Resources for Students

For Students Experiencing Crisis-Schooling

Schools closing down is hard for everyone, but especially for students whose home life isn’t always safe. If you or someone you know is sheltering-in-place in an unsafe home, know first and foremost that none of what is happening is your fault.

This is a scary time for everyone and a lot of things are uncertain. It’s reasonable to be worried about how this is going to impact your future goals and plans. No one has answers yet, but we are all in the same boat trying to do the best we can with what we have and what we know.

Whether you’re worried about keeping your grades up or surviving at home, at CRHE we’re here for you.

If You’re Worried About Falling Behind

Your teachers should be sending you materials to stay on the same page with your classmates, but if that isn’t working for you or if you are worried about falling behind, start by deciding what to focus on.
Do you need to work on math, or reading, or coding? Good news! There are lots of free websites that you can use to stay caught-up on your school subjects, these are just a few:

Math: Khan Academy

Science: SciShow (YouTube)

History: Crash Course (YouTube)

Check these pages for more educational websites:

If You Don’t Feel Safe at Home

(If you need to make a quick escape, click here or click the exit icon on the bottom right of the screen for puppies)

You deserve a loving and safe home, always. You deserve safety, even when the situation is hard or the people who should be your caretakers are unable to keep you safe. We asked social workers, therapists, and homeschool alumni for tips on getting through this hard time.

Remember that this is not your fault.

Keep in contact with school friends, teachers, and mentors. If you trust them, let them know that you’re unhappy at home. Ask them to check in if they don’t hear from you for a while, in case your parents cut you off from the outside world. Find out if you can quarantine with a trusted friend instead of at home.

Spend time by yourself in whatever safe space you can (your room, the backyard, etc). Often, controlling parents will forget about a child once they’re out of sight.

In this safe space, focus on fun hobbies like reading, crafts, writing in a diary, writing letters to a friend, drawing, taking long walks outside, and so on. Find new hobbies to invest your time in, or pick up old ones.

Find ways to express your thoughts and emotions. Writing, art, and music are wonderful ways to let them out. If you are worried about your parents finding and reading what you’ve written, find a safe place to hide it, or write down your feelings and then destroy the page.

If you miss structure and routine, try to create a routine for yourself. This doesn’t mean every minute of your day needs to be planned, but a morning routine or bedtime routine can give your day more consistency.

This is a great time to set new goals, experiment with deepening the skills you already have, or try out new skills. You might try cooking new recipes, learning music, making art, and writing short stories.

Exercise can be a fabulous way of caring for yourself and managing anxiety. You don’t need to be athletic to work out! You can create your own personal exercise routine based on your own strengths and fitness goals. Good exercise ideas include a daily walk, stretching for fifteen minutes, a yoga routine, or doing a certain number of push ups and jumping jacks every day. If you exercise every day, your challenges will get easier over time.

If you can safely get on the internet, spend time interacting with friends. You can also search for online message boards to talk to others with similar interests as you.

If you have older siblings you trust who have already left home, try to get in touch with them.

In a crisis, you can call the domestic violence or child abuse hotlines for your country or area. Scarleteen has a collection of resources you can use to find services near you or someone to talk with confidentially.

Remember that this situation will not last forever. By looking ahead, you can keep moving forward.

You are not alone, and there is hope. Many homeschooled students and alumni have survived unsafe home environments. It is hard, but it does get better.

More Resources for taking care of yourself in hard situations:

For Students Experiencing Crisis-Schooling

If You’re Worried About Falling Behind

Check these pages for more educational websites:

If You Don’t Feel Safe at Home

More Resources for taking care of yourself in hard situations:

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