If you have just pulled your child(ren) from traditional schools, be aware that the first year is often the toughest. Both you and your child are testing the ground, learning to be with together day by day and finding the best learning styles for you and your family. Be prepared to try different things to encourage learning, take every opportunity to teach without books. Build your communication between you and your children. Most important, take time off from book learning if necessary. Some parents even use a relaxed or unschooling approach during this first year as you merge home with learning. Be sure to take the time to participate with a local support group, church activities, scouting or 4-H for field trips and activities with other children of all age groups. Once you have had the first year of trials, you should feel more comfortable with teaching, more aware of your children and better prepared to educate them for another year.

 In an effort to teach our children the values and rewards of simple living, our believes are often overpowered by the commercial and social norms subjected on our children by peers, teachers and administrators. This is part three of an ongoing series regarding the traditional school system and an alternative Christian education.