When you decide to start homeschooling your children, it is a huge moment – one which is bound to change the course of your own life as much as your kids’. One of the first things you will need to think about is how well set up your home is for homeschooling.
Most homes need some work before you can say that the are ready for homeschooling, even if you are the most radical unschooler. What do you really need to do in the home to prepare it for many years of homeschooling?
Finding A Dedicated Space
Although you could work from room to room, it is likely to be much more effective to simply find a space you can work in and go from there. If you have a specified space for homeschooling, your children will get in the studying zone more easily.
If you work around the house, conversely, it is more likely that you will see your child being distracted and not working hard. So the first thing to do is to find a dedicated space in your home for homeschooling.
A basement or an attic is perfect, but any spare room will do. Having this space will be essential for the success of the homeschooling mission.
Getting Supplies
One way your home needs to be prepared is by stocking it up with relevant supplies. This means that you need to go out of your way to find plenty of writing paper, computer paper, books and school supplies – and all of that can cost money. However, with the right approach and by buying in bulk, you will be able to keep the cost down quite a bit.
You should aim to get enough supplies for beyond the first year, so that you don’t need to worry about it for a while. In that way, you will have a backlog so you can dip into it when necessary – like with any other school.
Storage
Of course, with all those extra supplies you will also want have plenty of storage for it all. You might want to install something in the homeschooling room, or somewhere close by, so that you can have it all easily to hand. I personally never seem to have enough storage room, but then I remember to be content in whatever state I am.
Again, it is best to approach this from the beginning. If you don’t, you might find yourself overrun with supplies and having nowhere to keep them later on – other than a box on the floor. It is best to be able to keep the space neat and tidy.
Distractions
Something that you will absolutely need to think about is how to stop your child from being distracted. Homes tend to be a place of pure distraction for most children. Having a dedicated space can help with this, but even so it can be hard to keep your child focused.
It is important that you also keep regular school hours, so that your child gets used to the routine of it. You should make sure not to deviate from this too much. The more that you allow the rules to be stretched, the less seriously your child will take the whole project.
Breaktime
Of course, the home will also need to provide water and snacks, for breaks, and also some kind of entertainment. Your child needs breaks. Having the home set up to accommodate that fact will make it all that much easier to do.
