Homeschooling may not have been your first choice but perhaps it is your only one. Maybe you have shifted abroad and no local school has English language based instruction, or you move about so much that studying in a regular school is not an option. No matter what the reason you may have to shift from regular school to homeschool, there is bound to be some apprehension on both sides when you make the switch.Here’s what you can do to make it easier on both sides.
Prepare for the Change
A child, who is not used to the parent being in a teacher’s role, will need to redefine the authority figure. A parent, who has not been much of a disciplinarian, may have to work on methods to hold the child’s attention. For both, the teacher and the student, this period of transition can be difficult. However if you are mentally prepared for the undertaking it can be done with considerable ease.
Keep the Child Informed
If you are going to begin homeschooling ensure that the potential homeschool student is aware of the situation that is leading to this change. Give the child time to come to terms with the change. About a month in advance start preparing the child for the future. Sit down and have a detailed chat about the course of action you are taking and the reasons for it. Even a younger child may have questions and doubts that you should take the time to address.
Avoid the Isolation
Going to public school involves meeting up with a large number of people everyday. Even if the actual number of friends that your child has is limited, he is used to seeing many people when he leaves the house. Homeschooling will cut into this and may leave the child feeling isolated. To avoid this ensure that there are after school activities that the child can join in. A club, a sport, or even learning a musical instrument can all count as acceptable distractions. Making new friends may not be possible immediately but having new people around the child is. Perhaps he will pick new friends from among them.
