Helping your Baby with the Pain of Colic

Although colic is relatively common, experts have yet to identify the real cause. Colic causes stomach or bowel pain, which for a baby can be excruciating. If you think your baby might have this condition, you need to have him or her seen by a doctor.

For a baby with colic, you can try turning the baby so he or she is in a different position, which can help. Another method for easing the pain of colic is by holding the baby close so there is slight pressure on the stomach.

New discoveries include soothing sound to calm a baby with colic.

For example, a noise machine that has the sound or rain or ocean waves might be beneficial. Numerous studies have been performed showing that both of these sounds are very similar to what the baby hears while in the womb. Therefore, if the baby is suffering with pain from colic, these sounds offer calmness.

Sometimes, sound is a great distraction so if your baby is crying or upset because of colic, you might try running the dishwasher, vacuuming the carpeting, or playing music. The concept here is that the sound takes the baby’s mind of the pain or startles the baby so he or she is able to pass gas, which also provides much-needed relief.

You might try using the noise approach, keeping the television on, playing various CDs, or having some type of noise going in the room where the baby is.

Although tiny, even newborns can feel stress. After all, they have only been in the world a short time so everything is new and unknown. To ease the effects of colic, most doctors recommend providing the baby with an atmosphere that is relaxing. If you have tried the sound option but to no avail, then try a quiet room. Keep in mind that many things come with colic to include acid reflux, which is miserable for adults that understand what it is, let alone small babies that have no clue.

As we mentioned, most studies show that music is magical. Choose soft jazz, classical, or some other soothing type of music that will create a peaceful environment. Anything such as Chopin or Beethoven work amazingly well. Not only will this type of music probably help with the colic issue, but it also introduces your baby to fine music.

Interestingly, while there have been many studies that can prove music helps ease the pain of colic, just how it works is not fully understood. However, with so many doctors and parents seeing the results, it is certainly worth trying.

You should also consider the types of foods and beverages your baby is being given.

Before you make any major changes, you should consult with the pediatrician. One example is herbal tea, which many parents swear by. Now, since this is a newborn baby, the doctor should approve and the tea should be mild and only lukewarm. Green or peppermint tea is great options that can help with colic while also boosting the baby’s immune system.

Even the type of formula or the nipples being used could have something to do with the case of colic. What happens is that some nipples will allow the baby to suck in too much air. Obviously, since colic is a problem related to excessive gas, this only makes matters worse. Be sure you choose the best nipples possible and even change your baby’s current formula.

There is no cure for colic but there are things you can do to ease the pain. For mothers that breastfeed, even positioning the baby properly will reduce the amount of gas buildup. Of course, most women realize that breast milk contains colostrum, which are important antibodies that help with the development of the baby’s immune system.

The final recommendation for colic is to be patient and understanding.

Since there is no cure for colic, it is important to understand that your baby is not faking anything but living with real pain. Being patient and loving is both comforting to the baby and to the parent. While it might seem like a lifetime when dealing with a colicky baby, typically this condition will disappear after a few months. Being extra loving and patient will help everyone get through a difficult time.

With colic, it is all about time. Keep in mind that if your baby has colic and by age two months the symptoms have not decreased or gone away, you should meet with the doctor to determine if there might be another health issue going on. Sometimes, babies have lactose intolerance where they are allergic to certain milks, especially cow’s milk. As mentioned, changing formula, preferably to soy could be all that is needed.

Having a Newborn around the Family Pet

There is nothing more fun to watch than a child is with the family pet enjoying each other’s company. While most situations of having a newborn and pet are safe, there are some things to consider. Unfortunately, we have all heard the horror stories about babies and animals so we wanted to provide some helpful information that will make it a smoother transaction of bringing a newborn into the home where a pet already exists.

Safety is without doubt the most important consideration. Even though you love your dog, cat, bird, or other type of pet, your newborn baby will steal your heart and become your number one priority. Therefore, your goal is to have both baby and pet in the same home but also in a safe and protected environment.

In most cases, it only requires a little bit of preparation and things will go fine. Although your dog may be gentle, whether a large or small dog, you want to keep a close eye on the dog and baby to determine reactions. You know your pet and his or her behavior so the level of monitoring should easy to determine.

