It is perfectly normal for parents to be concerned about their child’s growth and learning. If you are a new parent, the cycle of wondering and doubting can be even harsher. It is crucial to a child’s development and growth that parents pay particular attention to their learning styles and interest areas. As the saying goes, parents are the first teachers a child has.
1. Homeschooling
It is no surprise that when it comes to educating their child, parents tend to gravitate more towards traditional methods of teaching—public schools or private schools. Deciding to homeschool is a big decision, as it sets the course for the rest of the child’s life.
There is no “right” age to start homeschooling your child. A child’s brain development starts at an early age, and thus, they must begin their learning journey early in life. Parents might wonder if it is okay to homeschool their children or if it will affect their learning style later in life. An even bigger question arises: what is the significance of grades while homeschooling?
2. When to Start Homeschooling?
A child’s mind is a mystery. As a parent, answering every “Why?” they throw your way becomes a full-time job. You may try to dodge those, but they always catch up with you. Every day, a new question pops up, and you’re trying to tell them why the sky looks blue in the morning and orange in the evening. No answer seems to satisfy them, and everyone somehow launches a new series of questions. Whether you know it or not, in these situations, they are being “homeschooled.”
Taught them to try their shoelaces today? You are teaching them an everyday skill. Read a storybook for them at night? Their imagination is being shaped. Ultimately, one may say that homeschooling becomes more of a lifestyle than a day-to-day chore.
All children have different learning styles, and parents must recognize them early on in their lives so they can implement the relevant teaching styles that will benefit their children. Young children learn through daily activities like eating, reading, walking, watching television, watching their parents cook or clean, and many more.
It is no surprise that when it comes to educating their child, parents tend to gravitate more towards traditional methods of teaching—public schools or private schools. Deciding to homeschool is a big decision crucial to the child’s growth.
2.1. Preschool Homeschooling
As discussed above, these early years are both the most difficult and the easiest to homeschool. The children learn mostly through activities, and even the smallest things, like play dough, can provide a growth factor. Parents can decide to homeschool their kids during this time as this is a part of their lives where they form basic values that will form the foundation of their lives as they grow up.
Many families may worry about the technicalities of the homeschool curriculum at this age when the children learn with more hands-on experience. Parents should encourage their growth and not stress too much about the details of the program. This is the easiest age to begin homeschooling your child. They’ll learn while playing, and you can make learning fun.
2.2. Elementary Homeschooling
An elementary school child is more developed than a preschool child. Therefore, they can be harder to teach and may provide more challenges than their younger counterparts. But they can also think more independently and articulately. As they grow up, the teacher or parent may also question their abilities as teachers and parents.
Several things can help you while homeschooling your kid. Their learning space should be separated from their bedroom or the play area; this will help them differentiate their school hours from their fun hours. It is also important that both parents and children follow a proper daily schedule, which will provide consistency and help them make studying a habit.
Parents can also join some homeschooler groups to learn new methods, ideas, tips, and tricks to find what works for them. Remember, it can be a hit-and-trial method, so try different ways of teaching and learning until you find what works best for you and your child!
2.3. Middle Homeschooling
This might be a very scary phase as your child grows up to be a tween and eventually a teenager. Many changes are happening in and around a child at this age. You should consider their growth and development while preparing to bring them on this journey.
It is normal at this point to have doubts and questions; you may even feel some apprehension about homeschooling your child, even if you have been doing it for a long time. Parents should always remember that the child is growing alongside them and learning together. You are not alone in this journey, and it is perfectly normal to have your questions.
At this age, homeschooling can even be a bonding time with your hormonal tween or teen. You can teach and learn with them. Since most children are going through puberty and an awkward phase, homeschooled children can generally skip the awkwardness altogether. While the homeschooling experience is not the easiest, you and your child must enjoy it.
2.4. High School Homeschooling
This experience can undoubtedly be the most difficult phase of the homeschooling journey. Everyone who remembers their high school phase remembers how challenging it can be for teens and parents. Homeschooling your child at this point can be overwhelming, but with some preparation and dedication, you can instill good values in your teens and educate them.
At this point, the students are more willing to learn, and if they have grown up in a homeschooled environment, they would prefer to be homeschooled further. High school can be worlds apart from what the students are used to, and they would probably find adjusting to such an environment difficult.
This is when students are figuring out their passions and interests; the flexibility of homeschooling will allow them the means and the tools to do so at their own pace. As parents, it can be challenging to ensure they follow proper schedules and routines. However, the journey will inevitably prove equally rewarding for parents and students.
3. The Homeschooling Curriculum
Once you have decided to homeschool your child, the next step is to build a proper curriculum that they should follow. A curriculum is important because it will give you a foundation to build your syllabus and teaching pattern. You can follow several options while creating a curriculum; the important question is how to make the best one.
