I love watching my grown up children interact with each other. They enjoy very close relationships, and even when they are far away from each other, they speak on the phone often. They share their successes and disappointments and exchange advice and encouragement. Looking back on our homeschooling years, I can think of some things I could have done differently, but one thing is clear: my children’s close relationships is one of the best things that came out of our homeschooling.
Homeschooling multiple children of different ages has its challenges, but it is tremendously rewarding. There are other benefits as well: children learn to get along with siblings who might have different personalities and interests. They might not have chosen their siblings as friends, but at home, they don’t have a choice. They grow to appreciate and even enjoy their differences. Older children benefit from their leadership role in the family while younger children learn a lot from their older siblings, without realizing that they are learning.
Content-Based Learning
When all my children were younger and still homeschooling, we did as much as possible together with all of them. Generally, I found that there are two types of learning: content-based and skill-based. Content-based learning can be done together, across all ages. For example, all the children would be studying the same period of history. I would choose books that could be appreciated by different ages and read them aloud to everyone. (Parenthetically, even older children who are fluent readers appreciate family read aloud time. But that’s a topic for another conversation…)
All the children would get the same coloring or map pages. Of course, the older ones would get more out of them than the younger ones, but they would all learn in an age-appropriate way. With hands on projects, older children would do more than the younger children, but again, everyone would learn something and gain from the experience.
My kids loved to make plays and skits and act out what they were learning about. They would invite friends over and get them involved too. Older children would get more of a leadership role, directing the skits and playing bigger parts. Younger children got smaller parts. Everyone learned not only the material but also teamwork and cooperation. And everyone had fun!
Skill-Based Learning
Skill-based learning, such as math or writing, is a bit more complicated. A younger child might be still working on the basics of addition and subtraction while an older child might be solving word problems involving fractions. Children of different ages and skill levels need different math workbooks. My kids would do math at the same time, but each child would be working on something else. I would sit at the table together with them, ready to help if anyone got stuck.
Writing can also be done at the same time, with each child working at their own level. A younger child can be practicing letter formation, an older child could be doing copy work, and an even older child could be doing written narration. Again, the parent would be nearby, to help out if necessary.
Group Activities for Different Skill Levels
However, even with skill-based learning, there are opportunities for group activities that children of different ages could appreciate. As with content-based learning, each child would get whatever is age appropriate for them out of the activity, but everyone would learn something.
For example, with copy work, children of different ages can be copying passages from the same book or story, but the older children would copy longer parts than the younger children.
With math, I am a big fan of manipulatives and hands on activities. For example, when learning about money, I would put a pile of coins on the table. The younger children would sort them and identify them. The older children would add and subtract them and practice making change. And then everyone could play store, with older children helping the younger ones.
There are many ways to make homeschooling multiple children of different ages work for your family. Don’t be afraid to use your creativity, think out of the box, and do whatever works for you. And don’t forget to enjoy those precious years and have fun!
For more on homeschool multiple children of different ages, check out this bundle.
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