If there’s no repetition, it’s not a rhythm. Sounds obvious, I know. But I’ve been getting so many questions from parents lately about rhythm and repetition in Waldorf homeschooling.
And where we Moms tend to get hung up the most is in crafting and planning the perfect rhythm. Then if it doesn’t go well, we change it up for a seemingly better plan.
But if you don’t repeat the activities, you don’t have a rhythm.
If you change things around too often, you never get the benefits that rhythm can give you.
What are those benefits?
- Less decision fatigue
- Fewer power struggles with your children
- Happier children (and parents) because everyone knows what to expect
These are just a few. But in order to get these benefits, you have to stick with the plan long enough to create a rhythm.
The definition of rhythm is “a strong, regular, repeated pattern.” Think of music. If there’s no underlying rhythm, a song sounds and feels disjointed. And makes us feel uncomfortable, off-center.
Think of music. If there’s no underlying rhythm, a song sounds and feels disjointed. And makes us feel uncomfortable, off-center.
I find that summertime is a great time to establish a rhythm in our families. And here are the three areas I suggest you start with:
- Chores
- Mealtime
- Activities
If you’re visual like me, I have a Rhythm Board on Pinterest full of lots of ideas for chore charts for you to look at. Start simple so that you can have success. I also suggest you try any plan you come up with for at least a few weeks before reassessing and then only make a few small changes so that you give it enough time to stick.
Here’s a post with more details about rhythm: Rhythm is (Always) the Answer.
The following is an affiliate link. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. For meal planning, I use a great online tool called Plan to Eat.
You can read more about how I do my menu planning here: Super Simple Meal Planning.
And for activities, check out my post from last week for details: How to Create a Simple Summer Rhythm.
Creating a rhythm in these three areas will form a strong foundation for your home and help you better prepared for your homeschooling lessons.
Want help establishing a rhythm for your family? Book a Mentor Session with me so we can talk through your personal situation.