Based on many conversations I have had with people, homeschooling looks harder than it actually is. Yes, it has its challenges like almost anything; however, it can be easier and than people think. Mainly, because homeschooling is composed of normal, everyday activities you would be doing anyway, which counts towards instruction time. Here are some examples:
You have visited a zoo, museum, national park or farm recently
Going on field trips provides fun, hands-on education. They are everywhere and easy to visit on the weekends or during the week. Some history museums do reenactments and other immersive experiences.
You have your child enrolled in an extracurricular activity
Piano lessons, coding, art, STEM, American Heritage Girls and Trail Life are classes that count towards instruction time and gives your children an opportunity to be with other kids and have different teachers in their life.
Your child plays a sport
Gymnastics, swimming, soccer, ice skating and participating in the town baseball league all count toward PE. Their coaches are their teachers. Impromptu trips to the ice skating rink or playing basketball your driveway once in a while also count as "school".
You read to your child or your child has recently read a book
Reading is an important life skill that counts as school.
Your child has done an art project, craft or baking project recently with you or in a summer camp
That counts too!
You have helped your child with their homework
Book reports, math worksheets and science projects are things you would be doing anyway if your child were in class. Homeschoolers do them too.
You have played a game like scrabble, "Ticket To Ride", "Boggle", "Monopoly" or "War" with your kids
Many board and card games are educational and count towards education time.
You have had a conversation recently with your children about current events, taxes, manners, Jesus or how the world works either in the car or elsewhere.
These organic educational conversations are an important part of homeschooling.
You have gotten together with friends for a playdate recently.
Healthy, social interaction is very important for our children and for us parents.
Your child has watched a Youtube tutorial, science show, non-fiction movie or cooking show.
These count as school too, as long as they are educational and applicable to a subject being studied by your kids.
Obviously, there is more to homeschooling than what is listed here. However, we hope you have a better idea of what homeschooling actually looks like.
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