I am sure when most people think of homeschooling their child the biggest worry that comes to mind is where I should start and what should I teach. Parents worried they would not have the knowledge or the experience to begin a curriculum for their child. That may have been true many years ago but now there are many different homeschooling programs, and the program you choose should complement your teaching style and your child's personality. Given below are some of the most influential and popular homeschooling programs.

The Charlotte Mason program: Charlotte Mason was one of the first people to really speak out of the benefits of homeschooling. She was a homeschooler herself and was one of the first to lay out an effective and complete homeschooling program that mixes fun and education into daily curriculum. This program involves study in all the core subjects with some priority on literature, poetry, fine arts, and music. Parents looking to follow her homeschooling programs should be aware of the emphasis on these non traditional subjects as one of the keys to teaching is being able to show passion about the subject. Mason also believed in the use of daily nature diaries. After the child completes each lesson he or she is asked to draw a scene from nature into the diary. This part of the homeschooling program is to teach the child respect of his or her surroundings and the environment. Mason's program tries to develop the child's character as well as provide an education.

The Eclectic Homeschooling Program: This is a mixture of various homeschooling programs developed over the years. In this program the parents are relied on to create best curriculum for the child. Since parents know their child the best they are guided to develop a program they feel will inspire and teach their child. Most Eclectic homeschooling programs are developed over time and through trial and error. This means that the core curriculums is supplied but the parents then make changes to the curriculum based on the strengths, weaknesses and interests of the child. Eclectic homeschooling programs believe in numerous field trips to such places as galleries, museums and work environments.

Unschooling Program: John Holt was the inventor of the unschooling method of homeschooling programs. His method focuses on his belief that children learn best when they are not forced to keep up with children who are able to learn at a faster pace. This method removes pressure and stress from the child and improves their ability to learn. Holt's program also centers on developing a curriculum around the interests of the child. This method requires the parent to include input from the child. This method is regarded as the least structured of the many homeschooling programs.

There are many reasons for parents choosing to school their child at home and the reason might direct you to a specific program. All children are unique and with the abundance of homeschooling programs available there is surely one that will suit your child.