© Beverley Paine

"I am contemplating teaching my son kindergarten at home and I would like to know the total cost I would be looking at for that year and the amount of
hours I would need to allow for each day / week."

Home education doesn't have to cost anything at all, at any age... How much you spend is entirely up to each individual family. We used to buy a lot of art and craft resources which the children consumed at great speed - this was our major cost each year. We would also save up for major purchases like musical instruments, telescopes, etc. However, a library card is all one really needs to get started!

Most of us with young children begin by emulating the environment and learning activities found within any kindergarten around the world. Lots of
hands on experiences with one to one attention. Lots of opportunity to play and explore. LOTS of time to talk. LOTS of physical activity that is fun and enjoyable for everyone. Read together, draw together, write together. It doesn't really matter what at this age. And build. Build with blocks, toys, cardboard boxes. Build cubbies, models, monsters, dolls houses... Make lots of dress-up clothes. Encourage the imagination to fly with lots of leading and what if questions - don't seek the 'right' answer all the time just yet - explore the possibilities and improbabilities equally to stretch your young child's brain.

You'll find that if you make it up as you go along your home learning program will remain tailored to your child's educational and development
needs. Buying a curriculum may lead you astray from this goal and you'll end up doing lots of things that your child doesn't want to... there's a good chance that you may end up turning him off learning altogether!

I found that educating my children at home was a constant but thoroughly enjoyable task. We were together most of their waking hours - either giving them the one to one attention they needed to expand their horizons or supervising from a distance while they played, either by themselves with each other. If you need to work to earn a living you may look into getting help looking after your children during those hours. Homeschooling doesn't have to look anything like school - in fact, it works a LOT better if it doesn't. Emulate those early years of closeness and learning with your child in the most wonderful learning environment of all - the home - and you'll be wonderfully suprised at how easy learning at home can be!