Content

• To step
• Tips
• Warnings

Homeschooling is a great way to be close to your children while helping them become well-developed teens and adults. It offers you the opportunity to tailor the education to suit your children, your lifestyle and what you believe in. Homeschooling also gives your children a safe home base as they explore the people and places around them. With the ability to individualize your child's education, you can give them a lifelong love of learning.

To step

1. Find out if you qualify for an exemption from compulsory education. In the Netherlands, compulsory education is regulated in the compulsory education act. In 1969, this law states that every child is obliged to attend a school. There are a number of exceptions, namely:
   • you lead a traveling life (Article 5a)
   • there is no school with your philosophy of life (Article 5b)
   • your child is physically / mentally incapable of attending a school (Article 5c)
     
     Most parents rely on Article 5b of the Compulsory Education Act for an exemption from the compulsory education act. Here it is stated, among other things, that parents who "predominantly object to the direction of education at all within a reasonable distance from the home - or, if they have no permanent residence, at all schools or educational institutions in the Netherlands where the minor would be placed have "could be exempted from compulsory education. To obtain an exemption, you must submit a request to the mayor and aldermen of your place of residence. This request must be submitted one month before your child reaches compulsory school age. Your child may not have attended a school or educational institute in the previous year!
2. Remember that it is very important for children of all ages to be able to make friends. Make sure they go to a sport or other club. Don't force them to do anything, but don't let them give up too easily either. These activities help children gain social skills and teach them important things like making friends and keeping appointments.
3. Prepare yourself. Realize that no one cares about your child's future more than you. That is why you are especially suited for the role of a parent teaching at home. Homeschooling is a big responsibility, but if you can properly integrate it into your family's lifestyle, it can work well. You really don't have to give up the rest of your interests; you could very well have a life outside of school work.
4. Choose your own home schooling style. Study your intentions and motivations. Why do you want to homeschool? What do you think is "good" education? What do you believe about children, teaching and learning? How do your children learn best? These questions can help you decide which approach to take and help you create a learning environment that is best suited for your family and your children. Also consider that an approach that works well for one child may not be right for another.
5. Learn about different homeschooling methods. Some examples are:
   • Unschooling (Elkewijs): This is an anarchist approach where the child is self directed. It is based on the idea that a child learns quickly and easily when it comes to things he / she is interested in.
   • Charlotte Mason's Method
   • Montessori or Waldorf method
   • A mixture of different styles
6. Create your curriculum. The sheer amount of materials and methods available can be overwhelming for new homeschooling parents. Identifying your approach helps to simplify things (People who follow the 'unschooling' method usually have a wide variety of resources for their children to experience, but no formal curriculum. and speak to a considerable level). There are many resources that can help you navigate between all the different ideas. Libraries and bookstores have homeschooling books, experiences, and proven curricula. The Internet offers infinite information: basic information on various topics, curricula and supplies are offered for sale online, you will find articles on methods, workgroups and curricula of public schools. You can even find free lessons on the Internet on most topics from teachers, other home teachers, and school television. Research, read and plan what you want to offer and how.
   • Language
   • Calculating mathematics
   • History
   • Geography
   • Music
   • Art
   • Science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
7. Look for support in your environment. There may be groups of homeschooling families who meet to exchange experiences, ideas, and resources. If you feel like it is too much, frustrated, or alone in your educational pursuits, such a group can give you advice or support so you know you are not alone. It can also be of great help in complying with education laws.
8. Prepare your kids. Explain to them what will happen in the coming months, what daily life will look like for them and the rest of the family. Explain to older children that even if they no longer go to school, it does not mean that they will leave their studies or friends behind. Ask them what they would like to learn. For example, if a child loves to look at the stars, get a telescope and start teaching astronomy. Get them involved. Homeschooling should be fun for the kids! That is the best motivation.
9. Inform the rest of the family. Others in the family who care about you and your children can be helpful and support you in your homeschooling efforts - or they can be harsh criticism. Plan ahead of time how you're going to tell them what you're up to, and answer any questions or concerns they may have. Help them understand that you are willing and determined and don't let negative reactions fool you. They worry, and seeing how over time your kids are happy and successful in their home study will change their minds and become your biggest supporters.
10. Allow your kids enough time to adjust. Often, children coming out of mainstream education and receiving homeschooling just need some time to adjust. Rather than jumping into "home school" right away, it may be better to start with some unstructured activities and then slowly get used to a routine. Decide how much time each child needs to adjust to the new situation and work with them to create a different, more enjoyable learning experience.
11. Gather materials. The materials you need for homeschooling vary greatly by method. You can order textbooks, curricula, and resources online or from a learning method publisher. For cheaper alternatives, you can also try the library, bookstore, second-hand bookstores, and flea markets. When the school year has been going on for a while, many school supplies such as pens, notebooks, glue, paint, etc. are on sale.
12. Plan your day. If you opt for a more formal homeschool environment, you can prepare by gathering your lesson plan, materials, and books - or even setting up a dedicated study room for classes and activities. A different approach could mean that your preparation consists of organizing fieldwork or projects in each learning area, bringing in learning objects, or simply seeing every day as a learning opportunity without fixed plans or textbooks. However, if you opt for home education, it is best to plan and prepare in advance as much as possible.
13. Look for real-life experiences. Everyone benefits from seeing and experiencing things for themselves. Some activities that are educational and easy to do include gardening, cooking, sewing, composting, chemistry projects, walks, home DIY, grooming pets, and taking apart broken appliances (just make sure there are no lasers or other dangerous electronics that are still active). Your children learn different things depending on their age, but everyone learns something from it.
14. Keep a portfolio of each child's work. Thick binders with tabs for each child are a great way to keep track of schoolwork and progress, along with what may be required by law. Label each tab with the subject or field. If your child has made a piece of work, make holes in it and put it in the appropriate section of their folder. Remember to put a date on each page, otherwise it will be a big puzzle later.
15. Regularly evaluate progress. Progress evaluation is very natural because it is a one-on-one situation, although there may also be some control from the education inspectorate. However, personal evaluation should not only be on the cognitive level, but should also be about how the process works for everyone in the family. If the teaching methods don't suit the child's learning style, if the curriculum is too structured, or not structured enough, or if the whole homeschooling process seems to be making things worse instead of better, it's time for a change. Fortunately, change is very easy and quick to make, with a little research. If you are unsure about the level of knowledge in certain areas, you can order tests via the internet to monitor your child's progress.
16. Follow your feelings. Trust your knowledge and instincts when it comes to your own children. Not only are you ultimately responsible for your child's education, but you often see the best in what they do or don't need. Feel free to look at the experiences and insights of others to help you find direction, but trust your own instincts about what your child should learn and do in their educational progress.
17. Let your kids go to the park or other public places to make friends. Encourage your child to keep in touch with old friends. You can encourage - but not force - your child to become friends with another child who is being homeschooled. This often happens spontaneously when your family comes into contact with other homeschooling families.

