They are also being held accountable for their work, as they know that these goals need to be achieved.  

“We all perform better when we are watched and affirmed. Accountability simply removes the option of giving up, as there are always others involved and observing. Most successes require an outside set of eyes, ears, and words of support. This works like guardrails on a winding road.”  

Tim Elmore: Overcoming the Most Common Mistake Educators Make Leading Generation Z

8am Breakfast.

This is when Murray John rushes out to fill up my double cab with diesel and put it away in the garage, as and when needs be. It is a chore I am very happy to pass on. Once breakfast is done back to school we go.

As soon as a child has completed a subject, which can take 30 to 45min, they have to do some exercise to refresh their brains.  I like to set them specific daily exercise goals, such as 100 skips or 100 tennis volleys.  Something that requires work to achieve.  They have 5mins to work at their exercise, before they head back to start the next subject. Once they have achieved their exercise goals, I then set them a new one.

These are action steps I take, to build the right mind set in the children, when it comes to stress and pressure. I need to put some pressure on them, to help them grown and achieve.

9am Short Pet Break.

At around 9am the children head out to put their guinea pigs and rabbits into their lawn cages for the day. This is done, once the dew has dried on the grass. It is a chore they both like to do and it gives them a rush of excitement, to see and cuddle their furry friends. Animals are a wonderful way to teach responsibility to children.

10am Tea Break.

Tea break is when the children have a snack and a drink – and then play for +- 30 mins.

School then continues between 10:30 and 12pm -or whenever all their subject work has been completed.

Murray John, being two years younger than Paula Joy, is often finished by 11am.  As he just loves the farm, once his school goals have been achieved, he heads back out to the yard, to check on what is happening around the farm. He sometimes heads off to the grading shed, to drive the folk lift.

12pm School ends.

At the end of school it is time for lunch, literature reading and a rest on beds, until 2pm.

2pm Play time.

At 2pm Murray John heads into the workshop to service tractors, lorries or generators. As the farm employs a fully qualified mechanic, Murray John is able to watch and learn, as the equipment gets serviced.  

Paula Joy usually spends this time using YouTube, to practice and improve her art work, or finish up any schoolwork she was unable to complete before lunch.  Sometimes a more difficult subject will have slowed her down during the morning.  

3pm Horses.

At 3pm we head off to the horses, to ride and develop our horsemanship skills. The children take it in turns to drive the pickup, to and from the stables, with our two dogs happily racing alongside the vehicle. Once at the stables, the children tack up and ride their horses and then spend time checking that the horses have water, hay and food, before we head back home.  

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5.50pm Pet time.

Now it is guinea pig and rabbit time. The children love playing with their pets, before they put them to bed for the night. They also need some fresh hay, lettuce or cabbage leaves, before they are cuddled and put into their night cages.

6.30pm Bath and Supper Time.

At this time the children are dragged inside to shower, then they have supper and watch a bit of TV, usually ‘Airplane Investigation’.

7.45pm Bed time.

Family prayers are followed by bed time.  Another busy, fun filled day, under the African sun!

Conclusion.

Through many years of homeschooling the children are now able to achieve a huge amount on their own and have become used to planning and managing their time.  

For me, responsible, disciplined children make for a happy home environment.  We live a very ordered structured life where goals are achieved and a strong work ethic is engrained in each child from a young age.  

I know it’s my responsibility to train and guide my children to embrace responsibility and learning. Therefore with being able to mix farm life, responsibility and school makes for fun rounded education. We are very blessed to have the freedom to enjoy such a life.

“Take a firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.” Proverbs 4 vs 13.

We go forward with faith.

Prayer:  Heavenly father I thank you for Your continued guidance through each and every day.   With You I know that all things are possible and that You will make our paths straight.   I lift each and every day up to you to lead my family and direct us to reach the goals before us. Thank you.  In Jesus, precious name I prayer, Amen.

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