In many African nations, homeschooling is becoming a popular choice for both nationals and ex-pats. It guarantees the quality of education and allows parents to guide the curriculum. If you’re considering homeschooling your children, be sure to keep these tips in mind.
Find Out the Rules for Homeschooling in Your Country
While homeschooling is legal and appreciated in South Africa and most other African nations, you should always check the educational requirements and guidelines where you live. The Department of Education is the best starting point. If your child is currently attending a public or private school, request their educational records and a final grade report. This will help you determine the appropriate place to start with your own curriculum.
Choose the Right Curriculum
There are homeschool courses taught online as well as self-guided homeschooling programs available. Decide whether you want to take advantage of virtual classes as part of your homeschooling journey or you prefer to develop your family’s own coursework. There may also be a nationally based home school curriculum to follow. In South Africa, this includes the CAPS curriculum, IEB, and the International British/Cambridge curricula. Talk to other homeschooling parents to determine which is best for your family. Some are highly structured; others have more flexibility and can be tailored to special needs and learning issues.
Start Your Kids in a Homeschool Preschool Program
Children who start their educational journey before kindergarten are more likely to succeed in elementary school and beyond. While you want your children to explore the world around them and have plenty of time to play, children as young as three years old benefit from some form of pre-school education like that offered by Frog Street.
Create a Learning Space
Be sure there’s a dedicated area in your home (it doesn’t have to be large) for your kids to study, do their classwork, and take tests. A desk or table, comfortable seating, good lighting, and someplace to store textbooks, paperwork, and art supplies are essential.
Homeschooling Needs Structure
While the curriculum tends to be more flexible and adaptable when homeschooling, there does need to be a bit of structure to ensure success. While you don’t need to stick to the same days and hours of a traditional school, you need to have a regular schedule that works for your family. Your kids may work better later in the day or four days a week, with long weekends for field trips and organic learning opportunities. You may need some trial and error to find what works for you, but when you do, use it.
With the cost of private schooling rising, many families who opt out of public schools turn to homeschooling in Africa. If this is what works for you, your children can flourish.