Find Your Child’s Strengths First

When first starting on your homeschooling journey, it’s easy to focus on the gaps or weaknesses your child has in the educational realm. If we start there, we will lose them.

I’ve mentioned de-schooling before. This is where the child takes the time to relax and allow the natural curiosity to return to life. This is where the parent can learn more about the child. Their interests. Their strengths, And their areas of growth.

I strongly recommend focusing on the interests and strengths to begin with. This will help reset the child’s attitude that they CAN do something. They ARE good at something. Sadly, many children experience a total annihilation of their self-worth in public schools, especially if they have challenges.

This is the time to learn exactly what they know and what they are good at. Then compare that baseline, not with the public schools, but with what they need to know when they leave your household.

Remember, we are preparing them for fulfilling their God-given purpose, not to become one of the masses who ‘do what they are told without question.’

After their initial assessment, I would ask the child where they think they are. What areas give them a struggle? What subjects do they like/dislike? Don’t forget to ask what they want to learn about.

If we start the school year focusing on the strengths, we have a positive beginning that provides the child with an ‘I can do this’ attitude. And, as Henry Ford said, ‘If you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.’

Let’s strive to give our children the mindset that they CAN do this, even if it is hard at first.

Something to think about.