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Today I get to introduce one of the most driven and passionate homeschool moms I know. Jessica Waldock is organized, generous, and so creative! Along with her talented husband and sweet daughter she has created an amazing collection of unit studies, helpful resources, and inspiring YouTube videos that I have found valuable since the very beginning of our homeschool life. I literally have memories of following Jessica when Squeaks was preschool age, just trying to soak up her vast game-schooling knowledge. I’m so happy to have her sharing her knowledge with you today! -Kristen
3 Things You Need To Know About Homeschooling An Only Child
Are you considering homeschooling an only child this year or just starting out on the journey? If so, you might have a lot of questions. Homeschooling an only child comes with its own unique benefits and special challenges too.
For every homeschool family of any size, there will come a time when there is only one school aged child left. This means that everyone of us, at one point or another, will find ourselves homeschooling an only child for the first time.
What do you need to know to successfully homeschool an only child? I’ll share all the things I’ve learned about homeschooling an only child including the answer to the burning socialization question and how to keep your sanity when it’s all on you.
Keep reading to discover the top 3 things you need to know before you begin homeschooling an only child. Plus, get some tips and my favorite resources to help you along the way.
If you’re wondering whether or not it’s a good idea to homeschool an only child, let me reassure you. Although some may think you shouldn’t homeschool an only child, it can be done well. For our family, homeschooling has been one of the best decisions we ever made.
That being said, homeschooling with an only child isn’t super easy or incredibly difficult either. There are some positives and some challenges you will face while homeschooling an only child. For example, the socialization question can be a real concern when you are homeschooling only one child.
3 Things You Need To Know About Homeschooling An Only Child
At the end of the day, homeschooling an only child is a lot like homeschooling multiple children. Whether you’re homeschooling an only child because your other children have already graduated or because you only have one child, you might be facing some of the concerns and challenges typical to homeschooling an only child.
Here’s what I wish I had known about homeschooling an only child before beginning the journey with our daughter. These three things made all the difference to our homeschool experience.
1. It’s All On You
Homeschooling an only child without siblings at home means a lot will fall on you. You’ll be your child’s everything: teacher, parent, playmate, etc. It can be overwhelming at times and it’s easy to feel emotionally and mentally exhausted at times.
Realizing that you’re wearing a lot of hats can make it easier. Planning breaks for yourself and independent activities for your child can be a big help if it gets to be too much. Choosing curriculum options that make it easy to learn together as a family is another great option too.
The one thing I instituted in our homeschool was learning lunches. During lunch time I let her listen to an audio book or a podcast while I spend a few minutes eating my lunch alone in peace and quiet. This time alone recharges me and allows me to be on and ready to be all the things for the rest of the day.
2. Socialization
The socialization question is one that every homeschooler must face, but it presents a unique challenge for families homeschooling just one child. We really do need to help ensure our children get opportunities for socialization with other kids.
Quite often the socialization question comes from a place of curiosity and confusion. Curiosity about what it means to homeschool and what it looks like in practice. There’s also a lot of confusion about what socialization actually means.
By definition, socialization means teaching our kids how to be kind, behave politely, understand and explain their beliefs, and interact in a way that’s culturally appropriate. If we first understand that, it’s easy to come to the conclusion that we are already providing socialization lessons and skills practice every day.
Socialization for an only child is not as worrisome as you might think. There are lots of fantastic opportunities for socialization in the community, with local homeschool groups, and via online platforms.
3. Homeschooling Is Homeschooling
At the end of the day, homeschooling is homeschooling. The benefits of homeschooling your child and your reasons for choosing this path are the same whether you are teaching one child or three or even more. You might be surprised to discover that the homeschooling journey really isn’t that different for moms homeschooling multiple children than it is for those of us homeschooling one.
Helpful Resources For Homeschooling An Only Child
We have learned a lot about homeschooling an only child over the years. We have discovered some awesome resources that make it easy and some things that didn’t work out so well too. Check out a few of our favorite helpful resources for homeschooling an only child below.
Have you been asking “Can I homeschool my only child?” If so, you’ll want to discover all the advantages including time savers and budget helpers. Plus, get tips for facing the challenges of homeschooling an only child including the big socialization question.
Read more about what to do when homeschooling an only child gets hard including how to get a break from being “on” all day when you’re your child’s everything. It’s a definite sanity saver!
Plus, get answers to the top myths about homeschooling an only child and discover why they just aren’t a problem. It’s filled with myth busters for all the big questions: socialization, loneliness, and why it’s not actually easier than homeschooling multiple kids.
Want to see what homeschooling an only child looks like in real life? Check out this day in the life video to get a glimpse of what a full day of homeschooling an only child looks like for us.
Do you have a favorite homeschool resource for teaching an only child? Share your favorite tips and tricks in the comment section. I can’t wait to read them!
About the author:
Jessica Waldock is a writer, photographer, and homeschool mom of one living in sunny Florida. She founded The Waldock Way as a way to give back to the homeschool community that she loves so much. At The Waldock Way Jessica shares tips, tricks, inspiration, and unique resources that help ignite a love of learning in children that will last a lifetime. She inspires families to engage in homeschooling as a lifestyle where relationships come first and interest-led learning prevails. Jessica also has a fabulous collection of unit studies on her website and shares generously on her YouTube channel.
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