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5. Provide them with as much information as you can about laws, curricula, and supports. It is so important that every home schooler be as informed as possible and can then answer questions and abide by the law and rules.
6. Encourage socialization outside of the home. There are so many things our children can do, even during school hours (i.e. Karate, gymnastics, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4H Clubs, Art classes, Soccer, Music classes, etc.). These are also great sources of support for parents. Socialization for parents also helps prevent burnout.

7. Get together on a regular basis. This way you can talk about how things are going, answer questions, discuss problems, provide support, and socialize. I get together with two other families once a week to socialize and do some joint teaching. I find I really need the socialization as much as the children do.
8. Offer to give her a break from her children once in a while. What a great support and sense of relief this can be for a mom who is with the kids all day. I know how much I appreciate even two hours when another mom or babysitter will come over while I go out, or when I drop the children off and go back home and get some housework or organization done.
9. Encourage her to do fun projects and games, rather than books and numbers and letters all the time. This really helps keep the child interested and enjoying learning. Discourage too much book work.. This will really help prevent burnout. So often parents, especially those new to homeschooling, think that they need to do mostly text book work, and feel they must do a lot more than they need to do. They may get stuck on the number of hours required or amount of work required.
10. Encourage her to take a day or a half of a day off when she and the children need it. We have that freedom and flexibility. We can always make up the time.
11. Tell her not to feel guilty about getting help if she needs it.

Learn more about this author, Melanie Clark.
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