Tips

• You can find the core objectives of primary education online.
• If you want to homeschool a child with learning disabilities, find others who also teach children with special needs at home.
• Since your children have more time to learn than in regular school, try to organize out-of-the-book activities such as learning a new language or skill. This gives them a broader upbringing.
• Seek outside help if needed. If there's a topic you don't know enough about, hire a teacher or have a friend with more knowledge about the topic come and talk about it.
• Library visits will promote self-study, something that children in mainstream schools often develop less. It also develops a love of reading. Your child will certainly thank you.
• Make sure you organize plenty of fun excursions, such as to botanical gardens, farmers' markets, the airport, the post office, etc. Because your child gets the full attention of his teacher, he will learn a lot from these trips.
• Read everything you can about teaching.
• Give each child their own library card. Weekly visits to the library are a great way to spark interest in learning and reading. There are many great books for children, and the library is a great source of materials to add to your lessons. Many libraries also offer weekly reading hours and other programs for children (and an opportunity to meet other children).
• Be a fun teacher. Homeschooling will turn out badly for both you and your children if you get angry and frustrated with everyday stress. Take care of yourself, take time to recharge daily, and be prepared for the many responsibilities that your role as a parent and teacher will entail.
• Take pictures! Don't forget to record your homeschooling activities, even if it seems like a daily grind. By documenting you show that you are active and you see progress in your learning experiences. Make a scrapbook at the end of each year, or start a family website or blog - both for your own memory and to creatively show other people what your home schooling is all about.
• Pay attention to how you use your time. Homeschooling is not an invitation to laziness. It is a way of learning that suits your family better. Early birds can use the morning hours, while night owls prefer the late afternoon and evening. Look at what your most productive times are.
• Be flexible. If you and your family are at risk of becoming overworked, sitting at home too much, or tired of daily classes, take a field trip! Do something fun as a family, like visit a museum, organize a picnic, or go boating. Not every day will go exactly as planned, and illness or emergencies can interrupt homeschooling as well. Be open to change.
• Make sure your child has enough contacts. Put your child on a sport, music lesson, scouting, etc. This gives your child the opportunity to develop social skills and interact with different people in different situations.

Warnings

• Be careful when using traditional textbooks. These programs have benefits, but are not suitable for all learning styles and can bring the negativity of regular school into your home. Make sure to adapt a curriculum to your family's needs and goals.
• Don't get obsessed with your kids! Take care of yourself, go out with your spouse, talk about things other than education and children and everyone will be happier.
• Don't ignore homeschooling laws.
• Don't spend too much on curricula and resources. Homeschooling doesn't have to be expensive. Use free or low-cost resources that you can find in your area or on the Internet, and don't waste your money on curricula that you have not seen or approved.
• Don't compare your kids to others. Your child has more time, more days in the year and more opportunities to learn than children who go to school. Enjoy the versatility of that privilege and don't worry about how he / she relates to children attending school.
• Be careful but don't overdo it. The opportunities for both educational and social activities are so great that you and your kids may be overwhelmed if you want to do everything. Decide what you think is most important and what your kids will enjoy most, and stick with it.