365 Things to Avoid while Homeschooling

For reasons I don't understand, the media loves to show families with preschool-aged kids who plan to homeschool, when they talk about homeschooling.  A recent example is the New York Times magazine article "School's In" which features a homeschool co-op where the oldest kids are 6, but the vast majority seem to be preschoolers, and the kids are taught by paid teachers in an environment so school-like the parents refer to it as a school.  There's certainly nothing wrong with what they'r

Everyone has strengths and weaknesses-- we know this as adults, but when we see a kid exhibiting a weakness, it can be easy to want to blame their parents.  Sometimes parents can contribute to a kid's struggles, but other times they might be doing everything "right" but the kid is working on his own schedule and not able to meet your expectations.

As outsiders to the family, we can't know the whole story, so it's important not to jump to conclusions.

As a life-long suburbanite, I never thought my kids would be in 4-H, because I thought it was a place for kids to learn about raising cows or something.  But thanks to some friends I've learned better, and we are looking forward to our first county fair as a 4-H family. 

Whether they are grandparents, neighbors, or other members of the community, kids and adults can learn a lot from older generations!  Intergenerational relationships benefit everyone, improving the health of seniors and the "emotional IQ" of kids (and they can give the middle generation, Mom and Dad, a break).  So, even if you're better informed than the people in the video above, look for ways to involve older generations in your homeschool.  If you aren't sure how to do this, this article has several practical ideas<