Although a year ago, the idea of homeschooling was rarely acknowledged among Indian families, it has come in the lead as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to capture our lives. Now with all the educational institutions remaining closed, parents are switching towards homeschooling. Homeschooling is a sensible option considering the current situation.

Parents whose children study in school for several years may think the notion of homeschooling is a bit complicated and confusing. Questions may arise like if they are well-qualified to homeschool their children or if there are any legal procedures behind it.

Either you homeschool or take the help of distance or virtual learning, the aim should be to offer a positive experience to your children.

Homeschooling is a very simple way to educate your children. It even comes with many surprising benefits that will help young minds to succeed in life.

Practicalities of Homeschooling

Homeschooling is a technique in which the parents, educator, or online teacher teach their children, unlike sending them to any traditional school. The children can acquire different information and get motivated to work on their talents and aptitudes.

Homeschooling or virtual education comes with multiple boons, especially at a period like this when schools are operating virtual classes on hybrid schedules. Besides, the families are more concerned about their health and safety. So, they find it risky to send their child back to the classroom during the pandemic.

Moreover, there are a few more common reasons why parents are eager for homeschooling their child.

• One of your family members or child is medically weak or immunosuppressed. So, you feel uncomfortable sending your child to school during COVID-19.
• You are not satisfied with the COVID-19 safety plans proposed by the school
• You want to pick the virtual learning mode for acquiring the best training for homeschooling
• In need of an adjustable learning schedule 
• You may have a child with learning disabilities or a gifted child who can outperform in an unconventional learning environment.
• You wish to educate your child under a more child-centered educational approach.
• It helps to enhance artistic, creativity, and open intellectual pursuit.

Plus, it lends you enough time to build a strong rapport with your children. The child also gets a chance to master their problem-solving skills. They get less inattentive, especially those students who have concentration issues.

Legal Procedures to Start Homeschooling

Unlike in other countries like the USA, practicing homeschooling in India does not mandate registration with the State education department or periodic inspections or assessments from June 2020. If you shift your child to homeschooling from school, you may not require permission or a Transfer Certificate from your child’s school to enable homeschooling.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Homeschool Your Child?

If your top concern is of having less qualification for homeschooling, there are other home education providers as well. You can home educate your children yourself or take the help of a homeschool tutor or by subscribing to a good online educational website. Besides, there are some large bodies like the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) that gives accredited homeschool programs in India. 

However, if your child is in elementary school, you may teach your child easily. You can either brainstorm a few references to brush up on the subjects or invest in a curriculum to be more knowledgeable about the subject matter. 

You can become a part of virtual unschooling or homeschooling groups. In these groups, everyone shares and discusses valuable ideas that may help you gather information and lend you a perspective on homeschooling efficiently. You can even ask the group members for guidance if needed.

For homeschooling of older children, parents often need to enroll their kids in online classes from home. Irrespective of their educational qualification, almost every state allows parents to homeschool their children. 

However, it is always better to know the criterion of your State Educational Department for homeschooling.

Steps to Start Homeschool

Here is a list of the important things that will help you begin the homeschooling journey of your child on the right foot.

• Stationery Supplies

Setting up a decent home learning environment is pretty simple. You need to have many of the indistinguishable school supplies that the child used in their school classroom. These include notebooks, papers, folders, flashcards, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, markers, pens, pencil boxes. Extra-curricular supplies like crayons, glue, scissors, etc. 

• Homeschooling Space

If your children are going to be distance learning or online learning modes, it is better to dedicate a space in your house where the learning will take place. You can even decorate the homeschooling space, but that is completely optional.

• Designate Laptop or Desktop

If you can afford it, designate a laptop or desktop for distance learning or online learning. It will help your child to carry on the learning process efficiently.

• Strong WiFi

Make sure to install a WiFi connection and not depend on limited internet packs, especially if your child is using an internet-based learning method. 

• Find the Learning Resources

Invest your time in thinking about the learning styles that will best suit your child’s needs. After that, think about the learning resources and curriculum that will help your child to grow. Whether you homeschool or distance learning, incorporate the interest of your child in his learning.

• Set a Routine

Children usually thrive on systematic learning. When you set a clear schedule, it will encourage your child to stay focused on home education.

Most homeschoolers claim that a clear routine plays a significant role in getting success in homeschooling. Besides, this schedule can be more flexible than traditional schooling. It further helps the parents to make a balance between homeschooling their child and their own work and other responsibilities.

Conclusion

Initially, homeschooling may seem to be confusing. You may have several fears and worries about your child’s future. Gradually, you will notice that as the journey of homeschooling continues, you will get settled. Follow the steps and enjoy the learning process with your children.

Children are more resilient than we think. Nonetheless, don’t forget to reevaluate the learning styles periodically.