Nature study is an important part of homeschool science, but sometimes it is difficult to get outdoors. Maybe mom or a child is recuperating from an illness and cannot easily move about. It could be a season of extreme weather that makes going outside terribly unpleasant or even dangerous. Or possibly a family is temporarily…
Despite the high price of gasoline, many of us spend quite a bit of time in our cars and vans. Travel time can feel like wasted time in our day, time taken away from valuable pursuits like reading or crafting. But that time in the car running errands or on road trips can be redeemed…
Contrary to the stereotype, all homeschooled children are not geniuses who perform several grade levels above their peers. Although homeschooling consistently out-performs traditional schools, children who are home educated have their share of struggles in critical academic areas such as reading, writing, and math. If you are teaching your child at home, there are ways…
One of the most precious family routines is bedtime, especially when it includes reading. Not only are you spending quality time with your children, you are also boosting their academic development. Literary analysis, vocabulary, and cause and effect are just a few examples of what children learn when adults read to them. We all have…
Because science is all around us, it is easy to teach homeschool science with the ordinary objects already around us. Botany is a perfect example. Many of the kitchen scraps you normally discard after making a pot of soup or casserole can be reused in gardening projects that teach children scientific principles. Green onion bottoms…
Most homeschool moms admit that the arts are important. Unfortunately their day to day practice demonstrates something different. Art, music, theater, and poetry tend to be neglected in favor of the more urgent academic areas of math, science, and writing. It is understandable. There are only so many waking hours of the day. And the…
In attempt to simplify your life and declutter your home, are you tossing away potential craft material? No one wants closets overflowing with cereal boxes and cardboard tubes, but it is nice to have a stash of supplies on hand for crafty upcycling with your children. Instead of investing in expensive craft supplies purchased at…
Keeping collections is good for children. The benefits of collecting do not come from the type of collecting done on the Internet with a credit card. That thinly veiled consumerism is not what I mean by collecting. Beneficial collecting is also not the hoarding of valuable things in hopes of reselling them later for a…
Every human being loves attention and praise. Many of us even crave it and feel less than confident when we are not reassured by affirming words. As parents, we have incredible influence over our children through the words we use with them. Unknown to many parents, some types of praise are actually counterproductive to hard…
Bird watching is not commonly thought of as a hobby for children, but this inexpensive pastime has many benefits for the homeschooled child. If you have any birds in your area, coax them closer to your windows by strategically placing a bird feeder. Then store binoculars and field guides close to that window to encourage…
