Is Homeschooling Right For Your Family?

 Educating For The Future

Growing healthy, happy, creative children who are able to meet the challenges of the future is every parent's goal.  Many parents just 'go with the flow' and send their children to school without an alternative even entering their mind.  But for some, mainstream school may not be the answer.  

Are you a parent who is dissatisfied with the education your child is receiving or concerned about the potential adverse effects of a traditional school setting?  Maybe you feel the class size is too big and your child is not getting enough individual help. Perhaps your child is struggling with understanding concepts, and falling behind in certain subjects. Or maybe your child is very bright, longing to surge ahead, and getting bored while everyone else catches up.

Is your child being bullied at school- by classmates... or teachers?! Do you worry about the dangers your child is exposed to every day (at a younger and younger age all the time) such as drugs, smoking, drinking, unhealthy peer pressure and illegal activities? What about potential horrors of pedophiles... or impatient drivers at crossings?

Or perhaps you have a precious little one, who hasn't reached school age yet, and you have fears of the things mentioned above. Maybe you don't want to hand over the care and responsibility of your child to someone who also has 30 other children to supervise! And perhaps you don't want to miss out on your child's new discoveries and explorations- just left to hear about it when they get home from school.

Do you get fed up with the constant morning battle to get your kids ready for school on time... and the evening battles of homework? Are your kids (and you!) tired and irritable when you all eventually join up for what's left of the day, after school? Is over scheduling... to fit in everything else you and your kids want to be involved with such as sport, socialising, tutoring etc... exhausting you?

If this sounds like your family, then homeschooling might be an option worth exploring!

Educating your children at home can be extremely rewarding. It can also have its ups and downs, especially as you're finding your way, but overall it is usually a positive and exciting journey.

If your children have been at school, it can take time (even months) for them to leave the old groove behind and adjust to a more relaxed, self directed style of learning. But there's no rush... let them (and you) take your time. Learning should be a natural adventure of discovery.

It is your job as a home educating parent to be a facilitator in your child's learning. You aren't there to force the 3 R's on them, but rather to help gently guide when needed, make sure they have the materials and resources they need, and provide an interesting and learning oriented environment. Learn along with them! 

You certainly don't need to "know everything about everything" to home educate. You just need to be resourceful and know how to find out (and show your kids how to find out) what they want to know. With the internet, and so many excellent libraries, museums and other resources, this is usually a fairly easy task these days.

One of the things you need to consider, if you are thinking of homeschooling, is the time factor. Do you have the time it takes to dedicate to educating your children? Will your lifestyle allow it? 

While many home educators work part time and successfully homeschool, it is probably not really an option for two (or one in a single parent family) parents to work full time and home educate. And even for part time, don't forget, you don't have school to fall back on as a babysitter while you work, or go out doing errands etc. While your children are too young to be left at home alone you will need to find someone to care for them during these times. And please don't make them grow up and take on this responsibility too early! Don't leave older ones to care for young ones, until they are well and truly ready.

If you are on certain Centrelink support payments, registered homeschoolers are exempt from the new part time work requirement. Inquire through Centrelink to make sure this includes whatever payment you are receiving.

However, regarding time, home education does not actually need to take as much time as your child used to spend each day, in school. Your child will learn a lot more, with one to one involvement with you, and being able to progress at their own rate, in their own direction. Probably a couple of hours a day working on whatever projects he/she is currently engaged in will be enough, plus some creative time on art, craft, music, maybe a walk or kicking a ball around, attending homeschool group social events etc.

Of course, the beauty of home education is that there are no school bells to tell you to start or stop or change subject! Most of the time, your child can continue for as long as their interest holds. Then they can move on!

Another consideration is do you actually feel you and your children can spend this much time together without driving each other crazy?!

There are some families who, no matter how much they really love each other, just find they can't cope with almost constant "togetherness". Families who come back from holidays together almost not speaking! And this is nothing to feel badly about. People are different. It's far better to be honest about this, than to struggle on and cause damage to your family relationships. 

But homeschooling is often worth a try, if you feel that there's a chance of it working. Often without the pressures and old battles of getting ready for school, homework, strict bedtimes, tired grumpiness etc, families find that they are much more relaxed and enjoy each others company. 

Most families who have homeschooled from the beginning (and many who take it on later) find that it brings their families much closer together, and they just can't imagine not wanting to explore each day with their children. Not to say that it doesn't get frustrating at times. There are arguments, disagreements, just like any family, and naturally, most people need some "space" and time to themselves. This can be achieved by incorporating quiet, reflective personal time for everyone into your day. And by making sure you have other people who can give you a break, if needed, such as your spouse, family, and other home educators.

Joining a homeschoolers group is one of the best ways to begin your home education adventure. There are lots of online groups, as well as groups who meet regularly. Some are formal groups with membership fees, newsletters etc... some are just an informal group of families who get together.

Members of any homeschool group are usually quite friendly and willing to welcome newcomers into the "fold". They understand the questions, worries and doubts you may have... they have been there before! You can gain much wisdom and help with how to go about the whole process, from being an active part of a homeschool group. They can help lessen the "teething pains" greatly!

Homeschool groups often have social meeting where kids (and parents) can get together to play and chat. Many also have group workshops, activity groups and educational outings. They can provide great support and friendship! 

Different homeschool groups often have a different focus, to do with the general ideas and principles its members follow- such as natural learning, Christian home ed, Charlotte Mason etc. Some are pretty general. So it pays to check around for the one(s) that might be best for your family. Experienced home educators in any group can probably give you a contact for the group they think might suit you. Unless you have specific ideas already, a fairly general group is probably best to begin with, then you can always join another one with more specific focus later on.

Opening your children up to the joys and challenges of learning is a wonderful experience... one like no other!

Helping to grow the scientists, inventors, politicians, musicians, great thinkers, explorers, entrepreneurs, sports people, artists... people who will shape the world... and the future!