| So you are a Mom or Dad who is sold on the | | | | comfortable with home schooling, but to enjoy |
| benefits, both present and future, of home | | | | and even cherish the experience, and to increase |
| schooling your child. You have weighed the | | | | the chances of the child's success. First and |
| options, the costs and the benefits and you have | | | | foremost, sit down with the child and explain that |
| decided on a course of action. Because you | | | | because you are the parent, and it is your |
| believe in your heart that it is the best thing you | | | | responsibility to do the best that you know how |
| can do, you have made the brave and | | | | in raising your children, and because you love him |
| commendable decision to home school your child. | | | | her so very much, you have carefully considered |
| But what if your child is not as enthusiastic about | | | | the options and have chosen home schooling as |
| the idea as you are? Many parents, especially | | | | the best one. |
| those who have decided to home school after | | | | Second, you can explain the short-term benefits |
| their child has been attending public or private | | | | of home schooling to the child. You can talk to |
| school for a number of years, find themselves | | | | him about working at his own pace, in the |
| encountering resistance from the child. Usually this | | | | comfort and security of his own home. You can |
| is due to the child feeling that he/she will "miss | | | | tell her about the field trips you will take, both |
| out" on the friendships and experiences in which | | | | alone and with other home schooled children and |
| the other children will be participating. What is a | | | | parents, that children in traditional school will not |
| parent to do in a circumstance like this? | | | | be able to do. You can explain about the fun |
| If you have definitely decided that your child will | | | | things to be studied and learned that children in |
| benefit more through home schooling, there is one | | | | traditional school will not be able to access. |
| thing you definitely should NOT do. You should not | | | | Then, you can talk to your child about the future, |
| give them the, "It is my way or the highway," | | | | and how you want your child to have absolutely |
| approach if you want your child truly benefit from | | | | the best life he/she possibly can have. And that |
| the home school experience. In other words, a | | | | you believe that home schooling will give your child |
| heavy handed, "We are doing it because I am the | | | | a definite head start on such a life. When your |
| parent and I said so," will simply further frustrate | | | | child sees and feels that what you are doing |
| the child who feels that something important is | | | | comes from a place of genuine love and caring |
| being taken away. | | | | for him, he will respond positively. Even if she |
| You should also not allow your child to railroad you | | | | does not come around right away, keep |
| into giving in to his/her way by throwing | | | | reinforcing these things, always from the |
| tantrums, acting out or other less than desirable | | | | standpoint of your love for her, and she will. |
| behaviors. In these circumstances, keep your cool | | | | Be firm, but not authoritarian. Be loving, but in |
| until the child has calmed down, and firmly | | | | control. And know that in the end, standing firm |
| reiterate that his/her bad behavior is not going to | | | | for what you believe in is one of the best life |
| change things. | | | | examples you can ever give your child. You have |
| This being said, there are several things a parent | | | | made the right decision. Congratulations! |
| can do that will help the child to not just feel | | | | |