Stories about a disturbing number of parents abandoning their children in Nebraska have captured national headlines. A safe haven law with an unfortunate loophole allows parents to leave their children at any hospital in the state without consequences. Although the law was initially designed to protect babies in unwanted circumstances, parents of older children are using this law as a way out of difficult situations. These kinds of stories cast a negative light on all parents across the country, taking the spotlight away from truly newsworthy parents.
The headlines rarely feature the small group of dedicated single parents willing to give up everything to provide the best possible education for their children. This growing group of single parents may not get the recognition they deserve, but the movement continues to expand. It seems impossible that a single father could homeschool his children when he, in fact, must work full time to support his family. Taking into account some vital factors, this difficult task can be accomplished.
flexibility factor
When children attend a traditional school, they must adjust to the curriculum and school hours. However, when a child is home schooled, there is much more flexibility. For example, classes may take place at times convenient to both parent and child, such as evenings or weekends. That flexibility is possible because a home schooled child may not require as much time to learn a lesson as an entire classroom of students. Additionally, there are lesson plans available that older children can work on independently and then review with an adult.
family factor
A single parent needs to secure the assistance of friends and family in order to be successful with a homeschooling program. Some lucky parents already have a close-knit support group within their own communities. Other parents may need to move to be closer to family members who are willing to help. Churches are also full of people who are more than willing to lend a hand to single parents as they try to educate their children. Some churches even have programs for homeschoolers. Participating families are often happy to include children of single parents on trips and special events. Some babysitters may even be willing to work on academics while taking care of the children. It is possible to find support simply by reaching out.
faith factor
Some homeschooling parents are willing to take the risk of working from home. For some, a career change is necessary to be able to work from home. For others, it means reaching a work-from-home agreement with their company. Wise financial planning and budgeting play an important role in the successful implementation of a homeschool program. Shopping at garage sales, consignment stores, and goodwill stores may be a necessity. Other sacrifices, such as upgrading a vehicle or moving to a smaller home, may also be required to pay for fewer hours of work. Parents need to have faith in themselves and know that while these are significant sacrifices, they are worth it.
behavior problems
Death and divorce are the main reasons a person can stay as a single parent. Although behavior problems arise in all types of children, those who have experienced a death or divorce are more likely to have behavior problems. For these children in particular, homeschooling is the best option. Children who have lost a parent long for stability and need to feel that they can trust the adults who are still in their world. A father who is constantly present will have more information about his child’s behavior and will know how to better handle it. It’s hard to provide consistency when you’re a single parent responsible for managing all things, without taking a break. But, single parent homeschoolers agree that their children are worth all the sacrifices.
Support for learning problems
Just because a child has a learning disability does not mean they must be enrolled in public school. One of the most common childhood learning disabilities, ADHD, has been shown to be best taught at home. The advantage of having children with learning disabilities taught at home is that parents can tailor the curriculum specifically to their needs. In a classroom of 30 children, the teacher will not be able to give a child with a learning disability the time or attention necessary for his or her success. When parents teach their children, they give them their full attention, which leads them to understand their unique needs and better address them.
If you think your child is having trouble learning, have him or her evaluated by a professional. Finding out the specific disability will help parents investigate the nature of the disability and the most appropriate practices for teaching the child. Knowing the specific disability will also help parents connect with support groups made up of other parents. Support groups can often be found online. Seminars are available to train parents to deal with specific disabilities. Never believe that children with disabilities are better off in public school. A special education teacher deals with such a wide variety of disabilities that they only scratch the surface of each one. As parents of a child with a disability, you would become a subject matter expert on your child’s disability. Your love and concern as a parent qualifies you as the best teacher.
Child-Centered Curriculum
Homeschoolers of single parents have found that the best curriculum for them is the one taught by the children. Robinson Curriculum is one such curriculum that has shown results over the years. It was developed for her children by Laurelee Robinson, whose husband stayed on as a single-parent homeschooler after his death. The children began to teach themselves with great success. These types of curriculum give single parents the freedom to guide their children in their learning, without the hassle of preparing and teaching lessons.
Being a single parent requires great strength, commitment, and support from others. No one plans to be a single parent. But when caught in that situation, many parents choose to sacrifice even more to give their children the best education possible. In the end, these parents have no doubt that they are doing what is best for their child.