- Breathe. You are going to do just fine. No, but really. When I talk to parents, they often are so consumed with worry that it makes it hard for them to see themselves past the beginning. Starting anything for the first time is a bit scary because there is quite a bit of unknown. However, I hope that this blog helps to tackle some of that.
- Familiarize yourself with the homeschooling laws in your state. This is one of the very first things you want to do. Homeschooling laws vary depending on what state you live in. Check out the homeschool laws for your state by clicking here.
- Ease into a daily schedule with your child before considering any formal curriculum. Why is that? Well, you want to have your child on some sort of regimen because studies show that kids thrive emotionally and academically when they know what to expect throughout their day. This does not mean that your child’s day has to be jammed packed with something to do every waking hour. Nope, this means that your child should have a general idea of when mealtimes, downtimes, independent indoor play, outdoor play, sensory play, bath time, etc… will take place. For young children who are not yet reading or children who are in need of additional support, you might consider a visual schedule. Don’t let this stress you. I promise it is the easiest part of the process. Several schedules can be found on pinterest, etsy, teacherspayteachers, google, and more. You can even grab some index cards and make your own! The key here is to post the schedule somewhere they can see it well. You could even involve them by allowing them to turn a picture over or remove a visual from the schedule as you complete each task. I prefer to use pocket charts to post visual schedules. Check this one out by clicking here.
Stay Tuned as we continue homeschooling and parenting with intention!