School for children consists of a uniform, classmates, teachers, canteen and the playground. But, what if your toddler is being home schooled? Will your little one still be able to get the same education? Can he balance learning and play with all the free time he has? Yes, indeed he can. By having a method and using the right techniques, you can ensure your toddler gets the best education and even more.

Homeschooling children is very different from going to a regular school. For parents, it is not an easy decision to make. It may or may not suit the family. But, if your toddler needs special care or you feel being home schooled is best for your little one, making it work is easy. To help you out, here are some tips gathered from moms whose kids are home schooled as well.

Be Ready

Before starting off homeschooling your child, first, you need to prepare yourself. This is a big role and a huge responsibility to take. Realize that what is most important is for your toddler to get the best education he deserves. Second, as your little one’s teacher, being capable in handling his problems and in giving lessons is necessary. Homeschooling your toddler is like a full-time job. You need to be 100% free from any commitment to make sure you can give all your attention. Third, you need to mold it into your family’s lifestyle to help avoid any conflict.

Next, you need to know the legalities of homeschooling. Figure out what your state requires, what the rules are about homeschooling. Determine if you need to register yourself as a private school. Check if your state obliges you to take tests to gauge how capable you are.

Determine The Best Learning Style of Your Toddler

To help you recognize the best home school teaching method for your toddler, recognize your toddler’s needs as well as his strong and weak points. Here are some examples of home school teaching styles:

• Complete Online Curriculum Package. Best for parents and toddlers who are still new to homeschooling. The package contains books, activities, reviewers, test papers and a teaching guide. Packages may also require you to e-mail your toddler’s work to an assigned teacher who will correct and grade your toddler’s work.
• Charlotte Mason. This teaching style lets your toddler learn by narration or telling back what he has learned. You use the best books, art and music as your teaching aid. Charlotte Mason has a unique style in educating your little one how to correctly pronounce and spell words. Tests are done through an essay-style examination.
• Montessori. Focuses on immersion of different cultures. More of an experimental learning instead of the standard classroom teaching approach. Hands-on activities are used in teaching toddlers which is good in helping toddlers retain their learning’s.
• Waldorf. Focuses on the overall development of your toddler by using the head, hands and heart. Boosts your toddler’s artistic, mental and spiritual skills.

Collect School Materials

Just like in a regular school, you need to have all his learning essentials ready. Buy books about different topics, read along Cd’s and a headphone. Papers, pencils, scissors, crayons, coloring books, blank canvases, paint, clay dough, flash cards, puzzles and blocks. To add formality, have a medium-sized blackboard hanged in the wall, a table and a chair so he feels comfortable.

Have Variety

Test papers, recitations and reading exercises can be boring for your toddler. Look for hands-on activities. A science project, cooking or gardening lessons or even hosting a field trip will help your toddler enjoy. Or, you can also hold an outdoor class. Use his favorite toys as school materials. These are excellent tools to make him easily understand his lessons. Plus, this will keep him interested.

Do Not Eliminate Playtime

Since he is home schooled, your toddler’s time depends on your hands. Do not consume all of his time learning new lessons. Have break time’s in between classes. Let him eat his snacks. Allow him to take a nap in the middle of the day. After his lessons, let him play outside. This prevents your toddler from shying away from his peers and from becoming a loner. During weekends, spend the day out. He needs as much social interaction he can get. Lastly, at the end of each day, talk to him as a parent not as a teacher. In this way, you give him breathing room to relax and enjoy.