| When people consider teaching their children at | | | | of having one of the parents tied to the home on |
| home, without any structured curriculum, they | | | | a full time basis can deprive the family of an |
| may think that the home schooling costs will be | | | | extra wage packet. This can, of course have a |
| able to be kept down to a reasonable level. But | | | | substantial impact on the family's income. |
| this is not necessarily the case at all. If you try to | | | | Having a membership in a public library, various |
| ensure that your children get a state of the art | | | | outside activity classes and other cultural events |
| education so that they can compete on a level | | | | can also help in keeping the costs down. One idea |
| footing with regular school goers, the costs can | | | | is to barter expertise or services. For example, |
| skyrocket. In actual fact schooling a child at home | | | | the parent of a nine year old has dancing classes; |
| can turn out to be quite costly. | | | | her daughter gets drawing classes in return. |
| A computer, current textbooks, course materials, | | | | However much it costs, the devotees of home |
| all these things cost some amount of money, also | | | | schooling state that the benefits more than |
| there are extra costs for any tutors the parent | | | | outweigh the drawbacks. When you are in control |
| decides to bring in to teach subjects that they | | | | of what knowledge your child receives, and what |
| cannot teach themselves, such as science or | | | | subjects he or she should be taught and to what |
| higher level maths. These costs can be minimised | | | | level, it can give you loads of freedom and a lot |
| when several children are able to reuse the | | | | of power. The children and also the parents can |
| materials. | | | | benefit greatly from this mutually enriching |
| Another point to consider is that the requirement | | | | experience. |