Making the Transition to Homeschooling

// Filed in: Engaging Our Kids | Benefits of Creativity | Start Here

If you're making the transition from public school to homeschooling, you might be feeling overwhelmed. You're not alone! First of all, welcome! The homeschooling community is wonderful, and when you find your tribe, you'll have support, encouragement, and hopefully, playdates when you need them.

There's a lot that can be said about how to get started. As someone who has homeschooled for 16 years and graduated three students, I've tried many different methods, including Classical, Charlotte Mason, Waldorf, Charter, Montessori, co-ops, and "let's just try this and see what happens." But no matter what method you choose, my advice is always the same: figure out what habits you want to establish for yourself and your child, and work on those before diving into the curriculum.

What strengths do you want to develop? What weaknesses do you want to minimize? What character issues do you want to address? Sometimes it's as simple as working on perseverance or establishing a morning routine. Other times, you may need to foster a love of learning or help your child undo negative habits from their previous schooling. By focusing on developing life skills in the beginning, you'll create a well-rounded and wonderful adult. Once those skills are strong, you can focus on the curriculum and achieve excellence in the subjects you choose.

As you begin and continue on your homeschooling journey, be encouraged! It can work, even when mistakes are made (and they will be). Homeschooling provides a unique opportunity to tailor your child's education to their specific needs and strengths, including their creativity and imagination. Encouraging your child's creativity and imagination not only enhances their educational experience but also equips them with important skills for the real world.

To help with this, consider incorporating opportunities for your child to explore and develop their creativity and imagination, whether through art, music, or imaginative play. With your support, your child can thrive academically and creatively as they continue to grow and learn.

(and of course, here at A Pirate’s Guide, we think creativity is important - and our workbook is a great resource for building creativity, brainstorming ability, and thinking outside the box - all great life skills!)

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Making the Transition to Homeschooling

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