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Although homeschooling is a popular educational alternative for many families, there are some important issues to consider before making the decision to homeschool. Before making the decision to homeschool, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Why do you want to homeschool? It's important to know your reasons for deciding to homeschool so that when doubts about homeschooling arise, you can remind yourself why you wanted to homeschool in the first place. You may even find it helpful to write your reasons for homeschooling down, so that on the worst of days, you'll have something to look to for encouragement and motivation.

2. How will you arrange to meet your child's socialization needs? For example, does your child have opportunities to play and learn with other children in the neighborhood and church? Are there opportunities in your area for scouting, sports, and get togethers with other homeschoolers?

3. Can you afford to homeschool? Homeschooling can be done on a shoestring budget when necessary, but there will likely be at least some cost associated with homeschooling. For most families, the decision to homeschool also results in limited income potential for the primary homeschooling parent.

4. How does your spouse feel about homeschooling? Although it is possible to homeschool if only one of the parents believes in homeschooling, it can be very difficult to homeschool on a long-term basis without approval and support from the child's other parent.

5. What are the homeschooling laws in your state? Homeschooling laws vary from state to state. Although rare, some states require the homeschooling parent to have a level of education, for example. To find out the homeschooling laws in your state, visit this site: http://homeschooling.about.com /od/legal/Staying_Legal_Homesc hool_Laws_and_Requirements.htm to be sure you will be able to comply with the law.

6. Do you have the discipline to homeschool? Homeschooling parents aren't perfect, but a certain level of discipline is necessary in order for homeschooling to be successful. It's important to evaluate your current level of discipline, both as an individual and as a parent before making the decision to homeschool.

7. Are you ready to be misunderstood? Homeschooling has come a long way in terms of acceptance by the general public, but homeschooling skeptics still exist. Thick skin, regarding the opinions of others is a helpful attribute of homeschooling parents.

Carefully thinking through the above questions will help you determine whether or not homeschooling is right for you.

Learn more about this author, Rebecca Livermore.
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