Homeschooling isn’t something new. Many parents have chosen to take this route for their kids’ education long in the past. In recent times, however, homeschooling has skyrocketed in popularity and has become the first choice of parents. As the world still scrambles on to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, and with the positive benefits of homeschooling beyond just keeping kids safe at home, it’s not surprising why many parents are considering this option.
Homeschooling isn’t an easy way out of your kids’ academic requirements. Taking on this responsibility and creating a productive homeschooling area at home is also often daunting. It takes a lot of preparation to put yourself in a good position, ready for the first day of classes.
With that said, here are five things to keep in mind if you’re considering homeschooling for your children:
- Availability Of Support
Homeschooling is difficult, especially if you have to do it all by yourself. Especially for moms, you’re going to need all the support you can get. Early on, once you’ve made the decision to homeschool, it also pays to make yourself present in homeschool moms support groups. Or if you have other mom friends who have decided to homeschool their children, create a group message with all of you in it, so you can communicate and share your thoughts and ideas.
Emotional support from others going through the same process as you can help you, especially during the days when the load of homeschooling can be emotionally and mentally draining for moms. If you have friends who have homeschooled their children before you have, they can also be your best resource to ask for tips and advice, whenever needed.
You need a lot of online resources you can use to guide you through this journey, starting with FAQ Dogs, to help you decide on which homeschooling curriculum is right for your children.
- Motivation For Homeschooling
Different families will have their own reasons for homeschooling. Some parents have other reasons like their kids’ special needs, lack of physical schools in their area, and even the lack of a flexible schedule, among others.
When you decide to homeschool, keep in mind what your motivation is. This will keep you going, particularly during the times when homeschooling starts to become challenging. Most importantly, while you won’t have to justify your decision to other non-homeschooling families, it pays to have a valid reason to your own children, especially for older kids who may prefer traditional schooling where they can socialize. You wouldn’t want your children to feel you may have been controlling them or depriving them of the socialization they need.
- Schedule
Homeschooling isn’t necessarily feasible for all families, especially when you start to factor in your schedule. For instance, if you and your spouse are working full-time jobs, then none of you would be available to homeschool your kids. Moreover, this situation presents the added need to have a tutor take care of your kids’ homeschooling needs. If this ends up more expensive than traditional schooling, you may just as well enroll your kids in a school.
Only start with homeschooling when you’re absolutely certain this is something your whole family can commit to for the entire school year.
- Children’s Learning Styles And Needs
Every child has their respective learning style and needs. Some will thrive when they’re homeschooled, as you may have noticed them having a hard time settling with other kids in the classroom. But there are also those who do better when they’re in the company of other learners their age.
Be sure you don’t just consider how homeschooling will be for you as the parents, but also for your kids as the learners. If your child’s learning style doesn’t match the requirements of homeschooling, no matter how much you make homeschooling comfortable and fun, your kids will detest it. It’ll be a lot more challenging to homeschool when your kids detest and don’t cooperate.
- Be Ready For Changes
Homeschooling comes with a lot of flexibility, so you should also be pliant and flexible enough to keep up with any needed changes. Remember one of your main reasons for pulling your kids out of traditional schooling, so don’t even try to keep your kids glued to their desks the entire time, as they would at school. You have to be flexible to changes and keep homeschooling fun.
You can be flexible by setting up different learning areas in your home, especially when you notice your child desperately needing a breather. Furthermore, places like museums and zoos provide valuable hands-on learning opportunities for your kids.
Key Takeaway
Homeschooling isn’t for everybody or for every type of household and child. Families have their respective needs and preferences for their kids. And different children also have specific learning needs. If you’ve considered starting homeschooling, however, be mindful of the factors discussed here.
Homeschooling may be challenging, but the days don’t always have to be difficult. Just enjoy the process, enjoy having your children at home, and enjoy being their main teacher. Homeschooling can be a gratifying feeling, and soon enough, you may even wonder why you didn’t start homeschooling sooner.
