If homeschooling is a journey, setting out on the right foot is one of the most important and exciting parts! Talking to an experienced traveler can help you make a great start. Today on Home School Heartbeat, HSLDA President Mike Smith and his guest offer encouragement and advice for families embarking on the adventure of homeschooling young children.
Mike Smith:
Joining me this week is Vicki Bentley, HSLDA’s newest program coordinator. Vicki will be providing answers and encouragement to parents of younger children—from early learners through middle schoolers. Vicki, welcome to the program!
Vicki Bentley:
Thanks, Mike. It’s great to be here!
Mike:
Vicki, teaching a young child is often a parent’s first experience in homeschooling. Can you give our listeners some advice on how to approach homeschooling for the very first time?
Vicki:
Well, Mike, Mom and Dad come into homeschooling with the greatest qualifications: a deep love for their child and a vested interest in his success!
So I like to remind parents that they’ve already been homeschooling their young children—they’ve taught them to talk, to communicate, they’ve taught them a variety of basic skills as well as character lessons. So, if nobody told them that when their children reached, say, 5 or 6, they had to go off to school, what would they be doing with them? What are they already doing to motivate and stimulate and teach them?
Then I encourage them to explore ways to simply expand what they’re already doing in the context of that natural relationship—sort of a lifestyle of learning!
Mike:
Vicki, that’s sure to help new homeschoolers get off on the right foot! Thanks for joining us today! And until next time, I’m Mike Smith.
