What should I know about homeschooling?

Question

My husband and I are seriously considering homeschooling for our two boys. They're only 20 months and 3 months, so we have some time to go; but I'd like to know some basics. We were both public schooled (I did well, but the public school system failed my husband) and we're quite ignorant when it comes to homeschool.

Any tips or advice?

Thanks for you help!

Answer 1

If you have time and energy than it is great to take your young kids on walks, or have them cook with you, etc. while teaching them the basics. For example while you are walking on your street you could say, "How many little birdies are up on that telephone wire" and help them out with the answer. While cooking you could say, "The recipe calls for 3 bananas,__ could you hand me 3 bananas?"

Teaching ABC's and 123's are easy because they come natural to children. Children love the ABC song so just keep singing it to them and they will catch a long. It's not as hard as you think, homeschooled children just learn to learn on their own.

If you don't have the energy to do all that hands on stuff with them then learning videos and computer games actually do help. Games like JumpStart, or those Disney games like Winnie the Pooh and such are designed to help young kids learn. A great video series is called the Letter Factory. It is for kids who know their ABCs and want to learn how in the world they are supposed to use them.

Answer 2

Hi, and welcome.  There are numerous websites out there which provide a wealth of information.  Start with checking out the sites and learning the laws of your state.  Join a local homeschooling group (goggle "park day" and the name of your town or city.)  You will be able to hook up with parents of kids as young as yours.  The support is invaluable and quite fun.    Check out these websites for further information.  Have fun!

Answer 3

I think it's great that you are starting early.  Right now I would focus on learning about the benefits of homeschooling.

Here's some information on benefits:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Statistics:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Socialization:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

and Homeschooling vs. Public School:

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Your children are young, and the best thing for them right now is to learn through play.  However, preschool is just around the corner, so here's some info about homeschooling preschool.

http://www.successful-homeschooling.com/...

Some great books you may want to read are Dumbing us Down by John Taylor Gatto and anything written by John Holt.

Good luck and enjoy the journey!

Answer 4

Well you've got masses of time to prepare so I suggest reading a lot to begin with. Find out about all the different methods and philosophies so you can choose the one that suits you best. Read up on the the law for HS where you are.

When your children are a bit older, say the oldest is 3, start looking for local groups that are either very general or tend towards the methods you've decided upon and contain plenty of young children.

Be warned that there are a lot of companies out there trying to make money off HSing and they will tell you that you must follow a formal curriculum from day one and then try to sell you a year's worth of workbooks and stuff. This is rubbish. The only thing you need to teach your child the basics is a willingness to sit down and spend time with them.

Answer 5

i wouldnt. kids need to have time to grow and delevop with thier friends.

although by you homeschooling them they would progress faster, they should be able to have recess and snack time where they can comunicate with children thier own age.

my aunt and uncle have 3 kids, the oldest is in grade 2 now and in public school. he is supposed to be in grade one but got moved up becasue he is smart.

my aunt sent the kids to school, but she would read to them and pretty much homeschool them before the age of going to school.

when they were really young she began to teach them and look at my couzin now, already up one great, i guess it worked.