First things first
Legally, children are not required to be in school until they are 6. At that time he/she would need to be registered for school or you could choose to homeschool. The school boards prefer families to send a letter of intent that states that you intend to homeschool, but most parents only send a letter if their children have already been registered and/or have been attending a school. Visit The Ontario Federation Of Teaching Parents Website for more information on this.
It may take a little time for your child to relax into learning at home and in life. This transition from school to homeschool is commonly called "deschooling". Some kids, especially those who have lost interest in learning will need some time to deschool. On average each child will need approximately one month for every year that they have been in school. This is why it can be beneficial to decide to homeschool at the end of the school year, since two months of summer break would be two years worth of deschooling. Once they are relaxed into the role of a homeschooling student, they should become more receptive to learning.
You don't have to follow the traditional school year. When you homeschool is up to your family. Some families homeschool right over summer and some take a break. Some take breaks throughout the year, when they feel one is needed or for vacations. Some families are relaxed and never stop learning because their kids love to learn. It's up to you and your family.
You need to decide what you want for your children. In school there is one curriculum for most of the children, but when homeschooling, the options are endless, and can sometimes seem overwhelming. Not only are there many choices in curricula and subjects, but there are many different teaching and learning styles and educational philosophies. School-at-home, Literature-Based, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, Christian, Eclectic, Relaxed, and Unschooling are just a few of the styles that families use. Some families spend next to no money homeschooling and take advantage of all of the free/cheap resources that they have at their finger tips (library, websites, book sales, parks, festivals, day trips and the knowledge of others, etc). Other families select different boxed curricula for each child. The amount of money you spend is up to you.
Are you worried that there is something you can't provide for your kids? Maybe math? Get a good math program or look for fun sites on the Internet to learn math, and learn it with them. They will take it much more seriously and they will enjoy sharing the experience with you. Maybe you are pulling your kids from French Immersion and you don't want them to lose their French skills. Get a good French program and use the library resources (there is a great online resource) and speak the language with your kids often and/or in games. Interact with others who speak that language. If you are able to, travel or go on missions trips. There are so many ways to learn a language and what better way to do it than to experience the learning together on an adventure!
Do you wonder if you have legitimate reasons for wanting to homeschool? There are many reasons that parents choose to homeschool. The following is a list of a few of the known reasons why families have chosen to homeschool:
- academic reasons (statistics show that homeschooled children do better than public and private schools)*
- quality family time (finding quality time together and with other loved ones is much easier)
- follow passions (more time can be spent on passions to realize interests and excel at what they love)
- maintain an enthusiasm for learning (yes, children naturally want to learn and will when that spark is nurtured)
- health (physical health can make school attendance or following the standard curriculum difficult)
- disabilities/special needs (one-on-one time with a loving parent can sometimes help)
- gifted or bored (may be able to maintain a challenging level more effectively at home)
- freedom (can follow a parent on business trips and learn as they go, enriching their lives)
- morals (able to live life with less peer culture/pressure or bullying)
- religious (apply more of what the family believes in everyday life)
- socialization (opportunities for quality interaction with many different people and not just peers)
Homeschool group activities, after-school sports/classes, community service/events, and life will provide great socialization ( not just with peers, but with people of all different ages and backgrounds), so there is no need to ask the common "S" question ("What about Socialization?").
* Sources:
Frasier Institute, "Home schooling is an effective alternative to the public school system", released October 9,2001
Frasier Institute, "Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd Edition", released October 4, 2007
HSLDA, "Academic Statistics on Homeschooling", October 22, 2004
It may take a little time for your child to relax into learning at home and in life. This transition from school to homeschool is commonly called "deschooling". Some kids, especially those who have lost interest in learning will need some time to deschool. On average each child will need approximately one month for every year that they have been in school. This is why it can be beneficial to decide to homeschool at the end of the school year, since two months of summer break would be two years worth of deschooling. Once they are relaxed into the role of a homeschooling student, they should become more receptive to learning.
You don't have to follow the traditional school year. When you homeschool is up to your family. Some families homeschool right over summer and some take a break. Some take breaks throughout the year, when they feel one is needed or for vacations. Some families are relaxed and never stop learning because their kids love to learn. It's up to you and your family.
You need to decide what you want for your children. In school there is one curriculum for most of the children, but when homeschooling, the options are endless, and can sometimes seem overwhelming. Not only are there many choices in curricula and subjects, but there are many different teaching and learning styles and educational philosophies. School-at-home, Literature-Based, Charlotte Mason, Montessori, Waldorf, Christian, Eclectic, Relaxed, and Unschooling are just a few of the styles that families use. Some families spend next to no money homeschooling and take advantage of all of the free/cheap resources that they have at their finger tips (library, websites, book sales, parks, festivals, day trips and the knowledge of others, etc). Other families select different boxed curricula for each child. The amount of money you spend is up to you.
Are you worried that there is something you can't provide for your kids? Maybe math? Get a good math program or look for fun sites on the Internet to learn math, and learn it with them. They will take it much more seriously and they will enjoy sharing the experience with you. Maybe you are pulling your kids from French Immersion and you don't want them to lose their French skills. Get a good French program and use the library resources (there is a great online resource) and speak the language with your kids often and/or in games. Interact with others who speak that language. If you are able to, travel or go on missions trips. There are so many ways to learn a language and what better way to do it than to experience the learning together on an adventure!
Do you wonder if you have legitimate reasons for wanting to homeschool? There are many reasons that parents choose to homeschool. The following is a list of a few of the known reasons why families have chosen to homeschool:
- academic reasons (statistics show that homeschooled children do better than public and private schools)*
- quality family time (finding quality time together and with other loved ones is much easier)
- follow passions (more time can be spent on passions to realize interests and excel at what they love)
- maintain an enthusiasm for learning (yes, children naturally want to learn and will when that spark is nurtured)
- health (physical health can make school attendance or following the standard curriculum difficult)
- disabilities/special needs (one-on-one time with a loving parent can sometimes help)
- gifted or bored (may be able to maintain a challenging level more effectively at home)
- freedom (can follow a parent on business trips and learn as they go, enriching their lives)
- morals (able to live life with less peer culture/pressure or bullying)
- religious (apply more of what the family believes in everyday life)
- socialization (opportunities for quality interaction with many different people and not just peers)
Homeschool group activities, after-school sports/classes, community service/events, and life will provide great socialization ( not just with peers, but with people of all different ages and backgrounds), so there is no need to ask the common "S" question ("What about Socialization?").
* Sources:
Frasier Institute, "Home schooling is an effective alternative to the public school system", released October 9,2001
Frasier Institute, "Home Schooling: From the Extreme to the Mainstream, 2nd Edition", released October 4, 2007
HSLDA, "Academic Statistics on Homeschooling", October 22, 2004