Build a curriculum according to your child’s needs and learning habits. The first and foremost step would be to figure out what kind of learner your child is; if they are a visual learner and you only teach them through lectures, then it would be a hard task for them to focus on the learning aspects and would put them behind in their grade. Four kinds of learners are visual, auditory, read/write, and kinesthetic.
3.1. Visual Learners
Learners predominantly learn by seeing and visualizing their studying concepts. Mind maps are one of the most useful ways for them to learn.
3.2. Auditory Learners
Learners who predominantly learn through what they hear. Lectures best teach these kinds of learners, and audiobooks are an effective way to retain information.
3.3. Read/Write Learners
Learners predominantly retain information when they read it or put it on paper. Some techniques they can learn are- the Cornell note-taking method, writing down the summary, using sticky notes, etc.
3.4. Kinesthetic Learners
Learners who predominantly learn by a hands-on approach prefer doing things, and their brain retains most of the information through this method. They can learn mostly through experience, practicals, simulations, etc.
Depending on your area, you can look for a homeschooling group where you can find like-minded individuals who will help you get into the homeschooling spirit. These groups mostly comprise other parents who homeschool their children, so by joining them, you can see how different people educate their children.
It will greatly help you, as you can interact with other parents in the group and learn from their techniques and mistakes. You can also share your experience and help other parents learn from your errors and techniques. It is important to note that every child learns differently, so what works phenomenally for one person may not work well for you. But one shouldn’t be discouraged by this.
As stated before, homeschooling is a hit-and-trial process. You have to keep trying new things to figure out what is working and what is not. This is where homeschooling groups come in. Through these groups, you will get a Head Start with the help of people who have been homeschooling for years.
4. How to Choose an Appropriate Homeschooling Curriculum?
As has been emphasized until now, parents must look for a homeschooling curriculum that best fits their and their child’s needs. This way, they can build an effective curriculum that works for them. Choosing a good curriculum is important when you are a new parent. The curriculum should fit both your and your child’s needs.
Many online websites offer a diverse range of homeschooling curricula. You can compare and weigh your options to find the best one. Granted, this process will be lengthy and time-consuming, but once you find a homeschooling curriculum that works best for you, you can easily continue.
The major things you should look for in a curriculum are the content, the learning style it is suitable for, and how it is delivered. These factors will decide whether a particular curriculum works for you.
Another thing that should be focused on is the plans of the homeschooler. This is mostly relevant for high school students planning on joining college. In this case, the field of study they will follow must be more emphasized than the others.
If you work and have chosen a curriculum that requires a more hands-on role, it will slowly exhaust you and be very difficult to manage with work. Therefore, you should consider your schedule and availability before choosing a curriculum. Ask yourself what curriculum is best for your and your child’s needs, and choose accordingly.
4.1. Content
Content is the first and foremost priority when choosing a homeschooling curriculum, whether for your preschooler or your high school teen.
The syllabus that the curriculum follows should be diverse and easy to follow. It would be impossible for the child to learn multiplication without learning basic numerals first. Similarly, the curriculum should start with an introductory base and follow through with the more difficult programs.
4.2. Learning Style
As stated above, learning style is important because, through the right learning style, teaching can be made fun, and the homeschooler can make learning an enjoyable activity that they do throughout the day rather than a tiresome task they have to sit through. By following their learning style and teaching them accordingly, one can assume that the child will enjoy and would like the process.
4.3. Presentation
If you are following the best curriculum but don’t know how to present it to your child, then it is possible that your child won’t be able to retain the information effectively. Presentation matters the most during the junior years when the children want to see things with pictures and learn through imagination. You can try different presenting methods and see which your child responds the best.
5. The Homeschooling Laws
Homeschooling is a legal practice in most countries. The major countries where homeschooling is very prominent are the United States of America, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Canada. Some countries encourage the process of homeschooling, and even some have made it an essential part of the education system.
In a few countries, like Germany, homeschooling is not legal and should not be practiced. While there are some countries where, although it is not illegal, homeschooling is a practice that is rarely carried out and is considered socially unacceptable, and naturally, the citizens avoid it if they can.
Even where homeschooling is legal, there are certain laws that one should adhere to while one is homeschooling their child. Not following the regulations can be a punishable offense in some cases. What holds for one place may not be the case for another, and what is legal may be a state offense in another.
Therefore, one should follow the laws and regulations that have been laid out in the place where one lives. It is important that before starting to homeschool their child, parents research and learn about what is allowed and what is not allowed by the state they live in.
6. Final Words
Although homeschooling requires a significant effort, it may also be quite rewarding. When starting a homeschool, it’s crucial to consider your state’s laws and regulations and the kind of curriculum you want to employ. Making learning enjoyable for children is also important if you want them to continue to study.
But in the end, homeschooling can be a wonderful experience for both parent and child if you’re prepared to put in the time and effort! Don’t be hesitant to start homeschooling regardless of where you are or what grade level you are starting with—doing so could change your life!
Last Updated on by Arnab
