A lot of people are under the misconception that homeschooling is out-of-this-world expensive. If you compared it with the amount of money public schools are supposed to spend on each child, I guess that makes sense. But in reality, homeschooling costs as little or as much as you want it to, depending upon the resources you use.
If you need free curriculum, field trip ideas, resources and organizational materials, check out this post that I wrote a while back. It’s full of links featuring these things and much more. I wrote it for some friends to explain how to homeschool in Missouri, but most of it can be applied to other states, too.
How to Homeschool for (Mostly) Free, Part 1
How to Homeschool for (Mostly) Free, Part 2
Another cost that people often worry about is childcare, since many households have two working parents. I know homeschooling families of all working types, from stay-at-home parents to both parents working (both inside or outside the home), single parents and combinations of these. It can work if you are creative, but it’s definitely a challenge for some families. You can try…
- Working split shifts, or switching shifts with a partner
- Swapping childcare with other homeschoolers (we do this)
- Taking your child to work with you (I do this, and know other parents who do)
- Asking a relative to help out
You can also pay for childcare if possible, but it’s much more expensive. Some homeschooling teens will babysit for cheaper rates to gain job experience, however; you may want to check into that as well. Keep in mind that some of these resources might be people you haven't met yet, so start looking for homeschooling support groups and social groups in your area. Yahoo, Meetup and Facebook are good places to find these groups.
Photo courtesy of Sara S. Parks are one of the best free homeschooling resources!
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