You have finally done it! The terrible twos are done, the tumultuous threes have passed and the torrid fours are behind you. It is time to send your bundle of joy to kindergarten! Especially if you are a stay at home mom you may be dreaming of a full or half day of alone time while your youngster scampers off to join the educational system. Or are you excited? Many highly traditional mothers who stay home, decide to teach their little ones themselves a la home school. The reasons for this particular choice are many and along with them, come advantages and disadvantages.

Home schooling is exactly what it sounds like, opting to teach your child in the comfort and security of home. The parent (or sometimes home tutor) is required to follow the curriculum put forth by the school district or state that they reside in. This means that the child must accomplish certain educational requirements based on their grade level. Being home schooled is carefully monitored by the school district because at a certain age, the child is tested to make sure that they are up to the standards of education, especially when the child reaches higher grade levels.

Home schooling has its advantages in that the child will have one on one teaching which is a lot more conducive to learning at each level. More time can be spent on subject areas that are difficult for the child . Another advantage being that the way each subject is taught can be more creative. For instance, a child learning about certain animals has the leisure of an afternoon at the zoo to discover and learn. Parents may also feel that home schooling their child will keep their own moral and ethical standards better instilled in the child, due to the fact that the parent is home all day to monitor what the child learns and experiences.

While home schooling can be very positive academically there are some downfalls to it. One such downfall is the lack of social interaction the child may face. Part of growing up and learning is interacting with other children and dealing with all kinds of social situations, being both positive or negative. Along with this is how well skilled the adult is in teaching the child. A parent must have a good relationship with the child and have an exceptional grasp of the information that they are teaching. If there is no consistency as far as home school hours and what is accomplished , the child may fall behind academically. To be a home school parent, organization is a must.

Being home schooled or not is a decision that each family must carefully consider before moving forward. The main goals should be to give your child a quality education while fostering his/her social development. If the parent thinks that being home schooled is the right option for their child, they should take full advantage of all the information they can find in libraries, their school district and even the internet to help them be an exceptional teacher for their child.. If done the right way, your child will be the exceptional and well rounded person that you aspire for them to be.