Home Education

Home education is a very viable and beneficial education option for families who are dissatisfied with the way their other current or future educational options meet the needs of the child and family. Home education has benefits of allowing the parent to fully customize the child’s individual needs according to the child’s current medical status, educational ability and learning challenges.

A child who is in the midst of medication trials and facing sedation or cognitive dulling will find a full daily curriculum very challenging. Extreme instability can also be most challenging and very unproductive if not impossible. With home education, the parent can adjust and modify the school schedule and workload to meet the needs at that time. When periods of improved stability occur, taking advantage of those times are possible as well as recognizing impromptu teachable moments that would otherwise be unavailable.

There is a vast array of educational materials available to the parent when home educating their child. The cost of these options can be minimal through utilization of public library materials, internet resources and inexpensive texts or software programs to quite expensive programs all inclusive programs; secular or religious materials are also available. Regardless of preference, it is important to choose that which best fits the child’s individual learning modality, as well as the parents teaching style..

It is also important to consider that there is an increased amount of responsibility on the parent acting in the role of both parent and educator. Additionally, the chance for a parent to get much needed respite can be very limited and without appropriate plans for providing support for the parent it can become very isolating. It is important to build a network of support for respite care and home education support. All in all, remember, while there can be many challenges of home educating a child, particularly one with a brain disorder and possibly learning disorders, it can also be extremely rewarding and satisfying. Parents can plan for the pitfalls to make the experience as positive as possible.

Curlywhirly's personal curricula recommendations: