Homeschool Week: Homeschooling the Distractible Child

Homeschool Week
April 23 through April 28

Last week I went to the Cincinatti Homeschool Convention.  When I was there, I attended a session about Homeschooling the Distractible Child by Susan Kemmerer of Schoolhouse Publishing.  It was reassuring to hear a lot of the concepts God had already been working in my heart and home. 

Distractible children tend to be easily distracted, yes.  Some of the poor character traits I have seen in my own home are:  messiness, laziness (when they are “bored”), procrastination, a lack of willingness, and the great ability to be poky.

Perhaps you can relate?

Distractible children have the innate ability to test our character very well!  When we are in a “let’s get this done!” mode, they are dreaming about the sunshine, wondering about that person they met yesterday, and thinking about the next picture they can create.  Questions seem to flood their minds as quickly as our “to do” lists flood ours! 

It seems like it takes a lot of effort to get this child moving and finishing, at times!

Before I get into some practical tips about homeschooling distractible children, I have to stress something that God has been working on my heart for months.

The most important thing to focus on with a distractible child is your relationship!

If we focus on the child’s negative traits, we will become angry, irritable, and impatient.  Our relationship will start to degrade.  We will see this child through not-so-rose-colored glasses and create an image we do not like.

In order to protect our relationship with our child, we must do two things:

1. See the positive character traits in this child.  Distractible children can be very frustrating, but they also tend to be creative, inquisitive, and adventuresome. We must look past their inevitable weaknesses and see the strengths God has placed within them.  Susan Kemmerer said, “God does not define us by our shortcomings.  He rejoices over us.”  (see Zephaniah 3:17)
2. Pray and strive to become the people God wants US to be.
   We need God’s mind and heart in the matter!  We need Him to make us more like Him!  The fruit of the Spirit is “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.”  Are we exhibiting these traits with our distractible children?

If you have a distractible child, make it your priority to have a pleasant relationship with him. 

Tomorrow, I will share some practical tips for schooling a distractible child.