Daily Rhythm for Homeschool Moms

A daily rhythm is a guideline for the flow of your homeschool day. Having a rhythm removes the stress of time and allows for interruptions.

Pancakes cooking for breakfast as an anchor for a daily rhythm in front of three kids. — Peanut butter banana pancakes cooking for breakfast, an anchor for our day.

When our homeschool journey first began, I struggled to find a schedule that worked. My kindergartener could not stay focused for very long and got frustrated easily. We were new to homeschooling and still figuring out a flow that worked for both of us. One that allowed for schoolwork and housework to be taken care of, and still allow for lots of free play. Another reason was because I had a 4-month-old whose sleep and eating habits were constantly changing.

I also started to realize that even though I typically love to have a plan, as a homeschool mom, I like to be more spontaneous. I like waking up in the morning and being able to go on a hike if the weather turns out beautiful. Or heading to the library last minute on a rainy day. I don’t like to be tied down to a schedule.

Why Homeschool Moms Should Consider A Daily Rhythm

Having a daily rhythm in place instead of a timed schedule is a huge stress reliever. I don’t know about you, but when I have something scheduled at a specific time, it feels rushed and chaotic to get there in time or complete it in time. With four kids who can be moody, emotional, whiny, clingy, argumentative, messy, you name it, there are so many interruptions! Not to mention all of the bathroom trips and snack breaks.

timer set up in front of a woven basket with greenery and a metal tower

If I were to schedule for us to begin our school at 9:00 am each day, but then most days we didn’t start until 9:30 or 10:00, the rest of the scheduled day is completely thrown off. By following a daily rhythm, I know the order that I want things to happen in our day. But there are no assigned times.

No times written down means I do not stress out if we do not pull out any books until 10:00. I can let my kids sleep in instead of feeling the urge to wake them for us to begin “on time”. Homeschool provides a freedom for our kids that allows them to not feel the same pressures as kids who attend school. Young kids do not need the pressures of getting ready so they don’t miss the bus or get a tardy slip.

How to Create a Daily Rhythm as a Homeschool Mom

When you create a daily rhythm, the first thing to consider is the anchors for your day. Most often, this is a mealtime. Then, consider tasks you would like to complete between your anchors. For example, between breakfast and lunch, what do you plan to complete? Make sure to keep the number of tasks realistic. If you stuff it too full, you will get frustrated not being able to complete all of the tasks every day. You will feel much better, and might I add like you are rocking homeschool mom life, if you finish everything and are able to sneak in a little extra.

daily rhythm graphic laid on a wooden surface next to greenery and a book

When our homeschool journey first began, I only had to complete work with a kindergartener. She and I completed all of the necessary schoolwork in the mornings and had the rest of the day free to play. As a 1st grader, we had more extracurricular activities on our plate, so all of the schoolwork did not get completed in the mornings. Because she is always the first one to be done eating at mealtime, I decided to pull out her language arts after meals and knock out a lesson.

Now, in our third year of homeschooling, I have a 2nd grader, kindergartener, and preschooler. We are no longer able to complete everything in the morning because I like to allow time for free play. I love the freedom that homeschool gives our family. The freedom to choose how we spend our time. The freedom to give my children unlimited time for free play, something that is sorely lacking in the public school system.

Changes in Daily Rhythm

All of this to say, that with each season comes a new daily rhythm. Your daily rhythm will change often when you have an infant whose naps and feeding schedule are constantly changing. When you add on field trips, sports, music lessons, your daily rhythm will change. As you add more children into the homeschool day, your daily rhythm will change. But that is what is so great about having a rhythm. It is much easier to update and go with the flow than a timed schedule.

As you create your daily rhythm, think about your anchors for the day and what you want to fit between them. Consider your homeschool priorities and design your daily rhythm around them. Enter your email below to receive a blank daily rhythm chart sent straight to your inbox!

Take a look at our daily rhythm below for inspiration. You will see that the two main priorities in our homeschool life are getting outside and reading often.

If you are struggling with this concept, I would love to help you come up with a daily rhythm that works for your family! Let me know in the COMMENTS if you have any questions or concerns.

A Glimpse At Our Current Daily Rhythm

Currently, I have a 2nd grader (8), kindergartener (6), preschooler (4), and a 2-year-old to keep entertained. I like to start the day by waking up early so I can get in a workout, read my Bible, and journal until the kids wake up. On mornings when we have somewhere to be, the daily rhythm isn’t followed exactly. But when we get back home, we jump right back into the rest of the rhythm for the day.

Daily Rhythm

Breakfast & Bible – – While the kids eat breakfast, I read a short devotional, a passage from the Bible, and a page or two out of a nature book. Meals are a great time to read aloud because the kids are able to focus more easily on listening.
Math or Language Arts – – After breakfast, we all get ready for the day and then start core studies. If the weather is nice, we always opt to take everything outside. TIP: We do not complete both math and language arts in one sitting because my kids struggle to transition from one subject to the next. Instead, we focus on one subject each day and complete two lessons in it. The next day, we complete two lessons in the other core subject. Try it out if you notice your kids struggling with the subject change too.
Lunch & Read Aloud – – About midday, we take a lunch break and I read aloud. To be honest, we sneak in read aloud time whenever we get the chance. Another great way to get in some read aloud time is to put an audiobook on in the car.
Quiet Time – – Every day after lunch, my 2-year-old takes a nap, and my older three kids have quiet time. They grab a few books and open-ended toys, and head into their rooms for two hours.
Outside & Loop Studies – – After quiet time, we grab snacks and head outside again (weather permitting). Afternoon is when we focus on our loop studies. Things like science, history, geography, nature studies, art, etc. Then it’s free play until dinner.
Dinner & Bed – – Dinner is at about 6:30 pm, and then it’s time to clean up and get ready for bed. Most nights, we will read a few picture books before bed at 8:00 pm.

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Grab the items I used to hang up my daily rhythm chart.