If you’re thinking about starting your homeschool journey this year, you may be wondering if it’s the best path for your family. Lots of questions come to your mind as you consider this exciting change. You might be thinking: 

“How do I know if home education is right for my child?” 

“What do I need to start?” 

“Will teaching be difficult?” 

With a bit of research, you can decide if your family should learn at home and start without stress.

Here are 6 signs you should consider homeschooling and a beginning parents Q&A. After a little preparation, you can feel confident and capable as you tailor your child’s education.  

6 Signs Your Family is Ready to Start Homeschooling  

Look for these indicators that this change would help your household thrive. 

1. Your Child Needs Personalized Support  

Sometimes, children that once struggled at traditional school excel at home because they get more personalized guidance.  

If your child needs extra help, switching to homeschooling may improve their academic performance. When you instruct your child yourself, you’ll be able to aid with challenging subjects. Plus, you’ll also have extra time to explain concepts since you’ll no longer be commuting to and from school every day.  

2. You Want to Choose Subjects and Plan Lessons  

If your local school doesn’t offer courses that meet you or your student’s goals, staying home adds options. For instance, you may be searching for a culinary class because your child enjoys cooking, but there are no nearby schools with this choice. Once you’re planning their education, you’ll be able to enroll in unique electives by purchasing curriculum yourself.

You can also customize lessons. For example, in language class you could hand-pick poems and stories, helping your student develop strong reading skills.  

3. You Want to Include Your Faith  

Many Christian parents want their child to learn about Jesus Christ, read the Bible, and hear the gospel. Home instruction is an excellent way to start discipleship, giving room for Bible classes, personal devotions, and prayer. Best of all, your student will see you model Christian faithfulness daily. 

If this resonates with you, consider resources crafted for Christian parents. With Abeka, the biblical worldview is woven into each subject. For example, Bible classes share the Genesis creation story, and science courses revisit and reaffirm this Scriptural truth. Explore Abeka curriculum to help pass down your faith. 

4. You Want to Spend Time with Your Child  

Moms and dads are often drawn to homeschooling because they want more quality time with their child. You’ll find this lifestyle includes family, so you won’t miss meaningful moments. You’ll watch as your student learns or strengthens writing and reading. You’ll answer his or her questions and provide one-on-one instruction. The best part? When you see your child succeed, you’ll be fulfilled by the part you played.  

5. Your Family Needs Flexibility  

Since most schools offer only in-person learning, some parents teach at home to personalize class schedules. If you often move or live far from schools, educating your student yourself will support your lifestyle. Your child will also benefit, gaining more free time to spend on loved ones and hobbies because he or she no longer needs to travel to school.  

6. You Enjoy Sharing Knowledge  

Homeschooling is often a great fit for parents who value instructing their child. A love for learning shows you can prepare your student for the future. As you consider this shift, make a list of the subjects you’re interested in so you can research learning tools like books, flashcards, and supplemental resources.  

Beginning Homeschool Parents Q&A

1. What materials do I need to start? 

Gathering supplies is simple with a bit of planning. You’ll need: 

• Curriculum, like textbooks and video lessons  

• Pencils, pens, and notebooks 

• A chair and table where your student can learn  

• A planner or notebook for creating a schedule

2. Will teaching my child be challenging? 

Homeschooling is not inherently difficult. Through simple preparation, like collecting materials and creating an agenda, you and your student can shift into your new routine and thrive.  

If you feel you need a little extra support to make teaching easier, consider using video lessons. Abeka Academy provides K–12 video school, allowing parents to provide a high-quality education completely through recorded classes.  

Some parents may want to teach while supplementing with video lessons. To allow maximum customization, moms and dads can use lessons-on-demand to buy up to 25 hours of videos. 

3. What curriculum should I use? 

It is perfectly understandable when parents are overwhelmed by the number of homeschool programs. To select products your family will love, read customer reviews and sign up for free trials so you can try out materials before you commit to a purchase. 

One curriculum with free video lessons and excellent reviews is Abeka. When you’ve explored customer’s thoughts and the trial, you’ll be ready to decide whether this program is right for you.

4. What’s the difference between online and parent-led homeschooling? 

The key distinction between online and parent-led approaches is who teaches. In online school, prerecorded instructors present the lesson while your child uses their book, and the parent-led model allows you to teach while they read along.  

Abeka offers both online and parent-led materials to support different lifestyles. Online school is perfect for parents who prefer prerecorded lessons from Abeka teachers, and parent-led allows moms and dads to instruct and customize lessons.  

Tailoring Your Child’s Education  

If you read this article and think homeschooling is right for your family, congratulations! Beginning this exciting journey will allow your child to receive an education you tailored yourself, and that’s priceless.  

Looking for more encouragement, planning tips, and helpful resources? Sign up to receive practical support, curriculum guidance, and new content from Abeka delivered directly to your inbox.