| The decision to home school your child can be | | | | either out of the home or not. Some |
| a very difficult decision to make. With the | | | | sacrifices will need to be made if the family |
| high rate of two-income families today, many | | | | is used to depend on two incomes. Of course, |
| parents wonder if they can make the financial | | | | if you are a single parent, this could be an |
| and time sacrifice, even it is the right | | | | even bigger problem. |
| thing to do. Many more wonder if their | | | | |
| children can get the same level of quality | | | | 4. Time for socialization |
| education if they choose homeschooling. | | | | |
| However, despite these concerns, the rate at | | | | More attention will need to be given to |
| which parents are choosing to home school | | | | getting your children to spend time together |
| their kids continue to rise. | | | | with his/her peers. The best part of |
| | | | homeschooling is being able to have more |
| There are a huge number of reasons why | | | | control of the potential social contacts your |
| parents choose to home school their kids. For | | | | child makes. However, the downside is that |
| many parent, it is because they want to be | | | | you must personally prepare your child |
| able to add religious content to their | | | | yourself on how to socialize with other kids. |
| children's learning experience. For others, | | | | Homeschooling can have a tendency to make |
| they see the decline in the public education | | | | your child feel quite isolated. |
| system today and want to choose something | | | | |
| that is better for their kids. | | | | 5. Household organization is harder |
| | | | |
| According to a recent an August 2006 ABC 20 | | | | Housework, laundry and other chores will |
| 20 special, many kids today are not being | | | | still have to be done, but it probably will |
| taught even the needed fundamentals for them | | | | get done first thing in the morning. If you |
| to graduate. For example, one student was | | | | are a neat freak, you might be in for a big |
| interviewed who was in high school but was | | | | big surprise. Not only does housework need to |
| only able to read properly at a fourth grade | | | | be let go at times, but also homeschooling |
| level. Another student interviewed mentioned | | | | does creates messes and clutter on its own. |
| that cheating was actually encouraged by his | | | | You will have to get really organized so that |
| teacher - goodness!. | | | | you can keep your home together. |
| | | | |
| Although the public education system is not | | | | 6. Both parents must agree to it |
| as good as it should be and expected today, | | | | |
| the decision to homeschooling as an | | | | It is important that both parents agree to |
| alternative is one that should not be taken | | | | the idea of homeschooling. It is very |
| too lightly. When choosing to home school | | | | difficult for this to work if one of the |
| your kids, you must first consider these 7 | | | | parents is against it right from the start. |
| things: | | | | If your spouse is against it at this time, |
| | | | try doing more research and talking to more |
| 1. Time commitment | | | | people so that you can be absolutely certain |
| | | | it is something that both of you can agree |
| Homeschooling has a tendency to take up a lot | | | | upon and pursue. Otherwise, the chances for |
| of time of the parent. The process involves | | | | success are very much smaller. |
| more than just sitting down with books for a | | | | |
| couple of hours. There are experiments and | | | | 7. Your child has to be willing |
| projects that have to be done, lessons to | | | | |
| prepare, papers to grade, field trips, park | | | | A willing student is crucial to the success |
| days, music lessons, and the list just keeps | | | | of homeschooling. Ultimately, the decision is |
| on going and going. Fortunately, you can go | | | | the parents to make, but if your child is |
| online and search for some homeschool sample | | | | dead set against it, you might have a very |
| schedules that will help to give you an idea | | | | difficult time in teaching and convincing |
| of a typical day. | | | | them. The fact of the matter is that an |
| | | | unwilling child can sabotage his/her own |
| 2. Personal sacrifice | | | | education progress efforts. |
| | | | |
| The homeschooling parent sacrifice much and | | | | There is a lot more to homeschooling than is |
| has very little personal time or time alone | | | | often seen at first sight. As a parent, you |
| and away from their children. If a lot of | | | | must know that your child's education is the |
| care is not taken to set aside time for | | | | most important factor in their future. You |
| yourself, it is easy for the parent to feel | | | | need to be thoroughly prepared for all of the |
| overwhelmed and stress. It is not unusual for | | | | time and commitment that is going to be |
| the parent and child to be together 24 hours | | | | involved. If you are thinking of choosing |
| a day, which can eventually lead to | | | | homeschooling for your children, it will be |
| frustration on both sides. | | | | very important to network with other |
| | | | like-minded parents in your local area. Not |
| 3. Financial problems can arise | | | | only will this help with the program planning |
| | | | process, but will also provide a place to |
| Though homeschooling can be accomplished with | | | | share ideas and concerns with others who are |
| very little cost to you; however, it usually | | | | probably experiencing the same thing. |
| requires that the teaching parent not work, | | | | |