When it comes to teaching your child most parents will say that they as a parent are the child’s first and best teacher.
Even if you would debate the ‘best’ you certainly could not debate the ‘first’.
And now as schools struggle to meet educational demands and standards seem to be in decline year after year, increasingly parents are turning to teaching their child at home, thus becoming the first, best and only. And as homeschooling resources and numbers continue to grow so does your ability to teach your child well.
Research indicates that of the children entering kindergarten, whose parents read to them early and often, and encouraged constant verbal interactions, have shown a significant advantage over those who had not. Not did those children who’s parents were actively involved in teaching their children start ahead, they stayed ahead and generally the advantage grew even wider.
To us homeschooling parents who take great pride in teaching our children well, this comes as no surprise. Being the ‘best’ at teaching our children is not something we just believe we can do, in fact, much of the research indicates that is exactly what we are doing. Teaching your child well starts early and often so it becomes a natural part of their life forever more.
Start by talking and reading to your child from day one. Expose and communicate to your child all that you do around the house. This will set the stage for your child to become a lifelong learner.
Teaching your child at home also entails surrounding your child with the opportunity to learn and read. Keep children’s stories and books constantly in their environment. And, of course, make use these by reading to your child everyday and often. I cannot stress to you enough the importance of this.
As soon as possible expose your child (and yourself) to your local library and all of the wonderful material available to teach your child at home. To Teach your child well involves a strategy of early, often, and with much enthusiasm and praise as your child begins to learn.
