Dear Helping Hand,

My grandchildren will not be returning to school this year; they'll homeschool. Can you suggest some ways I can help?

Answer:

Praise God for a supportive grandparent!

Perhaps the greatest assistance you can give is moral support. Most homeschoolers, especially new homeschoolers are surrounded by people who question, doubt, and sometimes even rabidly rebuke them for choosing to homeschool. In the face of this kind of treatment, your encouragement and support can make all the difference in the world.

There are many other ways to help, of course. If you are fortunate enough to live near your children, you might find great joy in doing some teaching yourself. Now don't back away in fear at the thought of teaching algebra or some other unfamiliar subject. Children have more to learn than reading, writing, and arithmetic, and in many cases it is the other lessons that matter most. Practical life skills are not something all people consider necessary, but anyone benefits from learning to cook, sew, garden, or do automotive repair. Likewise, you may be skilled in some other area — art, music, carpentry — which your grandchildren would be thrilled to learn. And you know what? Now that they're not bound by long school days and homework, they have time!

Finances are another area in which you may consider offering aid. Many a grandparent helps pay for private school tuition, but I only know of one, personally, that is as generous in helping her homeschooled grandchildren. This particular lady makes it possible for her grandchildren to take piano lessons from a wonderful teacher, a thing they might have been unable to do otherwise. There are so many ways in which homeschoolers can use ‘extra' money — curriculum, of course, but also educational games, software, videos, field trips, museum and zoo memberships, magazine subscriptions. . .the list of possibilities goes on and on.

Be supportive. Be involved. You will find many ways in which you can offer help.

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