Are you homeschooling for the first time?

If you are, don't be nervous. Unless you are a negligent parent (you are not, or you wouldn't be reading this!) then you will probably do a much better job than you expect. 

If you have some quality books in your house that your children can read and learn from, chances are they will learn much more at home than from public school even if you took a passive role in their education. 

Many parents, called unschoolers, do just this and their children still get into college. While I'm not advocating an unschooling approach to your child's education, it does beg the question: exactly what are children doing in public school for eight hours a day?! 

And, if unschoolers can get into college, what could a child who is learning at home with an-intellectually challenging program accomplish? The first word that comes to my mind is genius.

The Advantages You Have

Stay calm and breathe. The advantages to a homeschooled education are many; you are making a huge investment in your child's future by choosing to homeschool.  

When done right, you will rekindle the love of learning in your child that probably began to dim around first grade in the public school system. You will give your child a solid education that will equip him or her to get into college (even the Ivy Leagues, if you choose) and go on to lead a successful in life. 

Most importantly, though, you will raise your child to share your values and develop good character habits because you will raise him in an environment that supports your values. 

When a child spends eight hours in public school during his prime waking hours, the school's environment and his peers can have a stronger influence on him than you do. 

But a homeschooled child will have a much stronger bond with his parents and siblings because he spends more time with them, and he has more shared experiences with them. You will influence your in more positive ways because you'll be more present in his life. 

You Own Your Time

You are free to choose your own schedule when you're homeschooling, too. You don't have to teach according to the public school schedule. You do have to teach, however, for as many days per year as a public school.

How many days you teach is usually a state requirement, and you want to stay within the law when you are homeschooling. 

But you can make your own schedule, because your time is your own. Homeschooling allows you to float with the natural ebbs and flows of life rather than rigidly trying to adhere to a schedule that may not always be practical or helpful. 

When life throws you a wrench, and you need to deal with it, you have the freedom to take a break from your daily homeschooling routine, treat the break as vacation time, and make the days up later when everything is calm again. 

Depending upon the circumstances, you can turn the most unexpected events into a formal lesson in life.

My mother was ill for a few years when my children were being homeschooled, and they were able to help care for her, which they wouldn't have had the time to do in the same way had they been in school.

The lessons children learn from caring for others, especially the elderly and ill, they can never learn in a classroom. They are important lessons, too, to form their characters and make them better people. 

Homeschooling Is Enjoyable

Learning at home should be enjoyable, and it should allow your children time to develop their own particular interests, so they grow up to become interesting people.

Build a curriculum around any subject you choose and be creative. Let the world substitute as your classroom when it seems appropriate.

You cannot ruin your children's chances of success by homeschooling them as many people fear, but you will enrich their lives in ways you least expect.

Be strong. Be Brave. Be flexible. 

You will be amazed at the things your children learn that you would never have thought to teach them, and the interests they develop will surprise you throughout the years.

Homeschooling is a glorious world of unfolding surprises.

Don’t miss our free download, Ten Books Every Well-Educated Child Should Read.

Raise an intelligent and decent child by joining the Smart Homeschooler Academy now, and learn how to give your child an excellent education at home.

Join our waiting list for Elizabeth’s online course: Raise Your Child Well to Live a Life He Loves.

How to Raise a More Intelligent Child and an Excellent Reader—a free guide and book list with over 80+ carefully chosen titles.

Elizabeth Y. Hanson is an educator, veteran homeschooler and a Love and Leadership certified parenting coach with 17 years experience working in children’s education.

Using her unusual skill set, she has developed a comprehensive and unique understanding of how to raise and educate a child, and she devotes her time to help parents get it right.

Disclaimer: This is not a politically-correct blog.