Advice for new homeschooling parents! -Marnie Harrington

Advice for new homeschooling parents!
-Marnie Harrington

(There's a video made by Marnie about this topic down below after you've read this post, or you could just skip to it straight away!)

For some parents, finally deciding to homeschool can feel like a leap of faith - a real gamble. Parents considering homeschool might stress that their child will fall behind educationally.  They may worry that if their children return to school, they won't keep up or may even be put down a grade or two. Other parents commence homeschooling without a doubt in their minds! They are full of confidence and are ready to take on the challenge!

If you're in the first category, let me put your mind at ease;
homeschooling doesn't have to be a long term commitment. I've known families who only homeschooled for a short amount of time and went straight back to school again without a worry! I knew one family whose daughter was having some anxieties about going into high school and so the family homeschooled for one term and by the end of that term, she was much more prepared for the challenges of high school! She was much more relaxed after her time at home. Some kids just need a little nurturing and are ready to get back to school after some time at home. Other kids learn much better at home with the family and will complete their education at home. Kids will learn no matter what, and they can catch up if they need to!

When you begin homeschooling, my advice to you is to slow down, give yourselves time to relax and de-school. This might take a couple of months. Take this time to get to know each other, and find your own rhythm. Your day will look very different now. Instead of rushing around stressing in the morning, with concerns about school notes, uniforms, lunches, homework and excursion fees, you'll be able to gently ease into the day, allowing time to take care of itself.

This is a good time to discover what your child's real interests and unique talents are. Follow your child's interests. See what works for you as a homeschool family. Some days, you might try to do too much, and other days, you might feel a little bored. Eventually, if you give yourselves time, your family will work it out.

It's important to nurture connections with other homeschoolers so you don't feel isolated. After you've been to some homeschool events and activities, you'll find your niche. Make sure you hook up into some online homeschool groups in your local area, so as to know about the different events and meet other families.

You might be really worried about the long-term future for your child, especially about whether your child will be able to access higher education. I believe that learning is life-long. If your children miss out on learning something while they're young, they can always learn it when they're older. I've known of older homeschool kids who have picked up subjects from TAFE or online courses. Once they had decided on a career path, there was no stopping them! The educational opportunities are out there for everyone!

What advice do you have for new homeschooling parents?

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