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Guilford Christian Academy is a private school that allows the students to be taught in their own homes by the parents.

Trisha White

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Stop Worrying, Start Planning

Guilford Christian Academy assists parents and their children in furthering their education by
providing them a means by which to homeschool in a legal manner. Contact us today to learn
more! 207-717-7619

Photo Credit: Rizki Koto via Pexels

Stop Worrying, Start Planning: Budget-Friendly Family Vacations
Taking a family vacation is a great way to relax, have fun, and, as ParentCircle points out, bond
as a family. It’s especially important as part of making time for yourself if you’re self-employed.
It’s easy to get sucked into work seven days per week, but it’s important to make time for

yourself and with your loved ones. But planning the vacation can be stressful. First, you have to
get everyone to agree on where they want to go. Then, there’s finding accommodations, flights,
cars, and everything else. Then, you need to make the final purchase for the whole shebang.
And we’re not even going to get started on the hours you will spend in a car (or on a plane)
together. 
Let’s be honest: vacations can be expensive. And for bigger families, the cost may make these
vacations feel out of reach. Thankfully, there are many ways to cut costs and take a fun (and
budget-friendly) vacation. Here’s how, presented by Guilford Christian Academy.
Plan Early
Want to get away this weekend? It’s probably not the best option for your pocketbook. When it
comes to booking hotel rooms, flights, or rental cars, the further in advance you book, the better.
According to a recent study, the best time to book a flight is between 115 and 21 days before
takeoff. CheapAir says that this will get you fares within 5 percent of their lowest points. The day
of the week you take off is equally as important. According to CheapAir, Tuesday is the
cheapest day to take a flight, while Sunday will cost you more. 
Plan Safe
The point of a vacation is to get away and recharge—meaning the last thing you want is to run
into hardships that ruin the trip and leave you stranded. That’s especially true if you’re traveling
abroad. It’s a good idea to plan ahead in the event that your wallet gets lost or stolen by
registering with a remittance company. That way, if you’re enjoying the scenic beauty of the
Dominican Republic and drop your wallet while strolling along the beaches of Las Galeras and
admiring the palm trees, loved ones can still securely send you money to get home.
Look at Options Nearby
You don’t have to fly across the country to have a great time, as there are probably many fun
activities nearby. By choosing a destination that you can drive to, you will save a ton on airfare.
This will make it easier when your kids ask to do something more expensive on your trip.
Are you worried about spending hours in the car with your kids? Don’t forget to bring along
something to keep them entertained. Load a Kindle with a few books or bring along their favorite
video game system. Just make sure each kid has their own. Hearing your kids fight over their
devices is not the way you want to start your vacation. 
Shop for Deals
Want to have a great experience without going broke? Shop for deals. When it comes to flights
and accommodations, budget sites like Hotwire, Expedia, and Orbitz can help you find the best

prices. Google Flights is great for tracking flight prices and comparing fares at neighboring
airports. However, don’t stop at finding deals on your flight. You can save on your entertainment
as well. Look for Groupon deals for activities in your desired destination. Another option is to
join a local Facebook group for deals in the area you will be traveling to. The locals can give you
insight into the best places to go and save.
Planning a trip to Orlando? You can also find discounts on tickets to fun-filled theme parks like
Disney World. For example, Mouse Life Today can help you find Disney deals, as well as deals
on their rewards program.
Enjoy Free Entertainment
They say the best things in life are free. When it comes to family vacations, the most important
part is the experience. And there are many things that you can do as a family that don’t cost a
dime. Check out the local parks, visit historical sites, or take a trip to the library. 
This applies to entertainment too. For example, instead of going to an expensive movie at the
end of the day, head back to your room and watch a movie together as a family. A portable TV
stick device easily plugs into a television/computer, and they aren’t expensive to purchase.
Research different devices and find the one that’s right for your family. Don’t forget the
chargers—if you’re planning to use devices while you’re driving, you want to be able to plug in
and recharge before you can reach your destination.
Contrary to what you’ve heard, budget-friendly vacations are not a myth. They are 100 percent
possible. They may take a little extra planning, but once you discover how affordable vacations
can actually be, you’ll be ready to take them more often.

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Encouraging Self-Care in Children

Encouraging Self-Care In Children

We don’t often think about self-care. After all, we are busy with our homes, our children, and our other responsibilities. However, as parents, it is up to us to encourage our children to take care of themselves from a young age so that they don’t suffer from burnout and exhaustion into adulthood.

