I am interested in home schooling my child (shes only a toddler now) but how do I get started?

You and I are in the same boat with the small budget thing. There is no test that you have to take in order to home school your child. I'm in my second year of home schooling and, so far, this is what I have done. I go to Walmart, buy their workbooks, flash cards, etc. I submit (with grade 1 and up) the proposed curriculum for that year: math, reading, grammar, social studies, etc. to the school district, they send a letter letting me know that everything has been approved and that my child is 'excused from attendence' for the school year. As for those people who believe home schooled children have no social interaction, that is entirely untrue and unfounded. We have a group which meets every Wednesday for a play date and once a month, we have a big field trip. The kids love it, it gives us a breather in the middle of the week, and there isn't one child who doesn't interact with the others. Also, these children are well-adjusted and have a higher acceptance rate into colleges across the country. Socially, the older children (jr-sr high school ages) have dances, parties, and even a prom. They miss out on nothing except peer pressure, bad influences at 'regular' school, and the chance to be shot, stabbed, raped, or abused by their classmates. How can any child learn in that sort of environment? I applaud and encourage you in your choice to home school. Be proud! You and your child are going to have the best times, be closer to each other than most other parents and children, and you will both find this a wonderful experience. Keep it up!!! (as for those who frown on home schooling, don't knock it till you've tried it.)

You need to check out the regulations where you live. Also read whatever you can find at the library and get involved with your local homeschooling group. It will give you the next few years to really immerse yourself and learn all you can. Also buy the book "Homeschooling on a Shoestring". It'll show you how cheaply you can homeschool your child. Don't let naysayers put doubts into your mind. If you are willing to do your end of things, which you've already begun by asking questions, there's nothing to fear in homeschooling.

No. You need to have basic knowledge, reading, writing, arithmetic to teach your daughter Invest in a HSLDA membership, there you can request an informational packet concerning your state guidelines. Start when you and your daughter are ready. Kindergarten should only be about 3 hours, this you can split in morning and afternoon. Get some workbooks for her to practice her letters and numbers. Have some drawings for counting or color and shape telling. Start with concepts of money, concepts of simple science, concepts of morals, and telling time. Depending on how she does, you can start with reading simple short words. Include some music, singing, and memory games. Teach her to organize her work, be on time, pay attention, ask questions, etc. Check out these sources for curricula: A Beka, Alpha Omega, Spectrum Math, Rod and Staff, and don't forget the library!!! Be sure she has her OWN library card!!!

HOME SCHOOLING. http://www.homeschool.com/ http://www.homeschool.com/resources/ http://www.homeschool.com/new/ http://www.homeschool.com/articles/Socialization/default.asp http://www.homefires.com/ http://www.homeschool.com/Registration/default.asp Homeschool.com also has the following information available free of charge: •Free eNewsletter •Homeschooling Tip-of-the-Week •Local Homeschooling Groups •Homeschooling Message Boards •Newsletter Archives New to homeschooling? Here is some additional information to help you get started. •Welcome! •New to Homeschooling? •Getting Started Kits •Homeschool How-To Recordings The complete Homeschool.com Directory is below. If we can help you in any way, please contact [email protected]. http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/index.html http://www.thehomeschoolmom.com/ http://www.home-schooling-advice.net/ http://www.canteach.ca/links/linkhomeschool.html http://www.americaslibrary.gov/cgi-bin/page.cgi http://www.hslda.org http://www.hslda.org/Default.asp?bhcp=1 http://www.teachnlearn.org/index.htm http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/TeacherZone.asp http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/pages/teacherzone/resources.asp http://www.highlightskids.com/ http://www.youcanhomeschool.org/starthere/default.asp Good luck. Kevin, Liverpool, England.

You already are homeschooling! In fact, ALL mothers of toddlers and infants are homeschooling......it just isn't formal. We start the day our children are born to educate them about the world around them. It is to our shame that we turn our kids over to the state to finnish what we have started. As for my family, I have three sons who went to public school for a while, then I followed my heart and brought them home. (I had wanted to homeschool since they were born but gave in to the LOUD opinions of outsiders) My boys were doing alright in school but have really done well since bringing them home, both academically and socially. Two of my sons are really shy and I worried about them at school.....I did worry that bringing them home might make it harder for them to make friends, what I found was the total opposite! They do their work in the early mornings then usually in the early afternoons we are done. Every Friday they attend a homeschool co-op where they learn with kids who are close in age, (there are co-ops everywhere and classes many times start as early as preschool age). This semester in co-op for example my boys are taking...health and nutrition, volleyball for gym, and then the older two take caligraphy for art, and the younger one takes a geography class. In our area there is homeschool soccer, gym and swim at the YMCA, art lessons offered by the counsel for the arts (and these are really good in depth art lessons not a 20 minute craft class as they would get in public school) The art classes are 90 minutes long and have, so far, covered many aspects of the arts. There are group field trips, homeschool book clubs, the possibilities and opportunities for a homeschool child is as endless as the time the parent's put in. My boys have made closer friends since we started to homeschool than they ever did in PS. Although they are still friends with the ones they made there. As far as resources for a small budget....just involve your little girl in your everyday things....you can learn a lot of math while cooking or grocery shopping if you talk about what you are doing while you are doing it! As has been suggested already you will want to check out your local homeschool support groups...just type a search with your state's name and the word homeschool and you should come up with loads of information and contacts. Another great resource is yahoo groups....go to yahoo groups and search homeschool preschoolers...there is nothing like talking with another mom the same age as your child to get ideas from. Good luck and enjoy your little girl. It seems like yesterday I was in your shoes and thinking about homeschooling, now my oldest is nearly as tall as me! It goes too fast. Blessings!

yes i think home shooling is great,but inrolled your child in sports and child stiff because children need friends and there are home shooling web site to go to or you could to your yahoo search and put in home shooling.

in response to all the discouraging comments you've recieved, here's what I have to say: Homeschooling is great for your child intellectually and emotionally and morally, but I think that you need to supplement the social aspect. Here's why: I was homeschooled through Jr. High and had 2 friends, my little sister and an acquaintance at church. During that time I could really have used a close friend, but I had no opportunity to make one. There were other circumstances in my family that affected this outcome, as well, but it took me 4 years of high school attending a school to learn how to make and be a good friend, as well as interact in a group. I loved the curriculum and being with my family, but I missed having friends my own age. So when you start homeschooling, make sure to provide opportunites for your daughter to make friends, and she will have the best education.

Way TO GO!I'm home schooled,and from personal experience,you are making the best decision.anyway,my parents didn't have to take any tests for home schoolinging,and they aren't certified teachers,and they are teaching me great.I would first look into going a homeschool group,because they might have meetings where you can learn some more about home schooling,also,either buy or borrow homeschool books,though it might be difficult there's like 5 million different books on EVERYTHING on homeschooling,but if you can weave through them,do that.And remember,don't let other people convince you that your child is never going to make it in society if they're home schooled,cause we are fine,and make friends just like any other kids,and you will have a great relationship with your child,like I have with my parents,and you would never have that kind of relationship if your child was public schooled.even though it is going to be a challenge,its all worth it.

First, you will need to check out your state laws. The easiest way is to go to www.hslda.org and look up your state. You can start now by teaching some basics like colors, shapes, numbers, and letters. One web site I found helpful for this is www.crayola.com for preschool. You can start learning how your daughter learns now so you can choose the best curriculum to teach. Another web site to get worksheets from is www.schoolexpress.com. They have worksheets for all ages, for now select the category for 3-5 years. Good Luck and please keep in mind some people are very closed minded when it comes to home schooling.