Home Schooling: Ten Important Truths that You Need to Know

1. Home schooling will change your life. It produces personal and spiritual growth for both the parent and the child. Nothing you will ever do will have a more profound effect on your life, your child’s character and your family as home schooling.

2. Parents are qualified to home school their children if they love them. Do you love to read to them, to spend time with them, explore the world with them and see them learn?

3. Children love to learn. They have an inborn hunger to examine and explore the world by learning to follow their interests. Home schooling families learn together and know that learning is a life-long process.

4. Home schooling is legal everywhere in the United States, but home school laws vary from state to state. The three basic types are home education laws, private school laws, and equivalency laws. The best way to learn your state laws is to contact Home School Legal Defense, www.hslda.org. HSLDA is committed to supporting member families and advocating for the two fundamental liberties of parental rights and religious freedom.

5. It does not take six to eight hours a day to teach your child. Most of the time children spend at school consists of waiting. Design a plan that works for your family and be prepared to adjust it daily. There are many methods for families that home school; find what works for you and your family.

6. Home Schooled children have many types of friends. Children do not need to be socialized in a large group of same-age children to become well adjusted socially. Home schooled children have healthy relationships with people of all ages and most importantly, their parents.

7. Fear not the High School subjects. As your child reaches the teen years, you will explore together the possibilities for learning difficult subjects like higher level math or sciences. Your options include online satellite classes, local community college classes, tutors, or text books.

8. You will question your capabilities. This is normal. Find a local home schooling community for support, encouragement and common experiences.

9. Trust in the Lord. God will provide for your family’s financial needs. Thousands of home school families are able to make the money they need and teach their children at the same time. You may create a family business, or restructure your current job but as your children observe your values and work ethic they learn character and perseverance. Hudson Taylor said, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

10. Trust in your instincts. You taught your child to love, smile, walk, talk, dress, and understand their world. They will continue to learn under your excellent tutelage.