Homeschooling, if done effectively, can be a positive and rewarding experience for both the parent and child. To homeschool effectively, however, takes time and careful planning. One of the first--and most important--things to do is to create a work schedule. This will ensure that you are taking your child's education seriously. Here we will give you some ideas for planning a work schedule for your homeschooled child.

Observe your children carefully. When do they get hungry? When do they seem to need some exercise? When are they sleepiest? Work your schedule around these things, planning some time for exercise when they need it and planning the harder subjects such as math and reading for when they are at their freshest.

Plan a firm beginning and ending to your day. Many homeschooled children think that homeschooling means they get to sleep in, play video games and then maybe do some work whenever their mom or dad makes them do it. This should not be the case! Make sure you start and end your school day at the same time every day. In fact, stick to the same schedule, while allowing for a little bit of flexibility, every day or as much as possible. This will help your day feel orderly and create the added benefit of allowing your children to feel like they've accomplished something every day.

Plan to meet the grade and age level needs of your child. Younger children can only sit still for so long! Kindergartners can only spend about 5 to 10 minutes at the most on one lesson, while a sixth grader can spend 30 to 45 minutes on a lesson. Younger children love hands-on activities, while older children should focus on writing, testing and note-taking skills in order to prepare them for college.

Do not try to copy a typical school day in a public school classroom. Your school day will not last as long. Your child is receiving one-on-one attention, and this will allow her to complete tasks that would take much longer in a traditional classroom. Make sure to check your state's guidelines for skills that should be mastered by the end of each grade level when planning lessons.

Don't forget to allow for social skills as well as academic ones! Plan some field trips and recesses into your schedule. Meet up with other homeschooling parents for special activities. Sign your child up for music lessons. Remember that a good education does not mean only mastering the three R's!