So you’ve decided to homeschool your child, as opposed to putting them in a traditional school. You’ll find a lot of solidarity in this decision, as more and more families are choosing online homeschool programs. What the impact of this will be is hard to say, considering how new this entire phenomenon is, to begin with.

But what everyone agrees on is the amount of effort online homeschool programs require from you.

Flexibility in time
Since all your schooling is happening at home, there can be some obvious distractions. You might wake up to a family visit, or an emergency that requires you to travel, or you may even be living in a place with unpredictable weather. You must not forget your responsibility to your child, and make sure that all of these distractions are compensated for. In simpler words, don’t give excuses for not covering your portion on time.

Involvement with your child
Of course, if you opt for an online homeschool program that comes with an online instructor or educator, your direct involvement will reduce. But that doesn’t mean you can sit back and not oversee the process. Whatever your reasons for opting for homeschooling, you must make sure you’re available at hand to answer any doubts your child has and to motivate him/her in a way that makes the process of studying fun and simple. This is also a crucial step if you are to identify the gaps in the learning process of the child, or any challenge he/she might be facing.

Get involved with the larger community
You’ll find a myriad of communities that are part of online homeschool programs. This is a whole resource waiting to be tapped. Families from this background can help you deal with the problems that arise during the process of homeschooling. Besides that, the kids also feel a sense of solidarity they might otherwise find difficult to come by.

A backup plan
No one wants to hear this, but if it’s your first time with online homeschool programs, there are going to be some rough patches. It can be difficult to identify exactly what the problem is, be it your child’s learning curve, or a lack of compatibility with the program. Be open to the idea that your initial online homeschool program might not be effective, even if it means giving up months of effort.