Watching your children grow and get closer to school age can be tough. Before you know it, Susie is five and ready for kindergarten. For many families, deciding where to send a child to school does not even enter the equation. They automatically send them to the local public school. But for many others, public school is not an option. There can be many reasons for this; parents may not like the level of academics in the local school, violence could be an ongoing problem, classroom size may have grown extensively or they may want an education that includes religious instruction in their particular faith. It is at this point that other educational options come into play. Parents can choose to send their children to a private school or they can decide to homeschool. If you are one of the many parents interested in homeschooling your kids, there are several things you should consider when making your decision.

Are You Willing to Commit?
Time commitment is the most important aspect of homeschooling. Homeschooling takes dedication and commitment. You are going to be responsible for your child’s education. You will decide what curriculum to use, how relaxed or structured your day will be, when and where you will teach and what type of homeschooling suits your family. You have to enjoy spending time with your children. You don’t have to be a teacher and you don’t have to run your homeschool like a traditional classroom, but you do have to be willing to commit your time and energy.

What Are Your State’s Requirements?
Your next consideration is finding out what your state requires for homeschoolers. Some states, such as Pennsylvania, have extremely stringent homeschooling laws. Others, such as Oklahoma, are much more relaxed and require parents to do very little. Do your research in this area; it is of the utmost importance that you thoroughly understand your state’s laws. You need to know because, in all honesty, your local school board may not. They may tell you to meet certain requirements that your state law does not. You won’t know this unless you are completely aware of your state’s particular requirements.