5 Step Process for Preparing Your Homeschooler for College

Every home school parent thinks about one think: life after high school. The beauty of home school is that parents are preparing for their children for adulthood - way back in elementary school. It starts right in the home, and continues on straight into adulthood. Here are some tips to preparing your child specifically for college.

Promote College from a Young Age

There is nothing wrong with talking about college with your children from a young age. The key is that they want to be something. Whether it is a fireman or an engineer, if they are aspiring toward something, that's all that matters-remember, they may change many times before they ever get to college! Still, as long as they want to be something, in the end, it will be ok.

We talk on a monthly basis of what our kids want to be when they grow up. Do their aspirations change? Of course they do. We just want them to think about their future and be kids in the process. The best part of being kids is making believe of being someone great. That is the joy of being a child.

Take Children to Different Colleges

Taking your children to colleges is as easy as taking them to a college football or college basketball game. Not only will they get a feel for college life, but this is an enjoyable way to introduce them to going to college.

Another way as they near their senior year is by taking them on a tour of the college campus. They can see the dorms, classes, and that that goes with college life. Take them to the cafeteria for added humor-this is what they could be eating if they move to college!

Take Achievement Tests

In every state, laws will be different. The important thing is to find out what tests you can take yearly to know how your child is doing academically. For our family, this is important on many levels. Home school students should test about the public school system. By taking yearly tests, you can know where your child is, how they are doing, what they excel at, and what they struggle with.

I should add that very rarely do I have find something I didn't already know from their yearly academic tests. As a home school parent, we usually have a hand-on approach so we know exactly what our kids struggle with and where they excel. What is a surprise is how well they do in certain subjects.

These tests are great as a preparation for college. Will the tests be the same? Probably not, but you are helping prepare them for all that comes with college. These tests can sometimes be difficult, and that is accurate of how college tests can be.

Take College Courses

Depending on your state, many colleges will offer classes to home school and public school students. In addition, they can actually earn a degree by the time they graduate. Check your state and local colleges to see what programs are available to your children. By taking college courses while still in high school, your home school student will get a full dose of college life. There are online courses available as well as on campus courses. Preparing for college is wonderful but there is nothing like hands-on practice.

Focus on Child's Talents

Every child is talented. As parents, it is our job to focus on those talents. Sometimes, the kids may not even know they are talented. Finding things that the child is good and gives them more opportunities to grow and learn. This is a wonderful way to help the child figure out what they want to be when they grow up.

For instance, if your child is an excellent cook, they could think about being a chef. If they are a great handyman, think about doing something in construction. The skies the limit with possibilities, these are just a few examples of what to think about. Once you find out what talents your child has, think about entering competitions in your area. Competitions help them corner their talent and really grow.