Socializing is highly valued in our society. So much so, that homeschooling parents are often questioned about how their children socialize without the institutional school setting. Even parents themselves get concerned whether they’re providing the best homeschool socialization time for their kids. I think most parents realize that public school isn’t a positive social opportunity unless we’re looking at opportunities to resist temptation, strengthenour kids on how to not be conformed to this world and share the gospel. Even from a secular viewpoint, the daily life for public school students is filled with exposure to mixed values and competing morals.

Learn about the homeschooling experiences of Jacqueline Gagne. She homeschooled her two grown children and is now homeschooling her 8-year-old granddaughter. She resides in Grand Manan, New Brunswick, and regularly travels to Moncton, New Brunswick, with her granddaughter. Since she is homeschooling, this is easy to do. The curriculum travels with them wherever they go!

Are you a homeschooling parent to several children? It can be overwhelming to teach a big range of ages some days. Hopefully, you are able to connect with other homeschoolers in your area that are dealing with big age ranges who really understand the heart of the matter, but you can also get some insight and encouragement from Gena. With her life experience and the additional resources provided below, now is the time to sit back for a bit and get comfortable as you feel connected with someone who knows exactly how you feel.

The alarm clock goes off at 7 a.m., and I jump out of bed and go out to the gym. This is also my alone time with the Lord before I need to get my family up to start the day. As I run on the treadmill, I read my scripture and marvel in the presence of my glorious Father.

One of the best advantages of being a homeschool family is being able to just grab the children and go! We can have such a freedom to enjoy life and adventures as a family, and our children will still have their schoolwork done.

Learning is a life-long activity. You likely agree with that as a homeschooler since you’ve taken on the challenge and joy of educating your children. One of our final ‘tasks’ in educating our children is to guide them in the right direction for their post-secondary education and career choices – and ideally instilling in them a love of life-long learning.

With five of eight graduated from our homeschool, we have seen those post-homeschool paths take different directions. My first two sons went the university route and both benefitted in their careers because of it. (Their career choices required college degrees.)

Educating at home provides so much freedom in the way we teach our children. There are a variety of learning materials that we can choose from, but most of us have had the experience of choosing something that just doesn’t seem to work as well for one child as it can for another.