I call my husband “The fun patrol.”  Why?  Because he is a master of finding adventure, of pushing the limits, of creating fun experiences for my kids.  Through their dad, my kids have learned the joys of hiking, biking, kayaking, landscaping, building, designing and racing pinewood derby cars, wrestling, camping, building a fire, drawing, electronics, and so much more!  He is the one who has given them the confidence to try new things, to overcome their fears, and to press on to excellence. 

And he does all of that after work!

But there are a number of dads out there who are the primary teachers in their homeschool. Whether he is the support network for your family or the primary instructor in your homeschool program, Dad is important and very necessary!

Dad brings a whole new perspective to homeschooling and to life in general.  With Dad, my kids have the opportunity to take part in a whole new world of activities.  With Dad, those concepts that I just can’t seem to get them to grasp are suddenly understandable.  With Dad, that digestive system model that looked more like the model of the playground suddenly took a more appealing shape!  But despite his importance, most homeschool sites and resources are directed to homeschooling moms!  True, the majority of homeschoolers are homeschooling moms, but for those of you dads who either put in the time after work or who take on the primary teaching role, help is available.

For those of you Dads who serve a supporting role in the homeschool program, read on for my top sixteen ways to be outstanding!

Things to do with your kids:

• Do a science experiment together.
• Build a project while teaching them how use your tools.
• Read to them adding in your own special additions that make the story more exciting.
• Go for a hike with your children and point out the beauty and intricacies of God’s creation. 
• Share memories from your childhood while taking a walk or hanging out on the couch with your kids.
• Read a chapter of the Bible every evening.
• Take your kids to a minor-league baseball game .
• Turn off the television.
• Play silly games that involve lots of hugging and wrestling.
• Hug them when you leave for work and when you come home.
• Give them a vision worth living for–and worth dying for, if necessary.
• Get them involved in sports and be their biggest fan (beware of trying to take on a coaching role unless you are the coach.

How to support the home:

• Do the grocery shopping.
• If you want to go an extra mile: take care of the laundry.
• Take the first 10 minutes of your time when you come in the door to sit and talk with your wife—and let her do the talking.
• Be sure to make time to date your wife.
• Encourage mom to take time off just for herself while you watch the kids.

If you take on a primary role in your homeschool program, be sure to visit the sites listed below for some terrific help and insight from fellow homeschool Dads!

• HomeschoolDads.comWritten by a homeschool dad specifically for dads who take care of the homeschooling.
• National Home Education NetworkFind a section entitled “For Dads by Dads” under the “Homeschooling Helps” tab.
• FathervilleA site for Dads that covers a variety of topics, but has a specific section for homeschool dads.

No matter your role, you are important and very necessary to the success of your homeschool program!