Back to school signs abound all around us, sales on paper and stationary are dangled in our faces. Alas, it’s that time of year again and many people are considering homeschooling as an option for the first time!
If you are new to homeschooling or need some fresh inspiration as the school year approaches, read this post on the 5 things you need to know before you start homeshooling! Make sure you pin this image so you can find it later!
5 Things you need to know Before you Start Homeschooling!
1. Homeschooling is HARD.
I put this first because I think a lot of times people see the idyllic picture above with a smiling mom and child and get the wrong idea. Homeschooling is not perfect. It is not easy, it is challenging and frustrating and downright overwhelming at times! If you walk into homeschooling thinking it is going to be a walk in the park, you are in for a rude awakening! It is important to understand that it get’s easier the longer you do it and the older your children get. It takes years to get into the swing of things and find what works best for you and your children. Take your time, do your research, figure out your kids’ learning styles and choose curriculum based on that.
2. Anyone CAN homeschool.
That’s right, you heard me, anyone. Now, some people cannot because they both have to work or because they have a difficult relationship with their child, I am not talking about those people. I am talking to the mom who thinks she doesn’t have the patience or organization or ability to homeschool. No matter what your own education was like, no matter what your faults may be, you CAN homeschool… successfully! Your patience will be stretched and will grow, your organizational skills will improve, you will learn along with your child! Homeschooling will help you and your child to grow together!
3. Homeschooling does not limit your children, it removes limitations!
If you are concerned that homeschooling will limit your children: limit their exposure, their social life, their opportunities, etc. you have nothing to fear! Not only will homeschooling NOT limit your children in those ways but it opens up endless possibilities for your family! You can do what kids in school cannot! You have no time restraints, class size restraints, system restraints, etc. If your child doesn’t learn with that textbook, try using some Montessori-inspired centers! If you are learning about geography, go on a road trip! Is your child interested in a certain career? Set up a job shadow or field trip! It is super easy to do and the sky’s the limit!
4. Lower your expectations.
This is a big one, don’t go into your homeschool year with unrealistic expectations. You WILL get behind, you WILL have bad days, you WILL find that some of what you bought or what you are doing isn’t working. You will lose your patience some days, it may not look like the adorable classroom you saw on Pinterest and your kids may not meet the goals you had for them. The more relaxed and low key you go into your school year, the more successful it will be! Make sure to check out this post about creating a homeschooling schedule and avoiding homeschooling burnout.
5. Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.
Homeschooling is full of small stuff. Grades, lesson planning, curriculum, field trips, etc. If you find that you miss doing some lessons or get behind on something or don’t fit in your field trips, don’t sweat it! You could plan an entire year FULL of insane activities and lessons and have a horrible experience getting frustrated, pushing your kids and resulting in tears and loss of relationship. OR you could have a more relaxed year, enjoy your children, enjoy the experience and have a child that LOVED being homeschooled and loves learning! Which one do you think they prefer? Kids are resilient, they learn naturally through life! It is 10 times more essential to inspire a love of learning than to cram their head with facts that will most likely be forgotten in a week. Remember that in just a few hours of one on one time with you they are accomplishing more than they often get in a week of school!
Is this your first year homeschooling? Comment below!
If this is your first year homeschooling, check out the new to homeschooling post HERE, ask questions, come check out my Facebook page HERE or join the homeschool support group HERE. I’d love to connect, answer your questions, get to know you and offer what advice I can! Thanks for reading and if you liked this post, hit share below!