Here are a few ways to do just that.

Let them be involved in their education.

Many children feel overwhelmed with public education. They may be thrust into a situation where they are uncomfortable, and their educators are often spread thin. Talk to your children about what type of academic environment they feel would be best for them. Guilford Christian Academy is an excellent option for students wishing to put God first while working from home under the guidance of their parents.

Make them number one, even when you’re overwhelmed.

Children hold onto some memories for a lifetime. Simple things, such as putting them to bed each night, teaching them how to mow the lawn, cooking together, or visiting museums, will be embedded into their brains forever. Make sure that you make time for these things, even when you’re busy. Create a plan that ensures that you are free when your little ones need you the most.

Showcase self-care by taking care of yourself.

It’s one thing to tell the kids they have to take care of themselves, but the most valuable lessons learned come from watching you. Make sure that you’re taking care of yourself because your children know if you are not. From spending time with your friends to taking time out of work to enjoy the sunshine, every action you take that benefits your physical and mental health will model healthy adult habits.

Offer opportunities for sports.

When your children are homeschooled, you may think that extracurricular activities are in scarce supply. Nothing could be further from the truth, and there are many civic leagues and community programs available throughout the country. Ensure that your children have chances to engage in sports, which the Aspen Institute’s Project Play explains has many physical, educational, and emotional advantages.

Allow them a creative outlet.

Creativity is the key that allows children to unlock their imaginations. Make sure they have plenty of mediums, including paints, clays, glue, paper, and drawing pens so that everything that’s in their head has an opportunity to make it out into the real world. You can also encourage them to use art as a way to express their emotions and describe “big feelings” that they may not fully understand.

Set a sleep schedule.

Texas Children’s Hospital notes that children need varying amounts of sleep depending on age. The average 11-year-old, for example, should be given around 10 hours each night. Set a healthy sleep schedule that gives your little ones time to wind down and fall asleep before they have to rise the next morning.

Pray together.

Prayer time gives your little ones intimate moments that they can grow their personal relationship with God. Pray together by offering words of worship or gratitude for the things you have in life. You might also pray for the well-being of your children’s friends or adults in the community with whom they interact.

Self-care does not look the same for every family. But, one thing is consistent, and that is that you, as a parent, must model healthy behaviors. From ensuring that your children know that they are your priority to spending a few simple moments in prayer together, the things you do with, for, and in the sight of your children helps them lay a solid foundation for their own future and adulthood.

Guilford Christian Academy was established in 2001 by James and Patricia White and now serves students in both primary and secondary education.

Image via Pexels

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*Tips for Parents on Making the Most of Your Children’s Time at Home

Tips for Parents on Making the Most
of Your Children’s Time at Home

The widespread school closures to help slow the spread of COVID-19 left many parents scrambling to figure out how to take care of their school-age children while simultaneously working from home. Many also have concerns about their children’s safety, especially if they are still working outside of the home. 

Are you and your children still feeling overwhelmed about all of these major changes? Those emotions are perfectly normal. But don’t despair — it’s possible to make the best of this unprecedented situation. Guilford Christian Academy wants to help your family grow and thrive. These resources will help you take measures to keep your children safe while ensuring they continue learning during their time at home.  

Many families are homeschooling these days; if yours is one, these tips can help. 

Do some kid-friendly container gardening projects. 

Future meteorologists will enjoy watching storms roll in right in your backyard.

Fitness is important for all ages, and some indoor exercises help kids blow off steam.

Maximize the moments when reading to your kids.

Encourage them to read with their own age-appropriate ereader.

Kids love electronics, so don’t overlook the value of well-chosen video games.

The right screen makes a difference in both enjoyment and eye strain.

Encourage them to learn life skills like cooking. 

Keep things lively with a subscription to a kid-friendly cooking club.

The kitchen can be a danger zone for kids without proper precautions.

Do some childproofing throughout your home.

Sewing is another great life skill, just teach kids how to stay safe.

Teach your kids about calling 911.

Right now, parents feel like they’re wearing several hats at once. Taking care of your children while keeping up with your professional responsibilities isn’t easy. Within these resources, you’ll find plenty of suggestions for creating a safe environment at home and ensuring that your children’s education continues. 

Guilford Christian Academy is a private school especially for homeschooling families—the best of both worlds. Call 207-717-7619 for more information!

Photo via Pexels

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*Test or not to test.

TestShould I test my child each year?

