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