GRAND Magazine- Winter 2021 - 14

education

3 ways to (really) support your
homeschooled grandchildren
BY LINSEY KNERL

chool as we know it has been largely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, leading
families to wonder how they can provide stability to kids in uncertain times. Homeschooling is
one way forward, and with over 2.6 million grandparents helping care for grandchildren in their
homes, there's an incredible opportunity to help.
You don't have to share a roof to make a difference, however. Here are some ways to support
quality at-home education from anywhere in the
world.

Ask for opportunities.

Homeschooling looks different for every family,
with some doing 100% online learning and others
taking nature walks for most of their day. The best
way to be of help is to inquire of both the parent and
child, " What can I do? " The answer may be as easy as
sitting on a video call while the child does their daily
20-minute read-aloud time. Most solutions are simple,
but investigating is the only way to know for sure.

Encourage

The home education path is one fraught with challenges, and parents often second guess if they have
what it takes to complete the mission. Even if you've
14 GRAND

WINTER 2021

had your doubts about its validity in the past, the
changing education landscape has put even reluctant homeschoolers in places they never thought
they would be before. Your family needs your words
of support more than ever, so find ways to express
that you believe in their efforts. It means the world to
them.

Listen

Kids have a lot to say, and one of the most effective
things you can do to relieve overburdened parents

and build strong relationships is to simply hear
the children out. You don't have to understand
everything they're passionate about to make the
conversation count. Whether they are complaining about the rigor of their math course or simply
sharing their favorite Minecraft mod, you can
model empathy and create a safe place for them
to work out their problems by lending an ear.
" Your willingness to provide an emotional and
social partnership is one they'll cherish forever. "
One benefit of homeschooling is that it supports inter-generational relationships, as kids
aren't confined to one classroom of their peers.
You can help them realize the value of seniors by
being an active part of their education. You may
never need to " solve for Y " or translate French
adjectives, but your willingness to provide an emotional and social partnership is one they'll cherish
forever.

Linsey Knerl is a 15-year home
educator. Her book Homeschool
Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great
Education Without Losing Your Job (or
Your Mind) is coming May 2021.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0994809700/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grandmagazi0d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=0994809700&linkId=c0cf2342749a51234e00421ef2df453e https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003B6QYSW/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=grandmagazi0d-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B003B6QYSW&linkId=74a78ba0a510c9871c2e38f745d59213 http://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/State Fact Sheets/Grandfamilies-Fact-Sheet-United-States.pdf http://www.grandfamilies.org/Portals/0/State Fact Sheets/Grandfamilies-Fact-Sheet-United-States.pdf https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homeschool-Hacks/Linsey-Knerl/9781982171155 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homeschool-Hacks/Linsey-Knerl/9781982171155 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homeschool-Hacks/Linsey-Knerl/9781982171155 https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Homeschool-Hacks/Linsey-Knerl/9781982171155

GRAND Magazine- Winter 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine- Winter 2021