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Frequently Asked Questions
© Beverley Paine, January 2009
“What is oldest age group you can homeschool a child?”
The various state educational authorities approve home education to the compulsory school age, which is gradually being raised to 17 in most states. However, you can homeschool a child of any age. Many home educators consider that they began homeschooling their children from birth: that is when our role as educators truly begins! The process doesn’t stop our children are old enough to take care of themselves, usually when they leave home as adults. Children who have been home educated from birth gradually take over the responsibility for their learning in their early teens.
Children who leave school usually find it takes a while to get used to the increased level of responsibility for their own learning, especially how to learn without being constantly told what to do, what to learn, when to learn. Finding quality resources that work well with the individual student makes the transition easier. Once a child is in his or her mid teens approaching home education as you would helping an adult learn, using adult educational resources and methods, is more appropriate than the approach found in most high school classrooms.
Some families extend 'home education' beyond the traditional high school years. My son continued to learn 'informally' (natural learning) into his early 20s, preferring to build skills and knowledge in the way he had as a child and teenager. He hasn't yet decided on a career pathway but feels confident that he can enter tertiary education if needed. At present he is comfortable being a 'jack of all trades', learning a variety of skills as a self-employed contractor.
His 'studies' include two or more hours a day researching relevant information on the internet, finding suitable mentors (both on the internet and in person), and hands-on learning opportunities. His philosophy embraces the idea that if you want to learn something you can't do or know, then simply get and on do it - you'll soon learn what you need to!
Any style of home education offers students the opportunity to develep life long learning habits.
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Beverley Paine with her children, and their home educated children, relaxing at home.
Together with the support of my family, my aim is to help parents educate their children in stress-free, nurturing environments. In addition to building and maintaing this website, I continue to create and manage local and national home educating networks, help to organise conferences and camps, as well as write for, edit and produce newsletters, resource directories and magazines. I am an active supporter of national, state, regional and local home education groups.
"You've been an inspiration to me, I love the way
you really listen to people." Vanessa
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with increased confidence in my ability to provide and
share a wonderful learning journey with my family!" Davina
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wisdom changed our lives. We now offer support and
organise many homeschooling events for others." Lesley
"Thank you once again for your prompt and friendly service.
I am convinced that your books are going to add
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"Thank you for all your many,many reassuring words
over many, many years. You probably don't know exactly how
valuable you are to the Australian Home Education community.
I've been reading your stuff for maybe 8 years or more now.
And I'm very grateful." Gythaa
Want to learn how to write your own education plans
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Welcome to the World of Home Education
and Learning without School!
We began educating our children in 1985, when our eldest was five. In truth, we had helped them learn what they need to learn since they were born. I am a passionate advocate of allowing children to learn unhindered by unnecessary stress and competition, meeting developmental needs in ways that suit their individual learning styles and preferences. Ours was a homeschooling, unschooling and natural learning family! There are hundreds of articles on this site to help you build confidence as a home educating family. We hope that your home educating adventure is as satisfying as ours was! Beverley Paine
3 ESSENTIAL STEP BY STEP GUIDES
Let experienced home educators Beverley, Tamara and April walk you through HOW to create a learning plan that builds on solid foundations that works for YOUR family AND ticks all the boxes for home educaton registration!
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Tap into Beverley's
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"Your books, your blogs helped me beyond words... they helped me to find comfort in knowing it is ok to choose exactly what is best for my family." Nisha
"Your books and information are mind blowing and already I am feeling good about this new experience." Diane
"Your guidance, understanding, support & words of wisdom changed our lives." Leslie
"I feel specially inspired by Beverley's words and, the more I read her comments, the more inspired I feel, since my need for support, respect for different parenting styles, and information are fully met." Marijo
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The information on this website is of a general nature only and is not intended as personal or professional advice. This site merges and incorporates 'Homeschool Australia' and 'Unschool Australia'.
The Educating Parent acknowledges the Traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Owners, the Custodians of Australia, and pay our respects to Elders past and present and extend that respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people viewing this website.
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Home education is a legal alternative
to school education in Australia.
State and Territory governments are responsible
for regulating home education and have different
requirements, however home educating families
are able to develop curriculum and learning programs
to suit the individual needs of their children.
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