| In today's fast-paced, understaffed and sometimes | | | | being home-schooled? Some children are fully aware |
| dangerous public school environments, it is a heavy | | | | that in a short while they will be old enough to attend |
| burden for parents to decide where to send their | | | | school, and they simply can not wait! Others are |
| child to be educated. Socialization has such a large | | | | more sensitive, less sociable and less aware that is |
| impact on children, and the wrong environment can | | | | what children their age are doing. As best you can, |
| set them up for a life of problems: Not to mention | | | | have several discussions with your child to determine |
| worrying about whether your child will be given the | | | | how they feel, and if they seem pleased to learn at |
| attention and direction they crave. It is for this | | | | home with mommy or daddy then you can begin. |
| reason so many parents are deciding Homeschooling | | | | Each state has its own level of control over children |
| is the best option. | | | | undergoing homeschooling. There can be either no |
| Every family provides a certain amount of | | | | regulations, low, moderate or high regulations: As the |
| homeschooling, teaching children many life lessons and | | | | name suggests, each state exerts rules in relation to |
| educating in different areas. Choosing to homeschool | | | | exam and test results, hours of study and evaluation, |
| your children full time is a wonderful experience for | | | | and high regulation states are extremely difficult to |
| any parent, as well as an opportunity for your child | | | | home school in. States with no regulations don't even |
| to be steps ahead of others their age. This is | | | | require you to notify education departments or |
| because one on one teaching means more | | | | government authorities that your children won't be |
| information can be learned in less time, where as in | | | | attending regular school, and low usually requires |
| school, children are absorbed in classes of forty or | | | | notification only with no monitoring of competencies |
| more. | | | | for students. |
| Not only are homeschool parents responsible for their | | | | In preparing for homeschooling your child, you will |
| child's academic education, but they also have to | | | | need to gather materials such as books, lesson |
| ensure their child has plenty of opportunities to | | | | guides and plans, movies and other activities. The |
| interact with others their age. Sports, having friends | | | | best thing you can do is work out whether your child |
| over and vice-versa, telephone conversations and | | | | learns more easily through looking, listening or hands |
| social outings should all be regular parts of their | | | | on processes and design your lessons around that. |
| weekly curriculum. | | | | The best resources are the library and websites |
| Some parents prefer to homeschool their children up | | | | designed specifically for homeschooling parents, and |
| to a certain age, feeling it better prepares them for | | | | second hand shopping at flea markets or charity |
| mingling with other children and contributes to the | | | | stores will often lead you to some excellent text |
| development of a stronger identity earlier in life. For | | | | books at very low costs. There are also |
| example, you may opt for homeschooling until your | | | | pre-packaged home schooling courses available for |
| child is ten years old, then upon discussion with them, | | | | extra guidance. It is a wonderful idea to try and |
| enroll them in school. By this time, you have had | | | | incorporate the local environment whenever you can: |
| many talks with them about subjects such as peer | | | | for example, when learning about water, spend a day |
| pressure, bullying, choosing friends, respecting | | | | visiting different types of water in the local area. |
| authority and getting the most out of their education. | | | | Educational outings are a great way to ingrain |
| Of course, every child is different and many parents | | | | knowledge through all the senses, so research ahead |
| like to gauge from the child when they are ready to | | | | of time where you can possibly take your child for |
| attend. Most children will reach a point where they | | | | some real life examples that relate to what they are |
| start to ask why they don't go to school like other | | | | learning. |
| children. For this reason it is also a great idea to | | | | There are some common mistakes made by parents |
| socialize with other parents who homeschool so your | | | | homeschooling their children, and being aware of |
| children don't feel like they are the only ones. | | | | them is all it takes to avoid them. Be sure to make |
| Ignoring all external factors, you need to seriously | | | | your child reach beyond their current knowledge, as |
| consider if you are the right type of parent to | | | | far too many parents don't express any expectations |
| homeschool your child. You have to be very honest | | | | and fail to motivate the child to do better. Be |
| with yourself because it isn't for everyone. Ultimately | | | | sensitive to the way they learn instead of teaching |
| your main reason has to be that you will thoroughly | | | | the way you find it easiest to learn, and don't give |
| enjoy interacting, teaching and learning from and with | | | | the child control over the schedule. Make sure the |
| your child, growing closer and getting to know each | | | | class plan is clearly established, stating upfront how |
| other better. Other questions to ask include: | | | | long you will spend on each subject and enforce rules |
| I. Are you a patient person? | | | | in the "classroom" relating to being tidy, raising their |
| II. Do you possess excellent communication skills? | | | | hands with a question, break times and |
| III. Do you multi-task with ease? | | | | consequences for their actions, good or not so good. |
| IV. Are you naturally organized? | | | | When you are sure this is the avenue you want to |
| V. Can you give constructive criticism and correct | | | | take, you should subscribe to some good |
| mistakes with your child? | | | | homeschooling websites or newsletters such as |
| VI. Are you naturally creative? | | | | Homeschool Success News. There are programs to |
| VII. Can the family survive on one income? | | | | aid parents in teaching at home, chat rooms and |
| If your answer is yes to all but one or two, and they | | | | other networking mediums for parents to compare |
| are areas you're aware you need to work on, you | | | | and learn from each others ideas and experiences. |
| may still like to give home schooling a try on a trial | | | | Homeschooling is an opportunity for parent and child |
| basis: If you answer yes to all of them, | | | | to bond deeply in a safe and controlled environment, |
| homeschooling is definitely suitable for you. The next | | | | and they are years you will treasure in your memory |
| thing to look at is how does your child feel about | | | | forever. |