Updated 9/27/2022
If you’re thinking that homeschooling is harder than you expected, it could be that you have fallen into the “school pressure” trap.
Concerned friends and family may be telling you what the other kids are learning in school, and before you know it, you’ll be very stressed that you’re not replicating the same experiences at home.
Some of you don’t even need friends and family to get you worried about your decision – you’re fully capable of raising the anxiety level all alone!
Homeschooling will be easier for you once you understand that there is plenty of time. Your child doesn’t need to learn it all today. And they don’t need to follow along with whatever the local kids are learning. Remember, they are learning things that other kids aren’t!
You don’t even need to actively teach everything, since children are amazing at figuring things out on their own. Kids just need a mom, dad, grandma or whoever is the constant adult in their life to answer questions and to assist with the things they need help with.
Your job as the homeschool parent is to help your child learn. Some days that might look like what you think teachers do, but many days it won’t, and that can be good!
Most new homeschoolers are worried about what their children should learn. Experts have different opinions about this, and there is no one right answer, so forget about grade level. Consider doing what you do best, which is knowing deep in your heart what your child needs to learn today (as well as what they need to know before they are grown). Many of you have had that knowledge blocked out because you’ve been told to trust the school experts. When it comes to your child, you are an amazing expert and don’t let anyone take that away from you!
Take it one day at a time. As a homeschooler, you can be respectful of what your child needs to learn, and it certainly will be different from the big box one-size-fits-all school.
Your homeschool plan is only going to work for your child, and you are the one to make it happen. If it’s a struggle (like the little boy in the photo), regroup and try something new. You’ll soon forget how overwhelming homeschooling seemed when you were first beginning!
Karen Taylor’s always homeschooled son attended a local community college after graduating from homeschooling. He transferred to UC Berkeley as a junior, and received a PhD in neuroscience from UCSF. She shares homeschooling comments and links on Facebook, Pinterest, and this blog.
