The prospect of educating one’s children at home can be simultaneously thrilling and frightening. The truth is that in order to approach the possibility with confidence, a good deal of advance knowledge and information should be obtained. Continue reading the article that follows to get some great advice about how to avoid common homeschool pitfalls.
Kids have to socialize outside of school, especially in a homeschool environment. Play dates with local kids, family members or friends are key. Get out of the house with your kids and take them to the park so that they can play there with other kids, too. Allow your children to join various organizations, clubs and teams.
Even homeschooling teachers and students want to feel included. For that reason, you should both consider joining a homeschooling support group. Your student(s) will get to talk to other kids who understand the lifestyle and challenges of homeschooling. Likewise, you can get input, advice and general support from other parents that have already struggled with and succeeded at homeschooling.
Create your own flash cards. There is no need to waste money on expensive sets of flash cards when you can do it yourself. All you need to make your own are some index cards and a marker. Besides saving money, this technique also allows you to tailor the flash cards to your child’s specific needs.
Utilize local resources to find resources you need. You can find resources for homeschooling at garage sales, curriculum sales and even homeschool groups on sites like Yahoo and Craigslist. Don’t worry if they are gently used. A workbook with a few scribbled pages can still offer plenty of workable materials for class.
Use your imagination when homeschooling. You can either spend money on certain resources or make your own for much cheaper. Buy index cards instead of flash cards. If necessary, you can laminate them for more durability. Involve your children in the process to promote the learning experience.
In order to better educate your child, compare the benefits and detriments of homeschooling versus public schooling. Use the list to make sure your kids get what you wish they’d get from public schools. This list can help you figure out where to focus your attention. Hold on to it and reference it as often as you can.
Be patient with both, yourself and your child when you begin homeschooling. You will need time to settle into your routines and roles. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new approaches in order to best meet your child’s needs. Trial and error are the best way to determine what works for you and your child.
Harness the power of family by getting everyone involved in homeschooling. For example if someone in your family has been in a war, ask if they are willing to talk to your children about what the war meant to the country during that time. By letting others who have experienced something talk with your children, you will create lasting memories and life lessons.
If you have more than one child, know that they do not all have to be home schooled. While one of your children may benefit from learning at home, the others may benefit from going to school. You know your children and what needs they have, so use this knowledge to make your determination.
If you are homeschooling an older child and have preschoolers at home, consider finding some sort of child care for a few hours a day. Having your preschooler out of the house or otherwise occupied can help you to accomplish more with your older child. Even if you can only manage a couple of hours of care, you can get a lot accomplished in that time period. If budget constraints are an issue, consider trading off childcare with another homeschooling family that is in the same situation as you are.
Have fun! Even though schooling can be serious, you can still have fun doing it. You may find that there are times you need to be stern to get your children to focus and pay attention. You will find, though, that the more fun you can throw into learning, the more your kids will retain.
Find out if various museums offer discounts for homeschooling families. Many do, or they will let you take advantage of an educator’s discount. You can get a reduced-price or even free admission this way. They may also offer special programs for homeschooling families that you can sign your children up for.
Don’t attempt teaching every single subject each day. Instead, just teach a couple subjects per day, and only teach each subject two or three times per week. By doing this, your child will learn a lot more from each subject because you’ll be spending more time on them. It’s also easier on you because you don’t have to worry about cramming in multiple subjects. Finally, this prevents school from becoming too monotonous because each day, your child will be exposed to different subjects than they were the previous day.
Homeschooling should not cause your child to feel excluded. If you decide to home-school your child, plan on taking them to places where they can socialize with other children and make some friends. Make sure your child has a few close friends and is able to function in a group.
Have a quiet play area for toddlers in your classroom. If you have a younger child, you have to keep that child nearby while you teach. By setting up an area for him to play in, you can tend to your older child’s needs while keeping your younger child close and safe. In addition, your younger child just might learn a thing or two by listening to you teach.
