Did you know that an estimated 1.2 million families switched to homeschooling over the past year? Are you one of the many parents who made that decision?
Choosing to home school your child is a big step. Luckily, there are plenty of South Carolina homeschooling resources that can help you. But how do you know when you need those resources?
You might be wondering “does my child need help homeschooling, and how would I know?”
The South Carolina Association of Independent Home Schools is here to help. Read on to learn all about identifying problems with your child’s homeschooling experiences and how to fix them.
A Major Attitude Shift
If your child is struggling with South Carolina homeschooling, you may notice a serious attitude shift (and potentially even a behavior shift).
Children who were once excited to learn may now seem withdrawn and unwilling to start classes for the day. While it’s normal for all children to have “off” days, if those days happen often, it’s a sign that your child isn’t thriving.
They may be unwilling to talk about school outside of “class hours,” even if they need extra help.
The child may also start “acting out” during “off hours.” You may notice them throwing tantrums, being irritable, or not following instructions.
While it’s tempting to punish your child for this behavior and attitude shift, it’s important that you’re supportive instead. Work together with your child to find a solution.
Spending Excess Time on Schoolwork
If your child is spending more time than usual on schoolwork, it’s a sign that they need extra help. They’re not keeping up with the curriculum.
When you homeschool your child, you have the unique opportunity to tailor your child’s education to their needs. There will be some subjects that your child will excel in and move through quickly, but others will require more work.
If your child is struggling with a specific topic, slow down and spend more time working with them. Challenge them gently. It’s important that they learn new concepts and spend time thinking through things on their own, but that shouldn’t come at the expense of their mental health.
Trouble Sleeping and Eating
Children display many of the same signs of stress as adults. Having difficulty sleeping, or having a poor appetite, are common problems associated with stress due to school.
Stress causes a rise in cortisol which can disrupt sleep schedules and make it difficult to eat enough.
Talk to your child about what they’re experiencing and see if you can work together to find a school schedule that works for them.
Does My Child Need Help Homeschooling?
With these things in mind, does the answer to “does my child need help homeschooling” seem clear? If you’ve noticed any of these common signs that your child is struggling emotionally or academically with school, it might be time to make some changes.
SCAIHS wants to help. We provide resources to help both you and your child thrive in a homeschooling environment. Check out more information here.