There are times when dogs and cats see a newborn as a threat, even prey. Even a curious pet could accidentally cause harm to the baby so making an introduction is imperative. We highly recommend that you have the dog put on a leash and held by your spouse, friend, or other family member. Then with the newborn in your arms, slowly kneel down so both baby and dog are at the same level, open the blanket, and allow the dog or cat time to investigate. If you have a dog that tends to be a little rough, or one you are concerned about, use a muzzle.

The reaction you want to see is the dog or cat gently smelling the newborn. The goal is to prevent the dog or cat from licking the baby but even if the animal were to lick the baby’s face, that is fine but you will want to wash it off once the introduction is complete since the baby still has a delicate immune system. You may even find that the baby’s develops a rash or redness if licked, which might be an allergic reaction.

In most cases, introducing a newborn to a dog is a little easier than with a cat. The reason is that cats like to slap things, even in play, which might scratch the soft skin of the baby. For introducing a cat, rather than use a leash, we recommend a chest harness, which will give you a little more control over the cat’s actions.

Remember, although you may trust your pet 100%, you should never leave your newborn alone or unsupervised around any animal. At first, you may need to use a dog crate or door gate to control the situation for dogs. Now, if you have a cat, the most important thing is to use a system that would allow the cat access to the baby’s room.

As mentioned, there is a slight chance that the pet’s dander causes an allergic reaction with the child. The odds of this happening are extremely low but if you see a rash, redness, or even trouble breathing, you know your newborn is experiencing an allergic reaction.

If you find that your baby is allergic to the family pet, you want to keep them apart. Of course finding a new home for the pet is one option but in most cases, the animal is a part of the family so this would be a very hard decision. We suggest you consider other alternatives such as an air filtration system, frequent bathing of the dog/cat, washing the animal’s bedding more often, and so on first.

Bringing a newborn into a home with pets is most often a wonderful experience. Typically, you see the animal being very protective of the baby, which starts of bonding process that will last for years. It does not matter the type of pet, dog, cat, bird, rabbit, or reptile, simply consider options for creating a safe environment for the baby and enjoy watching the bond grow. Interestingly, some pets have become so protective over babies they have actually alerted parents of trouble, even saving lives.

Finding a Qualified Nanny

If you were to look back in history, you would see that many families used a nanny. Although using a nanny became less popular for several years, today, more and more parents are choosing this type of childcare over a babysitter or daycare center. Nannies used to be only for the rich and famous but this is not the case anymore. Nannies are specially trained so they have tremendous knowledge and expertise in childcare.

One of the first decisions you will make for your newborn baby is the pediatrician but following that, you should consider hiring a trained nanny. With this, you will have an extra pair of hands and input that could make your life less complicated.

Finding a qualified nanny involves many things, one being a connection between parent and the nanny. This person should live a life of integrity, someone with sound character, and values that match the way you see raising your child. Instead of choosing a nanny that will set the rules, this person should support you, someone who is willing to go by your rules. Of course, a good nanny will have advice and suggestions but they should never push them on you. Since this person will care for your newborn, you want someone you can trust and a person who will create a safe, comfortable, and smooth environment.

In addition to having a connection between parent and nanny, there must also be a connection between the baby and nanny. As you begin your search, you will be interviewing many people. It is important to watch the nanny around your child, paying attention to the way in which he or she handles the baby. Remember, even newborns have keen senses so if the child has any fear or feels uncomfortable, you will notice the baby crying, squirming, and appearing restless. These should all be indicators that a particular nanny is not the right fit.

Some special considerations would also come into play when choosing a qualified nanny.

For one thing, depending on the nanny, he or she may have children or live in a home with other people. Germs can be spread through contact, meaning if the nanny’s child or a family member were sick, your baby could be exposed. While you can never fully control the spread of germs, as you interview nannies, learn about their personal situation, especially if there is any type of known illness.

You could certainly conduct a search on your own for a qualified nanny but another option is to work through a licensed agency. These agencies carefully screen anyone interested in working as a nanny, performing background and even credit checks. The agencies will also look at the person’s driving history, health history, and criminal history.

Typically, new parents want the most experienced nanny they can find but even people just starting out might be the perfect fit. The goal is to choose a reputable agency so even people just starting out as a nanny will have been investigated. From there, you need to interview the individual to see if there is a click with you and the child.

Some people who become a nanny have grown children or even grandchildren. In fact, some nannies have no children at all but were at one time a nurse. Again, do not discount everyone simply because they are just getting started as a nanny, have grown children or no children at all.

After interviewing several people, you will now narrow your choices down two or three.

If you are working with an agency, they would help create a legal contract and most often, the nanny would come with a trial period so if you are not happy, you are no longer contractually obligated. Even if you choose the perfect nanny, there could be times when he or she becomes ill or has an emergency. Therefore, you will need to have a backup – someone trusted that could fill in should this type of situation arise. You might also ask the agency if they provide the nanny with any insurance benefits or vacation pay. If not, this is an incentive that you might consider offering.

Choosing a nanny is a difficult and emotional time. After all, your goal is to find a qualified and responsible professional who will care for your newborn as if he or she were their own. Approaching the hiring of a nanny as a business helps and as the individual works with you, the relationship will likely relax and evolve.

Being Prepared for a Premature Baby

Typically, a woman will be pregnant for nine months, which is the average time it takes for a fetus to develop but sometimes, babies come early. If the baby delivers one to two weeks ahead of schedule, it is no big deal but anything more means you have a premature baby.

Determining the exact date you will deliver can be difficult. For this reason, doctors will ask for the date of your last menstrual cycle and look at the development period of 260 to 270 days. However, every pregnancy is different so due dates are seldom hit, meaning the mother delivers a few days early or late.

Obviously, if a baby is born too early, there are usually complications or increased risk of health problems. For instance, if a baby is born three or more weeks early, development problems are common but not always serious.

Interestingly, one baby goes on recoded for being born at 21 weeks gestation and living. However, even a baby born between 25 and 26 weeks is relatively common but also with an increase for problems. The most common concerns have to do with the nervous system, brain development, and lung development, which is the last organ to finish growing. Because of this, some premature babies have health issues later in life in relation to the underdevelopment issues.

Sadly, one concerns that doctors face is varying degrees of mental impairment. However, while this is a serious issue, some health problems that premature babies face are not so horrible. As an example, Respiratory Distress Syndrome is a possibility but a treatable condition. The child may end up on medication for a short period or life, depending on the problem and severity of the problem.

Of course, the earlier the baby is born the more chance of problems. Even with this, each and birth are different so one baby that might be three weeks early could have health issues while another baby three weeks early would be perfectly fine. Therefore, you cannot base your premature experience against another.

Keep in mind that some things can be done while your premature baby is still young to help.

The best option is prevention. This means that seeing a doctor throughout the pregnancy, taking prenatal vitamins, and so on all increase the chance of a healthy baby. Today, medical intervention and prevention is much better than years before, which is great. Therefore, make sure you stay on a healthy diet, live a stress free life, and get appropriate sleep.

Premature babies also have a much better chance of survival in the hospital than ever before. Depending on the baby’s condition, he or she may need a breathing tube, the body’s temperature will be carefully monitored, and blood pressure and heart monitors are used. While your baby is in the hospital, he or she will be seen by a lot of doctors and nurses to ensure the baby’s health is both monitored and regulated. If you want to breastfeed, you probably can and in fact, many doctors suggest it for the sake of the baby.

You may also find that some premature babies have a type of neurologic disorder known as ROP or Retinopathy of Prematurity. In some cases, a condition known as Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy is also a problem. Each of these health risks can occur with a premature baby and if your child were to be diagnoses with one, the doctor would be able to provide medical insight and guidance. Of course, premature babies may experience other less serious complications that are easy to manage.

Probably one of the more common things that might happen is infection. After all, a premature baby does not have a fully developed immune system so fighting off infection is difficult. Because of this, it is vital that you as the parent keep the newborn away from a lot of people and for those who are around, they need to wear surgical facemasks and always wash their hands. Your baby’s pediatrician may also recommend adding supplements to your baby’s milk, which will encourage immune system development.

Next, premature babies are more prone to episodes where they stop breathing, which is called Sleep Apnea. The key in this situation is to use a special monitoring system that will monitor the baby’s breathing, sound, and movement so if he or she were to stop breathing, an alarm would sound and immediate action could taken. Finally, babies that come too early may have Jaundice, which causes the whites of the eyes and the skin to turn yellow. This is the result of bilirubin buildup within the bloodstream and to correct the problem, the baby is placed under warming lights. Jaundice is not harmful as long as it is corrected so once you bring the baby home, if you begin to notice a change of skin color, call the doctor right away.

The thing to keep in mind when it comes to premature babies is that the more information you know the better the baby will develop. Make sure that you and the baby are eating properly, that both are getting adequate rest, monitor the baby closely, avoid stress, and lean on family and friends for physical and emotional support.

More than ever, a premature baby has a great chance of life, unlike many years ago. With new technologies and medicines, we now see very small babies not only living, but also thriving and growing into healthy children. Some of the greatest and most intelligent people ever to live were premature babies such as Albert Einstein so if you have a premature baby, follow the doctor’s advice and things will be fine.

The Integral Philosophy Behind Homeschooling

There are many reasons as to why parents would choose to homeschool their children. These vary; from the religious connotations behind some subjects to the dislike of the methods and resources used in schools. Also, there is another class of parents who believe sincerely that they can give their kids a better education at home. All these differences still imply only one thing: Parents believe that the public school system and environment isn’t conducive to great education.

Thus, the idea of modern homeschooling was begun.

One thing we need to stress here is that homeschooling is an old concept: Alexander the Great was homeschooled by Aristotle! In fact, until the 1850s when the public school system was made compulsory, most parents homeschooled their kids! In the 1900s, public education became the norm, although private schools also started popping up. The public school system was modeled on the Prussian system in the 1800s.

However, the mid-sixties saw a change in this trend, which was started off with a bang by John Holt and his free-thinking books on education. When combined with other sources such as Ayn Rand’s libertarian philosophies, this caused quite an exodus as parents removed their kids from public schools and embraced homeschooling.

Some parents, following Rand, became libertarian and tried to be as free of the State as they possibly could. Others saw their chance to teach their kids according to the Classical Liberal training, which had previously been used by monks in monasteries to teach their disciples and had its roots in the Greek-origin Enlightenment ideals.

The roots behind this philosophy do not matter as such. What is important here is that a general set of ideas developed, which became the norm in homeschooling. One such thought is that the child is a naturally active learner, which came about from Aristotle. Aristotle’s book Metaphysics starts off with these words: ‘All men possess by nature the desire to know’. This is very true, and this ideal has thus been used to substantiate the homeschooling movement.

Basically, the homeschooling movement gives more freedom to kids under the idea that learning in the right environment with the right resources doesn’t have to be a forced process. In fact, homeschooling gives us the idea that learning is a proactive and enthusiastically embraced process that comes with exploring the world. Within homeschooling, there are different approaches which vary from this starting point.

Some are free-wheeling and believe that there ought to be no curriculum or even direction from the parent. In one approach, the natural curiosity and interest of the children will suffice to self-motivate them. All that needs to be provided are the right resources.
Other homeschooling approaches are more formal. Some, such as the School-At-Home method, simply substitutes the public school environment for the home environment, leaving all other factors such as curriculum and resources constant.

The Montessori method is a mix of both structured and unstructured, and works by guiding the students to learn at their own speed using the provided resources. The Montessori method is used for small kids, and consists of plenty of exercises which develop the sensory as well as motor functions of the body. Language learning is an integral part of this program. It emphasizes more on the teacher focusing on the student, and guiding the creativity process to motivate learning, rather than vice versa. External corrections in this method are eschewed for self-correction.

The main thought behind all these different homeschooling approaches is just one: to make the student the focal point of the learning process. This is something that is not done in public schools, where the resources used are poor, and the classes are teeming with students, such that one teacher cannot devote any amount of time to individual students. This, hence, is better achieved through homeschooling!

The Amazing History Behind Homeschooling

It’s quite impossible to isolate the first instance of homeschooling in history. Homeschooling is a very old concept. In fact, Aristotle actually taught Alexander the Great over twenty-five centuries ago, at ‘home’! Schools didn’t exist until the later 19th century, so almost everyone underwent homeschooling. Halfway through the nineteenth century, most states in the United States passed laws which required parents to enroll their kids into public schools.

The modern concept of homeschooling began in the 60s, from three completely diverse sources. The first was John Holt, a brilliant man with counter-culture ideas on education, which he penned down for twenty years. The second was Raymond Moore, an author for whom homeschooling arose as a direct consequence of his religious concerns. The third was Ayn Rand, who indirectly led to homeschooling as a part of the modern liberalist movement which she induced into society.

John Holt coined a new term: Unschooling. Unschooling is a method of schooling that does away with using curricula and structure for education. Structured classes are known to damp down a child’s natural curiosity about the world, and John Holt aimed to stop this practice.

John Holt’s first book on education which was published in 1964 called How Children Fail shows his views on the public school system, which he said was authoritarian and needed reforms. Being a teacher in alternative schools after graduating from an Ivy League School, he tried to do these reforms, but later gave it up as impossible. Thus, he started a bimonthly magazine for parents who followed his ideals in 1977, called Growing Without Schooling.

Raymond Moore, on the other hand, tried to bring change due to his beliefs as a staunch Christian and experience as an ex-missionary. Basically, he viewed the whole public school system as a philosophy which taught ideals that were un-Christian in nature. Moore was of the belief that education was more than just a fact-feeding practice. After seeing the negative aspects and violence that was prevalent in public schools, he supported the idea of parents claiming responsibility for their children’s education. He advocated value instruction.

Ayn Rand was a woman who inspired a great movement. Although she wasn’t really a writer on education, she had a similar viewpoint on the public education system, and inspired a mass political movement in the 60s, which has since been against all forms of public ad state-sponsored learning, especially if this education is obligatory.

The libertarians motivated by Rand did more than just this; they promoted positive steps to bring back the idea of educating each child according to his or her mind and ability. As is common with most movements, the views of individuals may differ. However, the overall mindset in this case was fixated on individual freedom and the progression of rational thinking and creativity through homeschooling.

These three bases of the modern homeschooling concept grew and merged in the late 20th century, and carry on until today! Although the essence of the philosophies behind the three different thoughts varies, one thing remains common: they all agree that the public school system consistently falls short of providing quality education in a secure and heartening environment.

All three promoters of home schooling believe in placing the student’s intellectual and ethical growth at the core of the learning process.

And as the history of homeschooling since then tells us: Homeschooling is truly the ideal way to develop your child and give him or her the best future possible in the best environment that you can provide!

Of Homeschooling And College

There are many homeschooling programs in place today, but most of these are for primary and secondary education. Homeschooling approaches which try to incorporate the type and level of education offered in colleges and universities simply do not exist. Although there are many colleges, both private and state, which offer an education that is as poor as the public school education, there are plenty more which are excellent and offer great value!

Homeschooled kids on average are superior students compared to their peers; in the ability and enthusiasm to learn, in the happiness they obtain from doing so, and in the material they know. Hence, they will wish to get into an outstanding college to further their education and achieve their dreams. However, if you’re a homeschooled student, you’re going to have quite a bit of problems applying for college.

One of the biggest problems facing application is the absence of transcripts by state or private schools. Thousands of homeschooled students have, however, overcome this problem to join into prominent and respected universities.

The trick to dealing with this problem of transcripts is to build one as the student grows older. Most homeschooling approaches are quite rigid and structured, which makes the assigning of grades and keeping of records easier, somewhat like public schools. These transcripts matter a lot to the universities you apply to, so it’s best to begin earlier; when the student is doing early grades work.

Find out what colleges require in the form of transcripts. Make a list of the colleges you’re keen on getting into, and make some queries about the things they look for when it comes to transcripts. The admissions departments are familiar with this question, since they’ve had to answer to thousands of parents who have homeschooled teens. In fact, there are more than two million kids who do homeschooling and then get a four-year degree from a traditional college.

Admission department officials use other forms as well, to judge the suitability of the candidate. SAT and ACT are two of the standardized tests which matter, and clearing the cut-off for the university in question enables the homeschooled teen to make the first cut! Tests such as the SAT and ACT are open to everyone; homeschooled, private or public school students. Students who have been homeschooled do better than their peers in these tests, which give them a boost for college admission.

Other decisive factors then come into play. Most colleges undertake their own admission tests, which all prospective students are required to take. A statement of purpose and essay are also required, which allow one to express their views on what matters to them, as well as allowing the officials to get a glimpse of their true nature, ability and individual tastes.

Thus, an individual essay can be used to glean many things about a prospective college student; personal interests, abilities, skills, thoughts and so on. This personal essay is viewed by most students as their best chance at entry, and homeschooled students generally tend to wow the admission officials with their outstanding thirst for knowledge and quest for excellence.

Taking some Advanced Placement courses which do not require attendance in the classroom can help homeschooled teens to embellish the transcript that university officials require. Some of these are taken as a component of an accelerated learning program, whereby students who are ahead of their peers can learn new courses advancing their level of study compared to their peers.

Advanced Placement courses tell the admission officials that the applicant is fully prepared, and hasn’t been sitting around for the last decade exploring nature and learning to paint; a view of home schooling that many people seem to share! These courses reveal the obvious fact that homeschooled teens are as ready as they’ll ever be to prove their worth at a traditional college!

Is Unschooling A Form of Freedom or Anarchy?

The most freewheeling approach to homeschooling is Unschooling. This approach eschews any form of curriculum and structure to learning, and allows the student to learn about anything and everything that stimulates a natural interest, either inside or outside the home! This learning takes place at the student’s natural pace, with no fixed schedules or deadlines.

The foundation of Unschooling is made from two observations of child development.

The first of the observations is this: kids are by nature, curious creatures! They open their eyes at birth to explore the world, and this exploring goes on for a long time. They like to see what they can do, what they can feel, what they can hear. And as soon as they learn to speak, they’ll ask a thousand and one questions every day! The second observation is that there is always selectivity in thought and learning. Some things are more interesting to children than others, and natural interest greatly varies from child to child.

Beginning with these basic observations, the promoters of Unschooling conclude that the best approach to learning is to give children the freedom to opt for the type of content they want to study, as well as the when and how of it. Hence, kids will have no set schedule, but can just explore whatever they wish to.

Parents who opt for the Unschooling approach all have different ideas about their amount of involvement in the child’s learning. A few take a completely lenient approach by leaving the kids free to choose their own topics of study, while others share their interests with their kids, answer their questions and also help in getting solutions to problems.

This approach is, however, quite experimental, and as yet, the results vary widely. Unschooling to this level works best when the kids are quite independent and highly enthusiastic about learning. These children use homeschooling to learn about areas of interest that matter to them and those which can be useful later in life. Most of these kids are now Ivy League Graduates and retain that passion for learning that homeschooling helped them acquire!

Unschooling of this type can also have a more scattershot effect- knowing a lot about a few specific areas, and nothing whatsoever about others. Homeschoolers tend to have disagreements about whether ignorance of some subjects matters or not, especially when these are sciences and math.

Quite a lot of kids have no inclination to learn mathematics or sciences, and being Unschooled gives them the right to eschew these in favor of more favorable subjects. However, in today’s technological world, mathematics is extremely important, and knowledge of it is essential.

Also, there are some students who concentrate more on the practical matters such as the sciences and mathematics, but will totally ignore music, literature, art, history and other humanities. Some may be happy this way, but others will have cause to regret that they are missing out on the finer things in life.

This one-sidedness caused by Unschooling is can be sorted out early using other approaches to homeschooling. Most homeschooling parents therefore opt for a balance between these two forms. However, Unschooling isn’t what this balance is about: Unschooling is all about letting the child make the choices.

Although the Unschooling approach dates back to the sixties, when it was pioneered by John Holt, the effects of Unschooling are still under research and analysis today, which tells us that this is a much deeper approach than any others, with many long-term consequences. Today, personal experiences are the only way to judge the value of this approach.

How To Handle Homeschooling As A Single Parent

The toughest task one can set for themselves is deciding to homeschool their child without having a partner to rely on. Most parents in this situation will find that the need to earn money to support their single parent family comes first, and leaves little to no time for homeschooling. Private schools, especially good ones, are often completely out of one’s income bracket. What next?

However, there are thousands of single parents who find a way to deal with this problem and end up successfully homeschooling their child. These parents find that all the trouble is definitely worth it, once they see their kid’s superior performance on standardized tests, which helps them get into top-of-the-league colleges.

The first factor to be considered is time management. If you’re organized, you’ll find yourself having more free time to dedicate to your child’s education. This is quite true, especially if you calculate the amount of time dedicated to your child in public schools. Take a six hour day, remove the time spent for lunch and class breaks, and you have a total number of hours that are quite optimal for compensation, especially if you make them all count!

And when you take into account the holidays, weekends and summer, then the time scales easily tip in your favor! Yes, kids do need time off for relaxation and other things, but why not take some of that time to educate via fun? Home schooled kids tend to be more self-motivated, and will take pleasure in learning by enjoying! So add up all the time in your favor, and you’ll find your child getting ahead of his peers by more than a grade!

There are plenty of homeschooling approaches which are quite unstructured and free-wheeling. Using these approaches gives a single-parent more time and peace of mind when it comes to homeschooling, since they don’t continuously have to monitor the child.

Using this approach, children can be free to make their own choices regarding what they want to learn, and do so at a pace conducive to them. Another approach of this kind is to give the child all the material and provide guidance to them, so that they do a lot of independent study. Thus, the single parent can dedicate some time in the evening or on weekends to check results and alter the course of the study as required.

Another key option for single-parents is having a tutor to homeschool their kids. Tutors vary from in-home teachers to those who provide resources and guidance online. In a lot of cases, tutors are quite reasonably priced, and may even be lower than day care charges! Sometimes you can have a tutor who does double duty with day care.

There are lots of single parents who have started home-based businesses. For them, this is more feasible if they compute the costs of day care, gas and car maintenance and time spent commuting. And when one takes into account the tax savings from the extra write-offs, you’re good to go. If you want to spend your time homeschooling your child, try to get into a business that doesn’t require a lot of start-up resources, especially time, as this will give you more time to dedicate to homeschooling your kid!

With the advent of the net, this is more possible than ever. Today, affiliate marketing pays upwards of $50,000 per annum. Building websites and writing newsletters requires few technical skills, as does advertising of products and services.

With a lot of research and a bit of inspired thinking, single parents will realize that they can have both the time as well as the resources for homeschooling, if they would only dare. And daring is something that most single parents have in abundance!

Homeschooling and the Law

Homeschooling is 100%, absolutely legal!

One of the things parents fear are the legal repercussions of homeschooling their kids. They think that homeschooling is illegal, and they’ll have to be secretive about it so the government doesn’t crack down on them. This fear is warranted, depending on where you stay, but can be taken to extremes too.

Although the US constitution makes no mention at all of education, legal rules regarding education are formed in very state, and as such, vary from state to state. The Department of Education plays a big role in this.

Homeschooling is completely legal in all the states, but there are more restrictions regarding this in some states. Idaho and Texas are two states where homeschooling doesn’t have many constraints, whereas Massachusetts and New York are quite heavy handed! These states ask for the complete home student’s curriculum which has to be accepted by the state. They ask for student achievement scores submission, and can also make house visits to see how the student is faring. A state like Pennsylvania asks that the resources and materials used in homeschooling be presented for review to the local school district.

At the moment, legal attempts are ongoing to watch and defeat bills that increase the authority of the state to watch the students at home, or to make public school attendance compulsory. 2006 showed a defeat of such efforts. Even today, parents have no cause to worry, since their rights to decide have been preserved by the courts for many decades.

In the year 1925, the Supreme Court ruled that the care and education of a child was the duty and right of the parents and not the state, in the case of Pierce v. Society of Sisters. As late as the year 2000, there was another case of the sort that reached the Supreme Court, and its ruling that education is a fundamental right of parents is still used today by lawyers who fight for the parents rights to homeschool their kids. This case was Troxel v. Granville, and was more a case of visitation rather than education.

In the year 1983, the HSLDA (Home School Legal Defense Association, www.hslda.org) was born to fight for the parents right to homeschool their child. This organization has helped many parents to establish their rights to homeschool their kid, and has undertaken to track all the legal concerns of homeschooling. The HSLDA publishes an annual digest of all the legislative acts in the homeschooling field, as well as the amendments made by both the states as well as Congress.

Usually, the individual states as well as the Federal government try to reduce the parents’ rights over homeschooling their children. However, most of these cases have effectively been rules in support of the parents.

Although this is infrequent, there have been a few cases of overeager social workers who think it their task to safeguard the child from the parent, and do so even when there is absolutely no indication of parental abuse. This can affect the parents’ rights to homeschool their children. However, the HSLDA is willing to help out in these situations by supplying resources to parents to ensure that this never happens!

Before you can start homeschooling your child, you must educate yourself first in all these matters: paperwork required by states, legal requirements and supervision standards. Then only can you ease your mind of fear over breaking any homeschooling rules!