As parents, we want only the best for our children, and that includes a good education.  For some, this might mean sending out children to a Christian school with the hopes of a good classical education.  After all, classical education is becoming more and more popular these days and dozens of classical Christian schools are opening up all over the country.

It isn’t hard to see what goes on in the public school system these days and that really scares us as parents as well as our children.  Records show that many of today’s children are dropping out of school as early as junior high because they are so afraid of all the drugs and sex and gangs that are so prevalent.  So what are we to do as parents?  We want to protect them, but we also realize that they have to have an education to make it in today’s world.

So now comes the idea of homeschooling.  This can be very overwhelming at first, with so many questions going through your head, can I really do this, what curriculum would I use and where would I get it, and of course what about my children’s socialization?  Will my child or children be able to handle this, or better yet, will we as parents?

Keep in mind that socialization does indeed affect your children and you need to choose those influences you want in their lives.  They will get plenty of socialization from the neighborhood kids, church groups and other outside activities.

So you’ve made the decision to home school.  You have two school age children,  a toddler and a baby.  How will you be able to handle the responsibility?  Well there is a variety of things you can do.  Maybe the toddler and baby could play together while you teach.  You can also use the time while they are napping to teach the older ones.  If the toddler feels left out, let him color in the same room while you are teaching the older ones. Their brains are like little sponges and you will be surprised at the things he will pick up and absorb just by being in the same room.  If their attention span is gone, let them go play.

Getting back to the curriculum – a general list of areas of learning that you will want to incorporate into your homeschooling will be things  which you can teach not only through materials but just as a part of daily life.  You can incorporate learning into your daily life while you’re out for a walk or driving the car or even making diner.  So in other words, you can make life a learning experience.

Take for instance a lesson in Math could be as simple as adding in the grocery store while shopping, counting trees and birds while out for a walk.  A lesson in Science could be learning about different animals and plants and how and why things work.  History – where did I come from, different cities and countries and what about their Maker.  Physical Education – well look at all the playing and games they do.  Also Social Skills-how they interact with adults, their manners and unselfishness.

Another area of learning experience is that of cleaning.  Make it a part of your school day.  What better way to teach your children discipline, organization, home economics and character.  Put up a chart with a list of all the chores and then just rotate it every day.

The World Book Encyclopedia has an online listing of what your child needs to learn for each grade level.  So go ahead and if this is something you think you might could do and feel really good about, and at the same time be able to spend more quality time with your children – just do it!