5 Tips for Homeschooling

5 Tips for Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a good way to give your child a customized education and 100% attention. Statistics have shown that children who are homeschooled perform better in the real world when compared to children who attend formal schools. Some of the teens who Google phrases like “solve my homework”, or “I need help with homework” are children who had formal education and if you choose to homeschool you can really focus on your child’s education and ensure that they stay motivated to work hard. If you’re going to homeschool your child, you have to do it right to make the best out of it. If you’re not careful, your methods may not be effective.

Top 5 Tips For Homeschooling Your Child

1. Develop A Routine

Since it’s not a formal school setting, you may be tempted to work without a routine. This is a common mistake parents make. Always make a plan for what would be studied at a given time and devote a particular time of the day to learning. Make a timetable for the week and stick to it. At first, it may be difficult to follow the routine. In time, however, you and your child will be used to it. Having a routine makes it easier for your child to transition from one stage of learning to another and from one subject to another. Keep in mind that the best routines are created when you and your child are involved in planning. So, make sure the timetable is in line with what your child is comfortable with.

2. Start Small

When you start homeschooling a young child, it’s easy to make that child overwhelmed by rushing. There is no need to hurry. Start small and add more load as time goes by. Remember that homeschooling is all about customized learning that carries your child along. Having a plan is cool but your plan should not be rigid. You should make room for a change when necessary. For example, you put 3 topics a day on the timetable but your child gets tired and losses concentration after the first two topics. A good way out of this would be to remove one topic and focus on two.

3. Offer Incentives

Offering young children incentives when they are learning can help them look forward to their study time. You can reward them for completing a task correctly. It doesn’t need to be candy all the time — you can offer them extra screen time, play time or get them a gift when they complete their exams you set successfully. The goal is to make them look forward to learning and there is no better way to do this than to add incentives.

4. Use Pictorial Illustrations And Stories

Colorful pictures are perfect for teaching young children. This is especially so when they are accompanied by stories. Many science books for kids use colorful pictures and exciting stories to help children understand basic concepts in science. You can either create your own stories and pictures or use some of these books even if they are not in the standard school curriculum.

5. Take Breaks When Necessary

When you’re building a routine, make sure you devote time to taking breaks. This is especially important for children who are below 12 years. They can get distracted easily and stop retaining your teaching. So, taking breaks while studying helps the child feel re-energized and ready to continue learning. It doesn’t need to be long breaks. A 10-15 minute break in a 1-hour session should be enough for the child. However, always consider the age and concentration level of the child.

With these five tips, you can homeschool your child until you’re ready to have them join a formal school if you wish.

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