Schools are closed. Businesses are closed. Some will be closed temporarily. Some will never open again. This is the reality that we are all faced with as we deal with the Covid-19 quarantine, and a meltdown of the world financial system. Change is the reality of our time. It may seem like it, but this is not the time to panic. This is the time to count your blessings (even if you have lost your job).
I'm not going to go into all of the complexity of the imploding financial markets, you can get that information at other places: Goldsilver.com and Wealthion, to name two. What I am going to go into in this article is school closings. This might be the greatest opportunity that you and your family receive out of this whole thing. Now is the time to investigate your different options. Education doesn't have to be institutionalized. In fact, the best education isn't, and never has been. As parents, it is your responsibility to provide the best educational opportunities for your children. Maybe that's at school, maybe it isn't. Now is a great time to figure that out. First I will give a list of resources to help you figure this out. Then I will give you some ideas on how to take advantage of this blessing that your family has just been given.
I'm not going to go into all of the complexity of the imploding financial markets, you can get that information at other places: Goldsilver.com and Wealthion, to name two. What I am going to go into in this article is school closings. This might be the greatest opportunity that you and your family receive out of this whole thing. Now is the time to investigate your different options. Education doesn't have to be institutionalized. In fact, the best education isn't, and never has been. As parents, it is your responsibility to provide the best educational opportunities for your children. Maybe that's at school, maybe it isn't. Now is a great time to figure that out. First I will give a list of resources to help you figure this out. Then I will give you some ideas on how to take advantage of this blessing that your family has just been given.
Resources
- Homeschool Helps from this website.
- Leadership 3000 "Education" articles
- Christ for Disciplers podcast
- A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver DeMille.
- tjed.org
- Paradigm Shift by LIFE Leadership
- Rascal Radio from LIFE Leadership
How do you take advantage of this opportunity now, today? Good question. If you have received homework packets for your children from their school, give those packets 2-3 hours per day. One hour in the morning and one hour in the afternoon for children up to 10 years old. For children 11 and older, work on those packets two hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon.
While they are committed to their academics, don't forget about the opportunities to teach life skills at this time. If you are all home together as a family right now, don't miss this. This is the perfect time to start developing new habits, productive habits- for yourself and them. Here are some ideas:
- Go to bed at a decent time every night.
- 11:00pm for adults
- 8:30 for children younger than 12
- Use your best judgment, they are your children.
- Get out of bed every morning by 8:00am, at the latest.
- Read the Bible.
- Schedule time in the morning and afternoon for academics.
- Start an exercise program- You and them.
- Divide up the chores around the house and let each child be responsible for that chore.
- Family Projects
- Learn First-Aid
- Repair/Maintenance projects around the house. Teach them how to take care of their living space.
- Yard clean up.
- Clean the cars.
- Wash the car.
- Vacuum and clean the inside.
- Clean the garage.
- Don't just rearrange and organize the space.
- Pull everything out and CLEAN the garage.
- Family Book Club
During this time when everything is closed, don't just focus on your children's academics/education. Now is a great time for you to go to work on your own education. If you are not a life-long learner, you are going to have a difficult time inspiring your children to invest in their education. Now is the time to develop the habits of READ-LISTEN-ASSOCIATE. If you aren't sure how to get started on this path for yourself you're in the right place.
On this website there are several tools to help you do exactly that.
- Let's Read Together
- Audio Library
- Podcast links
- Leadership Challenge Group
- Top 50 Book list
- Articles posted here weekly (subscribe to get notified when they post)
The best way to create this habit/lifestyle is to start reading 30 minutes every day. Also, listen to three audios everyday. This isn't difficult. Don't be overwhelmed by it. Just start doing it. You will see the benefits before all of this blows over. It is also the best thing you can do to prepare yourself for the world that we are going to face when the dust settles from all of this. The world that you have known your whole life is gone, it's not coming back. This is how you prepare yourself to lead out in whatever comes next. Developing your leadership skills is how you take advantage of this blessing we have all been given. You can do this. Start today. Always remember: God has this under control. None of this has surprised Him. He knew it was coming and is "working it all out for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
God bless
Jason Fredrick
Thank you, Jason for giving us something positive and encouraging in your last 3 posts. we don't have to sit around and stare at the walls ad get depressed. There is plenty to do at home that we never had time to do and to enjoy some family time which there is never time for too
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