| One of the things that discourages parents from | | | | curriculum experts, even other families who have |
| homeschooling is the fear that they are not really | | | | homeschooled successfully. |
| qualified to educate their own children. Perhaps | | | | Secondly, as your child developed, each of these |
| they didn't do well in school themselves, or they | | | | accomplishments was the result of a natural |
| don't have a post-secondary education. Or, | | | | progression and desire to learn. Your child wanted |
| maybe they don't think they have the patience to | | | | to speak, so you encouraged him to make |
| teach their child. | | | | coherent sounds. He wanted to walk, so you held |
| The truth is, though, most parents are fully | | | | his hand while he found his balance. In the same |
| qualified to teach their own children. By the time | | | | way, your child will have a desire to read. As his |
| your child reaches school age, you have probably | | | | teacher, you will teach him the steps of reading. |
| been your child's primary teacher for 5 or 6 | | | | He will recognize patterns in numbers. You will help |
| years. And just look at everything your child has | | | | him understand what they mean. |
| learned! | | | | Finally, when you first became a parent, you |
| In most cases, you will have taught your child to | | | | probably took steps to educate yourself for the |
| understand language and to communicate using | | | | tasks ahead. When I first learned I was pregnant, |
| words. If that's not enough for you, remember | | | | I read every book I could find about caring for |
| that you have also taught your child to walk and | | | | newborns and being a new mother. As my |
| run. And it doesn't stop there. You have probably | | | | children grow, I learn as much as I can about the |
| taught your child how to behave so he will fit into | | | | stages they'll be going through and how I can |
| our society. | | | | prepare myself for them. Homeschooling is no |
| If you're really not capable of teaching, how were | | | | different in this way either. Most homeschooling |
| you able to teach a child all this within a few short | | | | parents read books, subscribe to magazines and |
| years? | | | | visit online resources to learn how to be the best |
| First of all, you may have had support from | | | | home school parent they can be. |
| friends, family members, and experts such as | | | | Almost any parent who is committed to helping |
| your doctor. In this same way, homeschooling | | | | her child develop is fully capable of homeschooling |
| parents draw on the many resources available to | | | | that child. |
| them to help them teach their children: teachers, | | | | |