I don't know if I can homeschool my children

I don't know if I can homeschool my children. This is a sentiment had by nearly all homeschooling parents. Parents want to do a good job educating their children but worry about failing them. They are concerned they are not smart enough to teach challenging material. They worry the curriculum is not good enough. They worry they will forget a topic, miss a topic or teach a topic incorrectly. They are full of self-doubt, but it is normal and good to have some concerns. They are connected and human.

Parents who have some concern about their ability to homeschool are some of the most successful homeschooling parents. They are dedicated to their children and strive to do the best they can for them.

Parents with children ready to be homeschooled have already taught those children how to speak, walk, eat, and get dressed. They have likely worked on teaching their kids colors, animals, numbers, how to swim, ride a bike and so much more. Homeschooling is just an extension of parenting and there are many ways to teach the same skills.


The number one factor which determines life-long success is the dedication of the parents. Both public and homeschooled children can be successful, but it is the parent and not the teacher that has the most influence. In addition, it is the parents dedication to education and not the parents knowledge that determines success. Parents do not need a PhD in education to be successful educating their children. Parents need to establish routine and expectation, and give plenty of encouragement. After all that's what works best when teaching children to speak, walk, eat and get dressed.

Imagine if one teacher taught 25 toddlers how to walk. Do you think that would a more or less efficient way to learn than one parent and one toddler? Public school teachers have more training but homeschooling parents have many more advantages. Obviously the parent-teacher ratio is in the favor of the homeschooling parent, but parents also know their children so much better than teachers. Parents know learning styles, interests, and what motivates their children. They can accommodate individual needs and work one-on-one when needed.

When parents are involved, they notice issues and have the ability to make changes much more rapidly than public school teachers. Most public school teachers are wonderful people, but they have 25 students to worry about. When the curriculum doesn't work well for one student, that student doesn't learn effectively and is sometimes accommodated, and sometimes not. When there is only one student, if there is a problem with the curriculum, the parent can easily make a change.

Successful homeschooling parents need to know how to find resources and information to help their children learn. They do not need to be familiar with the material in advance. They can learn along side their child or they can find resources that work well for their child to learn on his own. Once children learn to read and write, they begin to learn how to learn on their own. They can be taught how to find resources for material they are interested in learning and become independent learners. The homeschooling parent needs to act as a guide, facilitator, cheer-leader, and librarian to help their child succeed. They do not need to be full of knowledge. They need to be eager learners willing to seek new information.

If you are dedicated to your children and want what's best for them, you can homeschool them successfully!