| The decision to homeschool a child is never an | | | | their children are of preschool age, usually three |
| easy one. For most parents, there is always the | | | | or four years of age. |
| fear of whether or not they are qualified to | | | | Once again, a homeschooling program can begin |
| provide an education that is adequate enough to | | | | when children are of traditional school age, or it |
| help their children learn and succeed academically. | | | | can begin a few years before that. There is still |
| The evidence shows though that homeschooling a | | | | the possibility that a parent can begin to |
| child, if it is done properly, can often lead to some | | | | homeschool a child at an even earlier age. Some |
| amazing results, including higher test scores and | | | | parents in fact begin to provide basic |
| increased rates of graduation and college | | | | "school-based" skills for their children when they |
| admission. | | | | are literally babies. Keep in mind that instruction |
| Deciding to homeschool a child is one thing, but | | | | does not always have to be formal. When a |
| another question that parents often have to | | | | young child shows an interest in a particular object |
| answer is when to homeschool a child. Should | | | | or activity, it is in the parent and the child's best |
| homeschooling begin at a specific age or at a | | | | interest that it be nurtured. There is always time |
| specific time of the year? These are just two | | | | for formal education, but even the most basic |
| things that a parent has to consider once the | | | | education should not be ignored, regardless of the |
| decision to homeschool has been made. | | | | age of a child. |
| The best part of the answer to that question is | | | | When making the decision to begin a |
| that there is no true right answer. A | | | | homeschooling program, parents should consider |
| homeschooling program can and should be | | | | the cognitive or intellectual level of their child more |
| individualized to meet the needs and abilities of a | | | | than they do the age of the child. A child may be |
| child. Most parents, in an effort to maintain a | | | | young but academically ready to begin instruction, |
| specific pace, will probably choose to begin their | | | | while in other cases a child may appear to be |
| child's formal education at the same time and | | | | age-appropriate to begin instruction, but is |
| following the same pace as the education in a | | | | cognitively not ready to begin receiving instruction. |
| traditional school. This usually means that children | | | | As with any decision involving a homeschooling |
| begin their homeschooling education at around five | | | | program, parents have to take the time to |
| or six years of age. | | | | understand both their child's needs as well as their |
| Still, there is always the possibility that parents | | | | child's abilities before any major decisions are |
| can begin homeschooling their child at an earlier | | | | made. In the end, taking the time to consider the |
| age. Since a good portion of parents often enroll | | | | child as an individual can result in a much more |
| their children in a local preschool, it makes sense | | | | effective program than if a decision is made |
| that homeschooling parents can also begin | | | | based simply on the age of a child. |
| providing at least the most basic instruction when | | | | |