| The choice to home school children is one of the | | | | funding for music and arts education. That's a |
| most important decisions that a parent can ever | | | | good start. But more still needs to be done across |
| make. It takes courage to "go against the norm". | | | | the country. |
| But now that you have control over the | | | | So as a homeschooling parent, here is your |
| education you child will receive, it's important to | | | | opportunity to really help your child grow. Teach |
| choose a well-rounded curriculum. Sure, the | | | | the academics - but don't forget about music and |
| children will learn how to read and write, do | | | | art, and any other non-academic subject you |
| mathematic calculations, and learn social studies. | | | | chose. Engage your children and let them |
| But what those non-academic subjects such as | | | | experience the joy of learning. |
| music and art? | | | | Break up the day with creative time. Allow your |
| Many schools have cut back on non-academics | | | | child to study music history and theory. Let the |
| due to budgetary restrictions. This is sad, because | | | | child learn an instrument (or two, or three!). Piano |
| music lessons (in particular) can have an | | | | is a great place to start. You don't need to play |
| astounding effect on the child's overall grades. | | | | these instruments yourself. There are some great |
| Studies have shown that there is a link between | | | | teaching tools out there, it's just a matter of |
| music and intelligence. Music training, specifically | | | | finding the right ones. Either way, choose a |
| piano instruction, is far superior to computer | | | | method that is "fun". Music and art are meant to |
| instruction. In short, this type of training "expands | | | | be fun, not rigorous and boring. The more |
| the brain". Children learn abstract reason skills, | | | | enjoyment a child gets out of it, but the better |
| which are the foundation for learning math and | | | | they become at it. |
| science. | | | | Maximize your child's chances for success in life |
| The good news is that many communities have | | | | with a well-rounded education. When you open up |
| realized their mistake and are trying to reverse | | | | both sides of your child's brain you allow him or |
| the trend. In June 2007, the California State | | | | her a real opportunity to achieve. |
| legislature approved $105 million in annual ongoing | | | | |