This question has come up many times over the past 15 years. It is really an individual thing. It is not mandated for homeschooler in Maine but some use a standardized test for their form of annual assessment.

We had our children take a standardized test once during our entire time of homeschooling. When it got towards the end of their schooling we had them take a standardized test just to see if they were, at the very least, at the standard. We always shot for more than the standard, which was not very hard.

A test can serve a purpose at times.

We did not specifically teach for the test but there were some tests taken through out the years of schooling to be sure that the student understood the material, math especially had a test or two. However, everything else was mostly monitored by verbalizing with our children on what they were learning. We did not use tons of textbooks but let life be our academics. The essence of homeschooling is to be able to choose your methods, style, and materials as well as provide the best environment for your child, that can be different for everyone.

If you do choose to give your child a standardized test you can find them at Seton or Christian Liberty Press Testing Services. These CAT tests do not need to be administered by a certified teacher, they can be done at home with the parents or at a testing location. The cover reading, language, and math. (We found our students did better if they were testing with other students, the times were monitored and they were not easily distracted by things at home. ) There is also another option offered by Bob Jones University that has to be administered by a certified  teacher. Both options are great, it really depends on your needs and costs.

Guilford Christian Academy is offering testing at their location in Dover-Foxcroft on June 6th from 10-1 pm.

If you have a student that you would like to participate in this testing session please contact us so we can put them on the list. We have limited space and it will be first come first served. We can put you on a waiting list if people cancel.

The cost for the administered test and the mailings back and forth is $50 per student. Payment must be received on or before May 30th.

Photo Credit – Rachel D.

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*To the Defeated Homeschool Mama.

For the 14 years that I have been encouraging and strengthening homeschoolers in Maine, one topic always seems to come up many times in a year.

Thoughts “where you assess yourself at the end of the year, and you feel pretty small and as though you just can’t quite do and be enough. Where your shortcomings in regards to schooling your kids at home are leaving you feeling defeated.” (actual quote homeschooling mom)

Defeated

My reply is “From what I can see you are doing an awesome job. I have done the same thing and now that my children are all moving on into the adult world, they have strength and confidence that I never had! Do they make all the perfect choices? NO, unfortunately, but they are level headed, use common sense, have great jobs and are complimented often about their work ethics and I now know that I have done a pretty good job, Jim and I both, even with all our short comings. God is good all the time, even when we beat our self up, he is lifting us up. Please know that your children are going to get much more out of being home educated than you may see in your lifetime. It is a hard and demanding, draining, emotional, rewarding, and tiring job but it is such a blessing to be able to be with your children everyday all day and to walk with them through the tough times, teaching them how to react to situations, not only by talking to them about things but by how we handle things. I commend you for the great job you are doing.”

As the conversation went on the Mom comes to the reality that – “I think a lot of home schooling parents let their guard down and quit because it’s the easier option than struggling with the guilt of their own imperfections, or even worse, from listening to the societal lie that we just aren’t doing right by our children.” “…especially as our children get older and are on the cusp of their schooling years coming to an end. It’s terrible. Sometimes I lay awake with insomnia at night wondering if I’m doing right by them!”

Why are we so hard on our selves?

Our middle child is at boot camp right now, we couldn’t be more proud of him. He had a rough two 11692786_851590198229371_8536860830521206588_nyears and has come back to what he knows is right. We just got a letter from him, (he was never a writer so we are always excited to get one) he thanked Jim for teaching him to never give up. That is what it is about. Too many just give up because it is too hard or we have to go with out or …. you can always come up with a reason to not do something. 

So when the day is done and the homeschooling is completed you will have done the best for your children. We may not do it perfectly but no one is perfect. They will have fond memories of their mom or dad being there for them everyday of their childhood. It may take them a while to appreciate the sacrifice that you have given for them, but, it will come.

As I am preparing Guilford Christian Academy for another year of helping families to home educate I reflect on all the lives we have been part of. The fond memories I have of graduations, field trips, events, and just great conversations are all coming back to me. I love each and everyone of these families and I am so thankful for the Lord leading me to do this job he has for me.

Are you interested in homeschooling and would like to know the way to get started, the options you have, the resources that are available? Give me a call, stop into the office or send me an email. I would love to talk with you. If you are too far away we can always Skype as well, for a face to face discussion.

Happy Homeschooling!

Visit my blog on the Bangor Daily News at The Homeschool Hub.

*Photo credit Rachael Darrah and Kimberly Whitton