So, your child is “school age” and you are considering homeschooling. Can you do it? How do you do it? These may be a few questions you have asked yourself. Here is what I ask people contemplating homeschooling kindergarten: Who taught your child how to talk, to walk, to recognize colors and shapes? I would bet it was you, the parent. Chances are you are also reading to your child. So, in essence you have been homeschooling or home educating from the very beginning.

Now it is just a matter of finding a homeschool curriculum, which contains the educational tools you will use to teach your child at home. Kindergarten is a very good place to start for both you and your child, here’s why:

Your child…

1. naturally wants to learn.
2. has no preconceived notion of school or education.
3. is used to learning from you.

You the parent…

1. have already established yourself as the teacher.
2. are fully equipped to teach kindergarten.
3. have endless resources available in this homeschool friendly era.

There are many options when it comes to kindergarten curriculum. You can start with the book What Your Kindergartner Needs to Know. You can find this on Amazon. Basically, they will learn numbers and the alphabet, and how to properly print both, as well as shapes, sounding out letters, etc. For a complete list, check out school.familyeducation.om. Also, keep in mind that many states do not even require kindergarten, so check your state’s homeschool laws before you begin (www.hslda.com). Of course you can still teach kindergarten even if it’s not required, it’s your choice how your child is educated. Exercise this right by finding a great curriculum, or going to the library or buying tools at a book store. Just know that you are in charge now – millions of us homeschool, and we welcome you to the homeschool community!

Now you can buy those crayons, markers, paper, paints, playdough and all the other fun “school” supplies – you have a student at home!

I remember when I was an elementary student and our class got to go on field trips. All of the students in our class looked forward to each of the few field trips we were allowed to have each year. The trips took us out of the classroom and into factories, ice cream manufacturers and more. Now as a homeschooling mom, I have the liberty of taking my own children on field trips. We have enjoyed a variety of trips including a candy factory, a horse farm, the Dayton Air Museum, Montpelier, Willliamsburg, Jamestown, Niagara Falls, Monticello, apple picking and the Ohio Historical Society.

Here are five of our favorites:

1. Williamsburg, Virginia – My husband and I have always enjoyed US history, but sometimes this can be a challenging subject for our children. It is hard to get them to be interested in the past when they are more interested in right now! We had contemplated visiting Colonial Williamsburg as a family and then we discovered they have homeschool days. The per person cost is very reasonable and really enticed us to give this field trip a try. We were pleasantly surprised by the “Welcome Homeschoolers” signs posted and the large number of other homeschooling families attending the event. There were special activities just for us, including a tour and craft project in the art museum. Our entire family had a wonderful time touring the Governor’s house, eating in a tavern and watching the revolutionary era re-enactments. This is a must do field trip!

   http://www.history.org/History/teaching/groupTours/SchoolandYouth/homeschools.cfm

2. Apple Picking - In Ohio we enjoy a wonderful period in the fall when we can visit a local orchard and go apple picking. Your state may have a similar seasonal fruit that you can pick. Do a little research, find a local farm that allows picking and gather your family for this wonderful educational adventure. You may want to ask if there is a tour or attendant to educate you on the process. Fun for all ages! We always go to Lynds Fruit Farm in Pataskala, Ohio.

   http://www.lyndfruitfarm.com/main/

3. Monticello – Outside of Charlottesville, Virginia is the home of President Thomas Jefferson. We thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful drive through the lovely hills of Virginia to find Monticello and were pleasantly surprised when we arrived at the welcome center and were offered a homeschool discount on our tickets! The tour was amazing and intriguing. We had to tackle the tough subject of slavery in America, which was handled very well by our tour guide. This was an important and educational field trip.

   http://www.monticello.org/visit/group_tours.html

4. Candy Factory – We are lucky to have the Anthony Thomas Candy Factory here in Columbus, Ohio. Who doesn’t want to tour a candy factory? Our homeschool group got together and attended one of the tours. Our kids had so much fun watching them make candy while we parents reminisced about the famous I Love Lucy episode where Lucy and Ethel try to work at a candy factory. Of course we all enjoyed the free sample at the end of the tour! If Ohio is not in your neighborhood, look up a local candy factory and set up a tour! Anthony Thomas offers FREE tours every Tuesday and Thursday.

   http://www.anthony-thomas.com/tour.html

5. NASA, Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas – My husband and I have always been fascinated by space and space travel. Little did we know our kids were also big fans! We were driving to Houston and my husband said under his breath, “I would really like to visit NASA while we are here, but I am sure the kids won’t want to go”. So, I said out loud, “Hey kids, who wants to go to NASA?”, and they all cheered “ME!!!”. It is a great place to visit for the whole family. There is a large variety of things to do so that everyone is “edutained”! There are movies, tours, a trapeze, a climbing apparatus and more! If you get a chance to visit Houston, plan a trip to NASA.

   http://www.spacecenter.org/

I would like to start by saying “Welcome to Homeschooling!” This is your official greeting and pat on the back for making such an important choice in educating your child. Is it the road less traveled? Yes, but it is a road worth traveling! Now take a deep breath and realize that today around two million other children are currently being homeschooled in the US alone!

So what do you do now, after weighing the pros and cons and deciding that homeschooling is the right choice? It is important to realize that this first year will be about discovery. Do you have to pick a curriculum? People can debate this point – so yes and no. Do you have to develop a rigid routine? Depends on you and your comfort level. Do you have to comply with the laws in your state? Yes, but this isn’t difficult and there are many helpful resources out there. But do you need to have it all figured out? Definitely not.

This first year you will be learning about your child and the process of homeschooling. For example:

1. How do they learn best?
2. What are they interested in?
3. What time of day do they learn best?
4. Do they need structure?
5. What do you want your child to learn?
6. How can you improve your child’s learning experience?
7. What will you keep the same? What will you change?
8. Are they more productive with or without breaks?

Take this opportunity to discover what style of learning will work best. Find out if your child needs to start their studies in the morning or afternoon. All of this will become clear as you begin to homeschool and spend the time with your child and their studies. Pay attention to any cues or clues to what works best and find a good pace for your child.

Keep in mind that you have made a very big change and it will take time to adapt. It will not be comfortable at first but you will fall into a good routine. Take it easy on yourself too, as the administrator of your child’s education you need room to make mistakes. Making mistakes is how we all learn. Homeschooling is not a search for perfection but a choice in educating differently. It will feel different until you become accustomed to it.

Always remember why you chose to homeschool, whatever the reason may be, and keep this in mind to help you get through rough days. It beats the alternative – that is why you chose to do it! Smile, have fun with it! Keep things light, creative and enjoyable. Your child naturally wants to learn, don’t get in their way.

One of the best things you can do as a newcomer to homeschooling is to befriend other homeschooling families. They will be a lasting resource for support and encouragement. Homeschooling together as a community can be a very successful approach. So get on the internet – you will find homeschoolers everywhere!

1. You created your child – now get to know them.
2. Make your own, not the school’s, schedule.
3. Go on vacation in September.
4. Sleep in.
5. Teach your child what YOU want them to learn.
6. Protect your child from an undesirable atmosphere at school.
7. Discover your child’s passion in life and help them pursue it.
8. Quit wasting your and your child’s time.
9. Take the road less traveled – that will make all the difference.
10. Stay out of the way – let your child lead you into learning.