| Educating a child is a very big responsibility and is | | | | subject. A home tutor can charge approximately |
| expensive too. Often people think that | | | | $300 per subject. |
| homeschooling is inexpensive, but it need not be | | | | However, before parents get discouraged with |
| so. No doubt, homeschooling is cheaper than elite | | | | the idea of homeschooling by checking out the |
| private schooling, but it can be as or even more | | | | long lists of costs involved, they should know the |
| expensive than a public school. There are other | | | | fact that there are ways to reduce the |
| reasons as well for parents homeschooling their | | | | homeschooling costs. One of the ways is to |
| child like inculcating cultural/religious beliefs. | | | | become a member of support groups for |
| If you dont have prior homeschooling experience | | | | homeschooling families. Joining a group will allow |
| or a teaching background, then it becomes | | | | you to swap books, curriculum, or any other |
| imperative that you first subscribe to an | | | | reference materials. Thus saving you from the |
| independent study program or buy an in-built | | | | need to buy an entire set of homeschooling |
| readymade curriculum suited to you and your | | | | resources. The best part in joining a group is that |
| childs aptitude levels. These may prove | | | | it gives your child an opportunity to interact with |
| expensive, but in the long run they will make your | | | | other children who are homeschooled by their |
| attempt at homeschooling a success by removing | | | | parents. Try and find out the public or local private |
| the trial-and-error process. | | | | schools, which give access to some of its |
| However, that is not the end of it. Parents have | | | | educational resources to the home schoolers at a |
| to supplement the curriculum with textbooks and | | | | discounted rate or for free. They even offer a |
| workbooks. Additionally reference materials are | | | | stipend for activities like music or sports lessons. |
| also needed like an encyclopedia CD-ROM and | | | | For parents who have more than one child to be |
| Internet access to supplement the main | | | | homeschooled, can use the same curricula and |
| resources. | | | | books for all the children. This will help to reduce |
| A homeschool should have a proper study | | | | the cost greatly. The materials can be renewed |
| environment to help children concentrate more on | | | | as well for a very nominal cost rather than buying. |
| their studies. Study room infrastructure includes a | | | | Visit the local library as often as you can, that will |
| proper study table, a comfortable chair and | | | | not only give you an access to the text and |
| adequate along with a computer to have positive | | | | work books but also new edition textbooks, which |
| results in the childs attitude for learning. Plus, to | | | | are otherwise very expensive, if bought. Also |
| provide a well-rounded education for your child, | | | | keep on visiting yard sales, book sales and fairs or |
| parents need to include extra-curricular activities | | | | swap meets, where you can get homeschooling |
| as well like sports; music etc and also plan | | | | resources and study room infrastructure at a |
| educational trips to museums, theaters and nature | | | | fraction of cost of buying them. |
| parks and all this will cost a substantial amount of | | | | Always remember that spending money on |
| money. | | | | education is an investment and not an expense. If |
| It is not likely that parents are experts in every | | | | managed properly, homeschooling can give your |
| subject. In such a case, a home tutor would have | | | | children a unique educational experience that will |
| to be engaged, in order to teach a particular | | | | last for a lifetime. |