Are My Kids Getting Enough?

What is the one concern you hear echoed time and time again from parents nervous about their ability to homeschool? “Are my kids getting enough?” They immediately revert back to what they know about the public school system or what they have heard. There are so many opportunities! Will I be able to provide all of the opportunities that they could get in public school. Well, the honest answer is, no. No, they cannot and will not receive everything that a public school has to offer, but is that such a bad thing? Whether you believe it or not, you can actually offer them even more than what they could get in the public school system. Your kids aren’t missing out because they aren’t getting the same opportunities rather they will most likely rise above the standard, and here’s why.

First, if you focus on the basics when they are young such as reading, writing, and math then when they are older they will have the foundation needed to study on their own. Not only will they be able to study on their own but they will be able to study what interests them. Sure they will need to study some things that may not interest them but when it comes to what does interest them, these then become their electives. Maybe they won’t have the same courses as the middle school down the road but I can guarantee that the school down the road doesn’t have bow making, trapping, blacksmithing, starting your own eBay business course or a making jewelry out of vintage coins class. If your child has an interest in something unique, let them study it, learn from it, and pursue it in a way that would benefit them more than a stuffy classroom ever could.

Second, provide each child with a checkoff list each day that you are requiring them to do their schoolwork. Keep it simple. Add several fun electives. Don’t feel like you have to do every single class every single day. If you keep it simple yet challenging your kids will be pushed and feel a sense of satisfaction when they have everything marked off. Then they won’t feel like they have a weight on them knowing they have school work to complete. They will know that the day’s work is done and that they can move onto other activities. Of course some of these activities that they enjoy during their off time may be educational as well so the learning really never ends.

Third, you know what your kids need. If they struggle with language arts, focus on that for a year. Add in science and history into their language arts curriculum. Focus on grammar, spelling, and vocabulary as needed to help your child gain his confidence. If you go a few months without doing a science experiment, that’s okay. You have not failed as a homeschooling parent. You know what your child needs. If your child needs daily math and spelling reinforcement throughout the year, even in the summer months, go for it! It is not a matter of getting through a list of twelve classes each day that makes your child successful. It is a matter of knowing what is needed for each child each day that will help them in the long run.

Finally, it is important to remember that it is quality and not quantity that counts. You know what challenges your child and what would be considered busy work. Focus on what your child needs not what is written down in some scope and sequence. A scope and sequence is a good starting point but in the long run, you know your child best and can adjust your homeschooling to meet his needs.