Despite the fact that Homeschooling is now legal in every state, the decision to homeschool is not one that you should make lightly. Detailed research and discussion will be required if you are to make the correct decision. So, how do you know whether or not homeschooling is right for your children?
Here are 6 questions to ask yourself if you are considering homeschooling as an option for your children.
1. Would I be happy spending virtually all of my day with my children?
One of the main reasons for selecting homeschooling is frequently that people love their children and want whatever is thought to be best for them. Aditionally, they actually do enjoy spending time in the company of their children, which is a good thing as you will be spending almost all of your time with them. If you find that your children aggrevate you quite easily then homeschooling may not be a good match for you.
2. Will I be worried by questions?
Homeschooling parents are usually confronted with a lot of questions about things like which curriculum they are following and concerning the affect that homeschooling has on their childrens’ development of sound social skills. If you opt to homeschool your children then it certainly helps if you do not object to answering the same questions more than once.
3. Where can I go to find out everything I need to know about homeschooling?
Start by checking out the books at your public library where there is more than likely a very good selection of books which will tell you everything you need to know. The staff at the library may even be able to tell you if there are any homeschoolers in the area, because most homeschooling parents rely heavily upon the library for source materials.
4. Is there a support system available?
Locating a support network of other homeschooling parents is very important and is frequently be achieved by doing an internet search for ‘homeschool groups in (your state)’ or ‘homeschooling groups in (your state)’. Homeschooling co-ops are available in many cities as well as plenty opportunities for families to team up and have some fun.
5. What if I have other questions?
Once you have found a number of families that are already homeschooling you ought to ask them about the pros and cons of homeschooling. Nearly all people will be frank about their reasons for choosing homeschooling and will be more than happy to share their experience and help you make an informed decision. Ask them what types of difficulties they ran into when starting out and about things like how you should go about deciding on a curriculum and whether you should be worried about socialization for your children.
6. Which curriculum do I pick?
The choices of curriculum available are wide in both variety and often in the price you will have to pay. Although it is possible to have a ‘school at home’ by going for books that are very similar to those used in the public schools, you can also establish a homeschool without any fixed curriculum at all. The library books you checked out earlier will hopefully explain the various different methods and should have given you an indication of precisely what your children should learn in each grade.
If you are trying to decide about homeschooling your children then finding the answers to the 6 questions suggested here should help you to make an informed decision. Despite the fact that not everyone will opt to homeschool their children after researching this option, if you wish to be more involved in your childrens’ education then homeschooling might well be a sensible choice for you.