a support and resource group for home education


1. What are the advantages of homeschooling?
Advantages of homeschooling are manifold for example a
better education, closer family ties,Islamic benefits, easy on your pocket, richer social life and health benefits. Read about these in detail here.

2. What are the disadvantages of homeschooling?
3. How long can a child be homeschooled?

4. How do I homeschool with babies and preschoolers?

Homeschooling older children along with babies and preschoolers can be a challenge but it’s not impossible. It requires organization on the parent’s part such as having a routine where members of the family know what happens when and what is expected of them. This allows family members of various age groups to play some role and hence their contribution aids towards working as a team.

Preschoolers can actually act as good play mates for the babies and are very helpful with the littlest of chores such as rocking the baby in his/her carry cot or showing the baby a toy or reading a picture book out load to the baby. Not all the children have to be taught at the same time.
The older one may baby sit the baby while children of a closer age group can be taught together. Even an hour a day adds up to be quite valuable. While the baby naps, the older child can be taught as older children can work relatively independently too.

Flexibility is a key ingredient as there may be days when the baby does not want to let go of you. That would be a good time to relax and maybe enjoy reading or free drawing or an audio story.
It’s amazing how children manage to busy themselves with a conducive environment.

5. Where can I get the materials and resources?
Nowadays materials and resources are so plentiful that it sometimes gets overwhelming as to what to take and what to leave.

In Pakistan, various school syllabi and books can be easily obtained from any school bookshop. One just has to decide which system one would like to follow for their child and then choose the books accordingly. You are free to select from different available curricula and make your own blend for each child, which best suits their individual pace and capability.

Stores that sell old books are also abundant and usually overflow with quality materials covering science, history, geography etc, at very affordable prices.

The internet is another haven for resources. Lots of free ebooks, videos, worksheets and learning games are available online. There are also homeschooling websites with resources for subscribers.
Private tutors are also an option for areas where help is required.

6. How does homeschoolers’ academic performance compare with other students?
Every homeschooler is an individual with different abilities. The advantage that homeschooling provides is that each child can explore his/her potential and hence groom his/her strengths and overcome his/her weaknesses.

As a homeschooler is going on his/her own learning pace, in some academic subjects he/she may be ahead of his/her respective year whereas in other academic subjects he/she may take longer if it’s an area of weakness.

On a whole though, homeschoolers have been seen to be more mature and independent than their schooling peers with respect to academic as well as social skills.

7. How does homeschooling work for students with “special needs”?
8. I want to homeschool, but my spouse is not convinced.
9. How do we deal with harsh criticism from family and friends about our decision to homeschool?
11. What if the child wants to go to school?
12. What happens when you think your children aren't learning as well as they should be?
13. What should I do when I question my sanity and ability, and want to give up? Is this common?

Article: An educational psychologist's take on school curricula.